The King of Fighters XIV

Whether or not you dig its new look, KOF 14 offers everything you could want in a fighting game: refined gameplay, a bevy of appealing characters, and accessibility that gives way to complex depth.

79%Game Brain Score

graphics, gameplay

stability, character development

82% User Score Based on 809 reviews

Critic Score 77%Based on 12 reviews

Platforms

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About

The King of Fighters XIV is a single player and multiplayer arcade fighting game. It was developed by SNK CORPORATION and was released on June 15, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"The King of Fighters XIV" is a fighting game that offers both single-player and multi-player modes. The game features 3D graphics while maintaining its classic 2D gameplay and 3-on-3 team battle system. This new edition marks the beginning of a new saga, welcoming back beloved characters and introducing newcomers to the series.

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82%

Audience ScoreBased on 809 reviews

graphics69 positive mentions

stability16 negative mentions

The game features a large roster of over 50 characters, providing a diverse selection for players.
Gameplay is fast-paced and accessible, with a new Rush combo system that makes it easier for newcomers to perform combos.
The graphics and animations have improved since launch, and the game runs well on a variety of PC hardware.

The game suffers from frequent crashes and bugs, making it frustrating to play, especially in online modes.
Online matchmaking is often dead, with very few players available, leading to long wait times for matches.
The story mode is considered weak and lacks depth compared to previous entries in the series.

