The King of Fighters '96 cover art for Arcade

Arcade · 1996

The King of Fighters '96

The King of Fighters ’96 changes the series’ movement with emergency rolls and more varied jump heights.

Platform
Arcade
Genre
Action
Release year
1996
Developer
SNK
Players
1-2 Players

Play The King of Fighters '96

Arcade

🕹️

The King of Fighters '96

Click the button below to launch the Arcade emulator and start playing instantly in your browser.

Having trouble starting?

Wait for larger games to download. If loading stalls, reload and try again. Check your connection and allow this site's player files if a browser extension blocked them. Once the screen appears, click inside it before using the keyboard.

Read the playing help

Control panel

Arcade controls

Arrow keys move · V inserts a coin in coin-operated games · Enter starts · Z / X / A / S are action keys.

A compatible gamepad can be used after launch.

Keyboard layoutOpen / close
MOVE
Up arrowLeft arrowRight arrowDown arrow
Action
AXZS

Start a coin-operated game

  1. Launch the player and click inside the game screen.
  2. Press V to insert a coin, then Enter to start.
  3. If the game has its own selection menu, follow the on-screen prompts.

Default Player 1 keys are shown. If you changed them or use a gamepad, check the player’s control settings.

System: Move the pointer over the game screen to reveal the player toolbar, or tap its menu button on touch devices. Use the toolbar for save and load states, fullscreen, and control settings.

Save or load game progress

Launch the game to check save-state support.

Save progress keeps one emulator snapshot for this game on this browser. Saving again replaces that snapshot. Download a backup before clearing site data or changing devices. No account or cloud sync is provided.

Import an OLDGAMES backup on this same game page, then launch and choose Resume saved game. Older .state files use the player’s Load State menu.

Favorites bookmark this page; they do not save progress.

  1. After launching, reveal the player toolbar by moving the pointer over the game screen or tapping its menu button.
  2. Choose the save-state download option when available and keep the file.
  3. To restore it, launch the same game and choose the load-state option. Check the restored progress before replacing an older backup.

In-game saves and emulator states are different. Availability varies by game and player. Browser storage can be cleared; a downloaded backup is not cloud sync.

More about controls and backups

About The King of Fighters '96

The King of Fighters '96 — Arcade edition
The King of Fighters '96 · Arcade · 1996

The King of Fighters ’96 changes the series’ movement with emergency rolls and more varied jump heights.

Rolls change the approach

Three-character teams remain central, but movement gives ’96 a different rhythm from ’95. Emergency evasion lets a fighter roll toward or away from an opponent, while different jump heights create more ways to approach. The roster also brings together several earlier boss characters.

Check your side after evading

A forward roll can take you through to the other side of your opponent. Check where you finish before entering a directional move; your character may now be facing the opposite way. Try the different jump heights as well, since each changes the timing of your approach.

Movement across three KOF entries

The King of Fighters ’95 uses the earlier dodge system. The King of Fighters ’97 adds the Advanced and Extra style choice.

Background and mechanics: Wikipedia game reference.

Secret Codes & Cheats

Check the edition and timing requirements before entering a code. Button names refer to the emulated controller; use your assigned keyboard or controller inputs.

Play as Bosses (Chizuru Kagura & Goenitz)
Select Team Edit, hold Start, press: Up + B, Right + C, Left + A, Down + D

On the Team Edit screen, hold Start and press Up + B, Right + C, Left + A, Down + D. Chizuru Kagura and the wind-wielding boss Goenitz become available at the top of the roster.

Playing this edition

Where are the controls?

The control panel below the game screen shows this edition’s keys. Click inside the game before using your keyboard.

How do I save or change controls?

Open the player menu for the options available in this emulator. Save support varies by game and player; see the playing help for more guidance.

Where can I find more games like this?

Browse Action games across systems, or stay with the Arcade catalogue. Related picks below explain how each game connects.