Play Nettou The King of Fighters '96 (Japan) Online

Nettou The King of Fighters '96 came out on the Game Boy in 1996, published by Takara. It was one of the few portable fighting games at the time that tried to bring a full arcade roster to the handheld, with all the limitations and charm that entailed. The small screen and monochrome graphics didn't stop it from feeling like a genuine attempt to translate the King of Fighters experience.

You pick from a selection of SNK characters like Kyo, Iori, or Terry, then fight through a series of one-on-one matches. The main goal is to beat every opponent and see the ending for your chosen fighter. Signature mechanics include pulling off special moves with tight button combinations and managing a power gauge that lets you unleash super moves when full. The pacing is fast, and the AI can be brutally cheap on higher difficulties. It feels like a condensed, sometimes frustrating, but always engaging version of the arcade game.