The King of Fighters '98
The King of Fighters '98 is a 1998 fighting game developed by SNK for the Neo Geo, subtitled "The Slugfest" and often hailed as one of the best entries in the long-running series. It gathered the franchise's deep roster into a celebratory installment focused on refined, balanced gameplay rather than an advancing storyline.
Following the series' team-based format, players assemble squads of three fighters and battle in succession, drawing on a huge cast pulled from across SNK's fighting-game universe. Players could choose between two gauge systems governing how they built and spent super-move energy, and its tight mechanics and enormous character selection made it a competitive favorite in arcades.
Because it prioritized polished fighting over narrative, it became a staple of tournament play and a go-to entry for series fans for years afterward. The game has been re-released across many platforms, including an updated version with rebalanced rosters, and appears on classic-game services, keeping its acclaimed combat accessible.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to The King of Fighters '98, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
| Alternative | Price | Steam Deck | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| The King of Fighters XV | € 59,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 ULTIMATE MATCH | € 19,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Fantasy Strike Indie | € 19,99 | Steam Deck Untested | PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match | € 14,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, PlayStation, Xbox |
| The King of Fighters XIII Global Match | € 6,89 | Steam Deck Unsupported | PC, PlayStation, Switch |
The King of Fighters XV
€ 59,99The modern entry continuing SNK's team-based fighting series.
The King of Fighters XV runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 ULTIMATE MATCH
€ 19,99The official enhanced re-release of the classic Neo Geo fighter.
THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 ULTIMATE MATCH runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
Fantasy Strike Indie
€ 19,99An accessible indie fighting game with simplified inputs.
Fantasy Strike runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match
€ 14,99The other great KOF dream match, with an enormous roster and online play.
The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, Switch.
The King of Fighters XIII Global Match
€ 6,89The most beautiful sprite-based fighter SNK made, with rollback netcode added.
The King of Fighters XIII Global Match runs on PC, PlayStation, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, Xbox.
Sign in or create an account to add an alternative or vote.