THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 ULTIMATE MATCH FINAL EDITION on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information
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After “KOF '98”, often praised by the fans as the best installment in the “KOF” series, and “KOF ’98 UM” 10 years later, “KOF ’98” returns now on the Steam PC gaming platform in an ultimate and final version with THE KING OF FIGHTERS ’98 ULTIMATE MATCH FINAL EDITION
THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 ULTIMATE MATCH FINAL EDITION is a fighting, arcade and 2d fighter game
developed by SNK CORPORATION and Code Mystics
and published by SNK CORPORATION.
Released on December 16th 2014 is available only on Windows
in 3 languages: English, Japanese and Portuguese - Brazil.
It has received 2,820 reviews of which 2,558 were positive and 262 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.7 out of 10. 😎
The game is currently priced at 14.99€ on Steam, but you can find it for less on Gamivo.
The Steam community has classified THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 ULTIMATE MATCH FINAL EDITION into these genres:
Media & Screenshots
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System requirements
These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.
Windows
- OS *: Windows XP
- Processor: Intel Pentium 4 1.8GHz dual core
- Memory: 1 GB RAM
- Graphics: Onboard graphics chipset with 256MB video RAM
- DirectX: Version 9.0c
- Storage: 1 GB available space
- Sound Card: DirectSound
User reviews & Ratings
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
THE KING OF FIGHTERS ’98 ULTIMATE MATCH FINAL EDITION on Steam represents a rare example of a fighting game that has not only endured but continued to thrive decades after its original release. Developed by SNK CORPORATION with modernization support from Code Mystics and published by SNK CORPORATION, this edition proudly honors the legacy of the franchise while updating it just enough to meet contemporary expectations. KOF ’98 has long been regarded as the series’ most refined and beloved entry, often referred to as “The Dream Match” thanks to its roster and absence of strict narrative continuity, and this definitive version ensures that legacy remains accessible to both longtime fans and new players discovering it for the first time. Instead of overhauling mechanics or presentation, the developers wisely chose to preserve the original’s pacing, structure, and competitive identity, creating a version that feels authentic rather than reconstructed. At its core, the game remains a pure expression of traditional 2D fighting design—fast, technical, and deeply strategic without sacrificing personality or approachability. The four-button control scheme is deceptively simple, enabling players to ease into the fundamentals without feeling overwhelmed, yet beneath that lies a vast layer of nuance defined by hops, rolls, cancels, blowback attacks, guard mechanics, conditioning, and spacing battles. Movement is central to the experience, and mastering the timing of short hops and hyper hops becomes just as important as executing special moves or combos. Unlike many modern fighters that lean into long strings and cinematic execution, KOF ’98 prioritizes neutral footsies, reads, and momentum shifts. The three-character team system deepens this even further, encouraging players to think about order selection, matchup advantages, and meter distribution across the full duration of a fight. The roster remains one of the game’s greatest strengths and a major reason it continues to be played competitively. With more than 60 playable characters, the selection spans multiple SNK franchises and eras, offering everything from established tournament staples like Kyo, Terry, Iori, and Chizuru to more experimental fighters with unusual toolkits. Each character feels handcrafted, with distinctive normals, movement speeds, specials, mix-up options, and combo opportunities that reflect a specific fighting philosophy. What stands out, especially compared to other retro fighters, is the surprising level of balance. While tiers exist, the majority of the cast remains viable, and skilled players can succeed with personal favorites rather than being forced into a narrow meta. The choice between Advanced and Extra playstyles allows players to tailor their strategy further, providing different approaches to meter building, defensive options, and offensive pressure. Code Mystics’ enhancements elevate this edition beyond a simple port, ensuring its longevity in an online-driven era. The implementation of rollback netcode is transformative, allowing smooth online matches across long distances, something essential for a competitive fighter built on precise timing and tight neutral engagements. Online lobbies, ranked matchmaking, spectator functionality, and multiple connection customization options show a clear dedication to community-driven play. The training mode has also been expanded to facilitate lab work, testing combos, punishes, setups, and defensive responses. Importantly, none of these improvements interfere with the original mechanics, animations, game speed, or timing windows—elements competitive players depend on remaining consistent. Visually, the game exudes retro charm without feeling dated. SNK’s sprite work remains expressive, kinetic, and full of personality, achieving clarity and animation quality that many modern pixel-art games still struggle to match. Character animations convey weight, intent, and emotional flair, making every punch, throw, fireball, and anti-air feel distinct. Stages showcase a variety of international settings, each filled with colorful crowds, atmospheric details, and memorable musical themes. The soundtrack is equally timeless, mixing rock, jazz, synth, and orchestral influences into energetic battle themes that still resonate with players decades later. Together, the visuals and music create a