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The King of Fighters 97
拳皇 97
The King of Fighters '97 is a 2D fighting game developed by SNK in 1997. Players select teams of three fighters and battle opponents in one-on-one matches within each team. The game features special moves executed through controller combinations, with each character possessing unique attacks and abilities. Players must defeat all three opposing fighters to win a match. The arcade version includes a tournament-style progression, with increasing difficulty as players advance through multiple rounds against different opponent teams. The game emphasizes combo execution and tactical fighter selection, as different team compositions offer various strategic advantages. Controls involve directional input and attack buttons, allowing players to execute throws, special moves, and power-based techniques. The game's fast-paced gameplay and character variety made it a popular arcade title of its era.
- Developer
- SNK
- Released
- 1997
- Platform
- Arcade
- Genre
- Action
- Players
- 2P
- Rating
- 4.3 / 5 (2.9K)
- Last updated
The King of Fighters 97 Controls — Arcade Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for The King of Fighters 97 on our in-browser Arcade emulator. Plug in a USB or Bluetooth gamepad to auto-detect mappings, or rebind any key from the emulator settings menu.
| Keyboard | Console button | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| ↑ | Joystick Up | Move up |
| ↓ | Joystick Down | Move down |
| ← | Joystick Left | Move left |
| → | Joystick Right | Move right |
| X | Button 1 | Primary action (jump / confirm) |
| Z | Button 2 | Secondary action (attack / cancel) |
| S | Button 3 | Tertiary action |
| A | Button 4 | Quaternary action |
| Q | Button 5 | Fifth button |
| W | Button 6 | Sixth button |
| 5 | Insert Coin | Insert coin |
| 1 | 1P Start | Start / Pause |
Coin and Start are convention "Insert Coin: 5" and "1P Start: 1". Some arcade boards expect specific button mappings — check the in-game prompts on coin-up.
Rebind any key from the EmulatorJS in-game settings menu (gear icon → Controls). A connected gamepad auto-maps to the same buttons.
The King of Fighters 97 Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of The King of Fighters 97 on Arcade before you dive in — recommended for getting a feel for the game's pacing, story beats, and difficulty curve.
Watch longplay on YouTube
"The King of Fighters 97" Arcade longplay 1997
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was The King of Fighters 97 released?
The King of Fighters 97 was released in 1997 for the Arcade.
Who developed The King of Fighters 97?
The King of Fighters 97 was developed by SNK, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
How many players does The King of Fighters 97 support?
The King of Fighters 97 supports up to 2 players, ideal for couch co-op or competitive sessions on the Arcade.
What type of game is The King of Fighters 97?
The King of Fighters 97 is a Action game for the Arcade, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play The King of Fighters 97 for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — The King of Fighters 97 runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play The King of Fighters 97 in the browser?
No. The King of Fighters 97 streams from a public archive into a browser-side Arcade emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in The King of Fighters 97?
Yes. Save states are stored in your browser (IndexedDB) per game, and you can also use any in-game save the original Arcade cartridge supported.
Does The King of Fighters 97 work on mobile devices?
Yes — the Arcade emulator runs on iOS Safari and Android Chrome. Touch controls overlay the game; landscape mode is recommended.
Is it legal to play The King of Fighters 97 this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of The King of Fighters 97. Game files are fetched on demand from publicly-accessible archives. You are responsible for compliance with your local laws and the bring-your-own-ROM principle.