graphics
230 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
58%
12%
The graphics of "King of Fighters XIV" have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the transition to 3D has brought some improvements, the visuals often feel dated and lack the vibrancy of previous 2D entries. Some appreciate the smooth animations and character designs, while others criticize the art style as unappealing and the graphics as subpar compared to contemporary fighting games. Overall, while the graphics may not be the game's strongest aspect, many players find that the engaging gameplay and extensive character roster compensate for these visual shortcomings.
- “The game's visuals are also impressive, with detailed character models and vibrant, colorful backgrounds.”
- “Great graphics, smooth gameplay and fun combat.”
- “The graphics are very good with some great detail and nice looking backgrounds, that SNK are typically known for.”
- “The graphics are definitely dated; even when the game was released in 2017, they felt a little behind the curve.”
- “The game looks bad on every possible level; the models, effects, animations, majority of cutscenes, and aesthetic designs all look bizarrely bad, to the point that the game is less fun to play as a result.”
- “The graphics, while polished, resemble 'wax dolls' polished, lacking the charm and detail expected from a modern fighting game.”
gameplay
186 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
57%
3%
The gameplay of King of Fighters XIV is praised for its smooth mechanics and accessibility, featuring a refined combo system that welcomes newcomers while still offering depth for veterans. Although the visuals may not match those of its contemporaries, the game compensates with fast-paced, skill-intensive combat and a diverse roster of over 50 characters. Overall, players appreciate the solid gameplay experience, enhanced by a robust tutorial mode and a variety of game modes, making it a compelling choice for both new and returning fans of the series.
- “The core of KOF XIV lies in its refined fighting mechanics.”
- “The gameplay of KOF XIV is where it shines the brightest; it's smooth, consistent, and solid, making it both welcoming to newcomers (with the rush system) as well as catering for the hardcore fans like myself.”
- “While it doesn’t push the visual envelope and its initial aesthetic choices may not appeal to everyone, it compensates with fast-paced, skill-intensive gameplay, a deep and varied roster, and a robust set of game modes.”
- “Fighting mechanics are beyond horrible and wooden... 0 fun.”
- “The art style is hideous and the gameplay on a surface level failed to impress me.”
- “Gameplay is meh.”
story
140 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
79%
7%
The story mode of the game follows a traditional arcade ladder format, featuring a straightforward narrative centered around a new KOF tournament and its enigmatic organizer. While the storytelling is often criticized for being basic and lacking depth compared to previous entries, it does provide some engaging lore and fan-service moments, making it enjoyable for long-time series fans. Overall, the story mode is seen as a mixed bag, with some appreciating its nostalgic elements and cutscenes, while others find it lacking in substance and complexity.
- “Story mode is presented in a traditional arcade ladder format with pre- and post-fight dialogue and an overarching narrative involving a mysterious new KOF tournament and its ominous organizer.”
- “The story of this title might be a little weak or poorly explained, but that didn't stop SNK from giving every official team their own ending animation and even adding an ending scene for some 'unofficial' teams.”
- “Overall, excellent characters and story, that I can't wait to experience more of in KOF XV!”
- “The story mode is fast to finish, not that difficult.”
- “Barely any story; if you're new to the series, there's really nothing here to go on for. You're supposed to know what is what; there's no lore written inside the game, just slideshow endings, most of them bad and awful.”
- “The only weak element of the game was the story mode.”
music
75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
47%
4%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its energetic and diverse soundtrack that complements the fast-paced gameplay. Highlights include remixed classic themes and unique tracks for rival matches, contributing to an overall enjoyable auditory experience. While some critiques mention inconsistencies in quality, the majority agree that the soundtrack is a standout feature, enhancing the game's appeal.
- “The game's soundtrack is also noteworthy, with an excellent selection of high-energy tracks that perfectly match the game's fast-paced action.”
- “The music, like in all KOF titles, is amazing and an absolute treat to listen to.”
- “Snk's talented composers have once again outdone themselves with the soundtrack of this game and are continually adding more wonderful tunes via free updates.”
- “From the obnoxious music to the weak graphics, the bugs, poor controller support, and even worse customer support.”
- “Musics a hit and miss, mostly miss, but when it's a hit, it's a good hit.”
- “The menu theme for the story mode really kills it and I personally think that that is one of this game's major contributions to the genre; all fighting games should have alternate music for character selection for the story/arcade mode.”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
89%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and graphical glitches that hinder gameplay. While some users have experienced smooth performance without issues, the overall consensus highlights significant stability problems, particularly during online matches and after extended play sessions. Troubleshooting efforts have often proven ineffective, leading to frustration among players.
- “The online match had no bugs or freezing issues for me, unlike many others, but the problem is the low player count online at the time.”
- “Very smooth and beautiful game; it is pretty polished and runs great without any problems.”
- “But I have spent more time troubleshooting than playing already, and it is so disheartening.”
- “First of all, I thought the reviews were a little exaggerated, but the reviews (again) were not wrong; the game is literally unplayable on the Steam release because when you start the game, it has screen glitches, or it simply crashes.”
- “There's all kinds of bugs, ranging from the game's framerate just being inexplicably slowed down, lobbies not working properly, crashes, freezes, the whole nine yards.”