competitive atmosphere that feels energetic without overwhelming the senses, allowing concentration while still delivering excitement. As polished and feature-rich as this edition is, it remains a product of its era, and those qualities may not resonate with every player. The game offers little in the way of narrative presentation, cinematic flair, or single-player depth—its arcade mode serves as a traditional endurance ladder rather than a story-driven campaign. Tutorials remain minimal, requiring newcomers to research techniques such as option-selects, safe jumps, hop pressure, buffering, and character-specific combos. Some older roster quirks and matchup imbalances persist, especially at the highest level of play. Yet for many fans, these elements contribute to its authenticity rather than diminishing it, reinforcing the game’s identity as a competitive-focused fighter grounded in skill development and long-term mastery. Ultimately, THE KING OF FIGHTERS ’98 ULTIMATE MATCH FINAL EDITION is more than a historical re-release—it is an active competitive platform, a celebration of SNK’s fighting legacy, and a testament to how well-crafted mechanics can outlast technological trends. Its fluid combat, massive roster, balanced systems, and intense neutral game continue to draw players who appreciate depth earned through practice rather than shortcuts. For returning veterans, it serves as the definitive way to revisit a foundational classic. For genre newcomers, it offers an opportunity to experience one of the most influential and enduring fighting games ever made. Few titles maintain relevance for over 25 years, yet this one not only survives—it continues to thrive, proving why many still regard it as the pinnacle of 2D team-based fighting design. Rating: 9/10
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Se eu soubesse que esse KOF é uma evolução total do 97, talvez eu tivesse comprado ele primeiro. Apesar de também ser um dreammatch, ele tem tudo que o 97 não tem, como: sala de treinamento, mais personagens uma leve melhorada na gameplay, mas eu tenho que destacar um ponto alto que praticamente todo KOF tem que é a trilha sonora! Todos os jogos dessa franquia tem uma OST maravilhosa que, não ironicamente, escuto todos os dias. Meu conselho é esse, se você quer só gameplay, combos e jogar online, compre esse primeiro, se quer jogar um pela história e música boa, compre o 97 primeiro, de qualquer forma, recomendo os dois.
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this game is the 2d apex for team battle system! i love it. you have to love it too! always, KOF 98. UM and VANILLA. love this, you MUST!
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alarmed to find that it really is true that mexicans can pick up and play these games with their eyes closed
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great game, timeless fighter, great online netcode, ty CodeMystics if you like a combination neutral mix into a more fundamental game, this game is perfect for you
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Frequently Asked Questions
THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 ULTIMATE MATCH FINAL EDITION is currently priced at 14.99€ on Steam.
THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 ULTIMATE MATCH FINAL EDITION is currently not on sale. You can purchase it for 14.99€ on Steam.
THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 ULTIMATE MATCH FINAL EDITION received 2,558 positive votes out of a total of 2,820 achieving a rating of 8.70.
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THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 ULTIMATE MATCH FINAL EDITION was developed by SNK CORPORATION and Code Mystics and published by SNK CORPORATION.
THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 ULTIMATE MATCH FINAL EDITION is playable and fully supported on Windows.
THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 ULTIMATE MATCH FINAL EDITION is not playable on MacOS.
THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 ULTIMATE MATCH FINAL EDITION is not playable on Linux.
THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 ULTIMATE MATCH FINAL EDITION offers both single-player and multi-player modes.
THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 ULTIMATE MATCH FINAL EDITION offers both Co-op and PvP modes.
There is a DLC available for THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 ULTIMATE MATCH FINAL EDITION. Explore additional content available for THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 ULTIMATE MATCH FINAL EDITION on Steam.
THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 ULTIMATE MATCH FINAL EDITION does not support mods via Steam Workshop.
THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 ULTIMATE MATCH FINAL EDITION supports Remote Play Together. Discover more about Steam Remote Play.
THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 ULTIMATE MATCH FINAL EDITION is enabled for Steam Family Sharing. This means you can share the game with authorized users from your Steam Library, allowing them to play it on their own accounts. For more details on how the feature works, you can read the original Steam Family Sharing announcement or visit the Steam Family Sharing user guide and FAQ page.
You can find solutions or submit a support ticket by visiting the Steam Support page for THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 ULTIMATE MATCH FINAL EDITION.
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Last Updates| Steam data | 23 January 2026 23:24 |
|---|---|
| SteamSpy data | 26 January 2026 09:07 |
| Steam price | 29 January 2026 04:45 |
| Steam reviews | 27 January 2026 16:05 |
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Game modes
Multiplayer
Features
Online players
43
Developer
SNK CORPORATION,
Code Mystics
Publisher
SNK CORPORATION
Release
16 Dec 2014
Platforms
Remote Play
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