Neo Geo · 1998
The King of Fighters '98
A team-based '90s fighting game that gathers characters from several previous King of Fighters releases into one extended roster.
- Publisher
- SNK
- Format
- Cartridge
- Genre
- fighting game
- Released
- 1998
01
Overview
The King of Fighters '98 is the fifth entry in SNK's flagship fighting series and is framed less as a narrative chapter than as a large-scale dream match. Players build three-character teams and fight through a tournament that culminates against the returned boss Rugal Bernstein. Its Advance and Extra modes give the roster two distinct rule sets, while several characters also appear with alternate versions of their earlier moves.
02
Why it matters
For the series, it stands out as a consolidation point, collecting most of the returning fighters from The King of Fighters '94 through '97 in a single game. That broad roster and its two-mode structure made it a central reference point for the franchise's competitive and collector-focused history.
03
The physical edition
A typical complete Neo Geo cartridge copy includes the game cartridge, outer box, and instruction manual; some editions also include an extra booklet or move list. Contents and labeling can differ by region, with the English-language release often titled The Slugfest and the Japanese release titled Dream Match Never Ends.
04
Playing it today
Original Neo Geo AES hardware is the straightforward path, though many players also use emulators for accessibility. The game supports one-player tournament play and local two-player competition, with mode selection shaping how power gauge and round losses affect the match.