optimization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while it runs smoothly on a variety of PC hardware and features good input optimization for keyboards, some users report crashes and issues with the port's performance, particularly on certain setups. Many recommend playing on a PS4 instead, citing the PC version as overpriced and poorly optimized. Despite solid character designs and gameplay, there is a consensus that further optimization could enhance the experience significantly.
- “Performance-wise, the Steam edition runs well on a wide range of PC hardware.”
- “Really good gameplay and graphics, good optimization.”
- “The input optimization for keyboard is also very good.”
- “If you have a PS4, just get it on there instead of this overpriced, unoptimized port.”
- “I tried all the remedies to get it working, overclocking my Intel Core i7 6700HQ and my GTX 1060 on my VR laptop, and making it max performance in all senses, and nothing worked.”
- “This port, however, wasn't optimized very well and as a result I just cannot recommend this game to many.”
character development
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
Character development in the game is met with mixed reviews; while many appreciate the improved graphics and unique character designs compared to previous titles, some criticize certain characters for appearing overly simplistic or reminiscent of low-quality mobile games. The roster is praised for its diversity and complexity, though a few designs are considered less appealing. Overall, the character designs are seen as a step up, but there are still areas for improvement.
- “The character designs are very nice.”
- “Excellent controls, highly improved graphics, and a huge roster of characters with SNK's unique unorthodox character design.”
- “Character designs are nice, better than KOF XIII, with some details that could anyway be improved.”
- “Everyone looks like a cheap character design for some random mobile game.”
- “My advice is: grab it on a >70% sale or try emulation/cracked because you won't play online anyway and if you're hooked on the classic SNK pixel art like me, you won't be replaying this much because the cheap character design would disturb your fondest memories of previous KOF games.”
- “Some new character design is a bit lame as well (at least for me).”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as a mix of clever character interactions and hilarious story cutscenes, with some players finding the game's contradictions amusing. While some aspects may be seen as "so bad it's funny," the overall tone leans towards witty rather than slapstick, appealing to those who appreciate depth in humor.
- “The game is funny.”
- “+ pretty hilarious story cutscenes.”
- “There are character interactions that have depth and humor, not slapstick goofy cringy humor like Tekken.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
86%
Reviews highlight that while the game offers accessibility features for newcomers, veterans may find the grinding necessary to master its complex systems and extensive character roster. Players appreciate the depth and challenge, but some note that repetitive stages can make grinding feel tedious. Overall, the game caters to all skill levels, though achieving proficiency may require significant time investment.
- “Awesome game for all skill levels, with 50+ characters that have unique personalities and play styles, and no grinding required.”
- “These little treasures breathe a bit of extra life into the wide cast of characters, as tedious as it may become to run through the same, rather unchanging stages over and over for them.”
- “If it's anything like it was on PS4, though, it's probably a little too rough to recommend grinding ranked.”
- “The second issue does tie directly into this... 'getting good' requires an immense number of hours and with a roster of 54 characters, a lot of grinding.”
monetization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
14%
57%
The game is praised for its fair monetization model, featuring no microtransactions and reasonably priced DLCs that expand the character roster without overwhelming players with aggressive monetization tactics. In contrast to other fighting games like Street Fighter V, which has been criticized for in-game ads and exploitative DLC practices, this title focuses on delivering a complete and enjoyable experience without intrusive monetization schemes.
- “Furthermore, microtransactions are nowhere to be found and the two roster expansion DLCs are priced very fairly: 100% of SNK's effort went into making the base game enjoyable, and it comes across immediately when you start playing.”
- “A rock-solid 2.5D fighter with 50 characters in the base game, 8 more in the DLCs, and no microtransactions beyond that.”
- “It's DLC store is not nearly as decadent or greedy as, say, DOA 5's or even how brazenly 'cash grabbing' NetherRealm Studios got with many of its DLC offerings for MK X.”
- “Look at Street Fighter V; they also have a free weekend, but they include ads to gather more money. People who already bought it also get ads in-game. What a shame.”
- “There's no in-your-face monetization schemes.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
20%
40%
The game offers a decent level of replayability through its variety of single-player modes, multiple endings, and a large roster of 58 characters (with DLC), allowing for countless team combinations. While the single-player options are somewhat limited, the inclusion of online play and various modes enhances the overall replay value, making it enjoyable for both solo and multiplayer experiences. Overall, players can expect significant replayability from the game's diverse content.
- “While there are only 4 main single player modes, where KOF has always done well is roster size and this one is no exception. If you buy the DLC pack with the extra characters, there are 58 playable characters, and even without DLC you still get roughly 50, with 3 fighters per team that adds up to literally thousands of combinations and massive replay value.”
- “Overall - a great game with lots of replayability with the story mode and other modes or with friends online.”
- “There is some replay value with the various endings for each team; after that, replay (in my opinion) will mostly encompass versus play.”
- “While there are only 4 main single player modes, where KOF has always done well is roster size and this one is no exception. If you buy the DLC pack with the extra characters, there are 58 playable characters. Even without DLC, you still get roughly 50, with 3 fighters per team that adds up to literally thousands of combinations and massive replay value.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is described in a humorous and unconventional manner, with a focus on the tactile experience of the controller joysticks, likening them to intimate interactions. However, this perspective may not resonate with all players, as it blends playful innuendo with gaming mechanics.