Play King of Fighters 1997 Online

Game Overview

Okay, so King of Fighters '97 is basically the purest form of Neo Geo fighting—no frills, just tight controls and that classic SNK pixel art that still looks amazing. You pick your three-character team (I always go Terry, Iori, and Kyo because I'm basic) and jump straight into chaotic 3v3 matches where supers fly constantly.

The roster's stacked with 30+ fighters, each with their own ridiculous special moves—like Mai’s endless fireballs or Chang’s absurd chain attacks. Matches get wild fast, especially when you trigger the desperation moves. Yeah, the AI cheats sometimes (looking at you, Rugal), but that’s part of the charm.

It’s got that arcade feel where every punch lands with a satisfying crunch, and the sprite animations are so fluid you’ll forget this came out in 1997. Perfect for quick couch battles or grinding through arcade mode to unlock the true final boss. Just don’t throw your controller when he wrecks your whole team.