# THE KING OF FIGHTERS '97 > Classic 2D fighting game with 35 characters and two gameplay modes. (iPhone/iPad app by SNK CORPORATION.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-king-of-fighters-97/id727466621 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [SNK CORPORATION](https://appshunter.io/developer/343539874) - Category: Games, Entertainment, Action, Casual - Price: $2.99 - Rating: 3.50/5 from 1,003 App Store ratings · 735 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 12+ - Requires: iOS 14.0 · 101 MB - Languages: American English, Japanese - Released: 2013-11-14 - Data updated: 2026-09-03 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-king-of-fighters-97/id727466621/reviews.md ## What is THE KING OF FIGHTERS '97? Become the new challenger in the all-time classic THE KING OF FIGHTERS '97 on iPhone and iPad! Revisit this fighting gem, by playing one of its legendary (and sometimes hidden) teams, and behold the numerous endings the game has to offer! Put an end to the evil Orochi's resurrection scheme, and finally settle the score between Kyo Kusanagi and Iori Yagami! Features: ■35 playable characters! Play as SNK's iconic fighters such as Kyo Kusanagi and Terry Bogard, and try to master the infamous "New Face Team" or the "KOF '97 Special Team"! The NEO GEO version's hidden characters are now available directly on the character select screen so you can easily crush your opponent using Orochi Iori or Orochi Leona! Experience for the first time in the series the "Affinity System", and to select the members of your team according to their affinity, and enjoy their pre-match interactions! ■2 modes to improve the game's depth! KOF '97 uses 2 differents gameplay modes: EXTRA and ADVANCED! Master the system that fits you the best and burn your rivals down! ADVANCED MODE: Various jumps for different ways to bring the pain to your enemy! A must if you think offense is the best defense! You can stock your Power gauges to enter in MAX mode or to unleash deadly Desperation Moves! Depending on your characters' affinity, get extra Power gauges even after losing a round! EXTRA MODE: Use the Evade move wisely as you are being rushed and send your opponent flying! Fill your Power gauge to automatically enter Power Max mode for a set amount of time! As you are close to exhaustion, your health bar will turn red and blink, then you will be able to unleash your Desperation Moves to your heart's content, as long as you are the last one standing! ■A NEOGEO Perfect Port with added features! You have the possibility to play the game as it was intended back in the days with 4 buttons, or you can enjoy the new control scheme using the 6 buttons settings and the simplified special move with the help of the SP button! ■Fight against your friends through Wi-Fi Multiplayer mode! Decide who's the real KING OF FIGHTERS by challenging your friends via Wi-Fi Multiplayer!! ## Key features - 35 playable characters - Two gameplay modes (EXTRA and ADVANCED) - Affinity System for team selection - Wi-Fi Multiplayer mode - Customizable control schemes - Hidden characters unlocked ## Chart rankings - #136 in Top Paid · Action (US App Store) - #78 in Top Paid · Casual (US App Store) ## What do users think of THE KING OF FIGHTERS '97? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 🚀 Awesome game - 🚀 Brings back memories - 🚀 Great port - 🚀 Classic game - 🚀 Quality arcade fighting action **Cons** - 🐛 Controls are bad - 🐛 Buttons are messed up - 🐛 Unplayable - 🐛 Laggy - 🐛 Buttons are too big - 🐛 Buttons are not customizable - 🐛 Joystick is not responsive - 🐛 Difficulty is too high **Commonly reported bugs** - Buttons are not working - Buttons are overlapping - Game crashes on newer iOS devices - No sound - Controls are not working **Most requested features** - Add training mode - Add Orochi as a playable character - Improve difficulty settings - Update for iOS 11/14/15 compatibility - Add online multiplayer ## Recent user reviews (10 of 735) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-king-of-fighters-97/id727466621/reviews.md ### 1/5 — Ali *2026-07-12, version 1.3.1* I downloaded this game for orochi but unfortunately orochi character not available in this game I recommend no one download this game ### 1/5 — 超爛 *2026-05-15, version 1.3.1* 設計超級爛，簡易鈕也超爛，別浪費錢 ### 1/5 — É um emulador *2026-04-18, version 1.3.1* Jogar 20 reais no lixo poxa apple ai não da ### 5/5 — KOF 97 *2026-04-01, version 1.3.1* Great game works good on the iPhone 15 pro max ### 2/5 — Controle ruim *2026-03-26, version 1.3.1* Muito ruim jogar com esses controles ### 1/5 — Rubbish *2026-03-02, version 1.3.1* 簡易出招，優化系統做得非常差，明明十幾年前的KOF12手機版，做得非常優秀，就不明白為什麼這個遊戲可以做得這麼差。 ### 5/5 — . *2026-02-20, version 1.3.1* Poderiam colocar modo treinamento ### 4/5 — Brings back memories *2026-01-26, version 1.3.1* The game is overall fairly decent, the character selection is full of nostalgia, the difficulty seems to be a problem for newer players.. you had to be there to understand it (not trying to sound like an oldhead) + One flaw that nobody seems to point out is that for some odd reason you never get to fight Kim’s team, Yashiro’s team or Art of Fighting team. Why is that?? Overall, fairly good game. ### 3/5 — Unlocked orchi *2025-11-25, version 1.3.1* The game is awesome but the main thing is orchi is not available in this game. ### 1/5 — The design is absurd. *2025-09-07, version 1.3.1* Playing this game on a screen is simply a joke. Do not buy it. ## Frequently asked questions about THE KING OF FIGHTERS '97 ### What is THE KING OF FIGHTERS '97? THE KING OF FIGHTERS '97 is a classic 2D fighting game ported to iPhone and iPad. It allows players to choose from 35 iconic characters, including hidden ones, and engage in battles to stop an evil resurrection scheme. ### What are the main gameplay modes? The game features two distinct gameplay modes: EXTRA and ADVANCED. EXTRA mode focuses on evasion and strategic use of the Power gauge for Desperation Moves when health is low. ADVANCED mode emphasizes offense with multiple jump options and stocking Power gauges for MAX mode and Desperation Moves. ### How can I play with friends? You can challenge your friends to battles through the Wi-Fi Multiplayer mode. This allows you to determine who is the true King of Fighters by competing against each other directly. ### What devices is this app compatible with? This application is available for iPhone and iPad, offering a classic fighting experience on Apple mobile devices. ### Are there any in-app purchases or ads? Based on the provided information, the game is a paid application and does not feature in-app purchases or advertisements, offering an uninterrupted classic gaming experience. ## Version history (last 4 releases) ### 1.3.1 — 2022-04-19 Compatible with iOS14 or higher ### 1.1.2 — 2018-04-24 This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon. ・Updated to iOS11. ・Correction of a few minor issues. Important: Following the update to iOS8,「MULTIPLAYER　MODE」 requires now a Wi-Fi connection instead of a Bluetooth connection. Furthermore, please make sure to be first logged in to "Game Center" before starting a multiplayer session. ### 1.1 — 2014-02-22 ・Bugs fixed ・SP Button commands have been adjusted ---------------------------------------------- *[Important] Warning regarding iOS 8 ~ 11 This app may not run correctly under iOS 8 ~ 11. We apologize for the inconvenience that this may cause, and thank you for your kind understanding. ### 1.0 — 2013-11-11 No release notes. ## Apps similar to THE KING OF FIGHTERS '97 | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [BlazBlue RR](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blazblue-rr/id1070107731) | 4.1 (401) | Free | Games | | [Street Fighter IV CE](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/street-fighter-iv-ce/id1239299402) | 4.8 (21,410) | $0.99 | Games | | [SNOW BROS. classic](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/snow-bros-classic/id1492954691) | 4.7 (934) | Free | Games | | [Kung Fu Do Fighting](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kung-fu-do-fighting/id536059010) | 5.0 (2) | Free | Games | | [Bubble Bobble 2 classic](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bubble-bobble-2-classic/id1592058494) | 4.1 (22) | Free | Games | | [THE KING OF FIGHTERS AFK](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-king-of-fighters-afk/id6499177365) | 4.8 (2,738) | Free | Games | ## More apps by SNK CORPORATION - [THE KING OF FIGHTERS-i 2012](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-king-of-fighters-i-2012/id507937883) - [BLAZING STAR](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blazing-star/id529748424) - [METAL SLUG 3](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metal-slug-3/id530060483) - [METAL SLUG 1](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metal-slug-1/id574641836) - [METAL SLUG 2](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metal-slug-2/id589779009) - [METAL SLUG X](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metal-slug-x/id602990197) All apps by SNK CORPORATION: https://appshunter.io/developer/343539874 ## Related topics [the king of fighters afk](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/the-king-of-fighters-afk) · [fuse fighters](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/fuse-fighters) · [the king of fighters](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/the-king-of-fighters) · [the king of fighters 2002](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/the-king-of-fighters-2002) · [97](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/97) · [the king of fighters 2002 plus](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/the-king-of-fighters-2002-plus) · [snk](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/snk) · [kof](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/kof) · [kof mugen](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/kof-mugen) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-03.*