Overview

Number of Players
2
Genre
Release Date

Neo Geo

  • US 24th Jul 1996

Wii (Wii Shop)

  • US 12th Jul 2012, 900 points
  • JP 15th Feb 2011, 900 points
  • EU 22nd Nov 2012, 900 points

Switch eShop

  • US 28th Dec 2017, $7.99
  • EU 28th Dec 2017, £6.29
Series

Reviews

  • Review The King Of Fighters '96 (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)

    Or, the one with Geese Howard

    Much like the first two instalments, The King Of Fighters '96 gives you a diverse roster of 2D fighters to pick from as you assemble a team of three to punch, kick, throw and brag your way to victory. The third instalment in the series also sees the sprites of old discarded for an instantly familiar hand-drawn...

  • Review The King of Fighters '96 (Wii Virtual Console / Neo Geo)

    A step in the right direction

    King of the Fighters '96 marks the third release in the popular SNK fighting game series, and while we've already seen KoF releases from both before and after this title, SNK has finally decided to go back and release this pivotal release in the series. With a host of new gameplay additions, many of which help balance...

Screenshots 5

The King of Fighters '96 Screenshot
The King of Fighters '96 Screenshot
The King of Fighters '96 Screenshot
The King of Fighters '96 Screenshot
The King of Fighters '96 Screenshot

The King of Fighters '96 News

About The Game

Originally released in 1996, this is the third installment in The King of Fighters game series. The series features an SNK all-star lineup, with characters from games like Fatal Fury, Ikari Warriors, Psycho Soldier and Art of Fighting competing with each other for the title of the world's strongest fighter.

This installment adds some major systematic changes compared with previous titles. It features small, medium and big jumps, as well as forward and backward flip emergency escapes. It also adds the extra element of guarding in midair. Being able to review commands makes moves easier to execute, and projectiles have been toned down. This title got rid of the idea of projectile spamming as an effective approach, and it marked a major turning point in the series.