SNK’s long-running fighting game series, The King of Fighters, receives its latest installment in The King of Fighters XIV. The new game introduces the first ever 3D models in KOF history, replacing traditional hand-drawn sprites. New and old characters alike fill out the exciting King of Fighters XIV roster of playable characters, bridging from all across the series’ history.
The roster of The King of Fighters XIV features massive 16 teams consisting of three fighters each, the standard grouping of characters for the series. Alongside non-playable bosses, the total roster of characters sits at 50. There are 18 new characters, with two teams consisting of entirely new fighters. Combatants native to other SNK series such as Fatal Fury, Samurai Shodown, and Art of Fighting make significant appearances throughout this list. So, without further ado, here’s the King of Fighters XIV roster.
Japan Team
Kyo Kusanagi Kyo Kusanagi is the main protagonist of the King of Fighters series. Kyo has good intentions but comes off as quite cocky. Kyo has the ability to control fire. He can channel fire from thin air, hurl fireballs, throw punches engulfed in flames, and cover his own body with fire.
Benimaru Nikaido Benimaru Nikaido was introduced way back in The King of Fighters ’94. Benimaru specializes in shooting techniques and casting electricity, with his fighting style focused on speed over raw power.
Goro Daimon Goro Daimon was also first introduced in The King of Fighters ’94. He always seems to have a serious expression on his face but has a warm heart. Goro’s strength encompasses earth elements based on Judo and Jujutsu fighting techniques.
Kim Team
Kim Kaphwan Kim Kaphwan is a character first introduced in Fatal Fury 2. He is a master of Taekwondo and considers himself a fighter of justice. Kim has the ability to tell if someone is evil by just a glance, which sounds very useful.
Gang-il Gang-il is a new character joining The King of Fighters XIVroster. Gang-il is the chairman of the Tae Kwon Do Federation and is Kim’s master. He’s known for the strength of his kicks, along with being a womanizer.
Luong Luong is another new character introduced in The King of Fighters XIV. Luong is an elegant and seductive women with her own mysterious motivations. She likes to play with her opponents in battle. She fell in love with Gang-il during his world tour.
China Team
Shun’ei Shun’ei is a new fighter introduced in The King of Fighters XIV. He is a major character in the game’s story arc and is a manipulator of illusions. Shun’ei has the ability to perform two air dashes, which act as special moves.
Tung Fu Rue Tung Fu Rue is a fighter first introduced in Fatal Fury: King of Fighters. He is a master of Hakkyokuseiken and trained various characters in the fighting style. His fighting style utilizes chi energy into his attacks and special moves.
Meitenkun Meitenkun is a brand new combatant for The King of Fighters XIV roster. He’s a young, sleepy fighter who is always seen holding his special pillow. He also fights using the Hakkyokuseiken style and is a master of concealing his energy from others.
Fatal Fury Team
Terry Bogard Terry Bogard is the protagonist of the Fatal Fury game series. He’s an iconic SNK character, having appeared in every Fatal Fury and King of Fighters game to date. Terry’s fighting style utilizes a mixture of boxing, karate, kung fu, kickboxing, and street fighting.
Andy Bogard Andy Bogard is another major character in the Fatal Fury and King of Fighters series. He’s quiet, stoic, and always sets his sights on improving himself. Andy utilizes the Koppouken fighting style, an old Japanese martial art that includes Karate and Ninjutsu moves.
Joe Higashi Joe Higashi is a character in the Fatal Fury and King of Fighters series. He has a goofy personality that’s used frequently as comic relief. Joe utilizes traditional Muay Thai moves and can throw punches at incredible speed.
Official Invitation Team
Sylvie Paula Paula Sylvie Paula Paula is a new fighter introduced in The King of Fighters XIV. She’s one of the remnants of the NESTS cartel and has an unstable, childlike personality. Her fighting style heavily centers around controlling electricity.
Kukri Kukri is another fresh addition to The King of Fighters XIV roster. He’s a mysterious fighter who hides his face with a hood at all times. His fighting style uses sand in order to trick, attack, and defend when fighting opponents.
Mian Mian is a new character introduced in The King of Fighters XIV. She’s a fierce dancer who organizes underground tournaments with Sylvie. Her fighting style incorporates the Chinese dancing art of the Sichuanese Opera.
Mexico Team
Ramon Ramon is a fighter first introduced in The King of Fighters 2000. He likes to flirt with girls and gets along well with children. His fighting style is a high-flying luchador technique that utilizes a lot of bodyslams.
Angel Angel was first introduced in The King of Fighters 2001. She lighthearted and flirtatious but can also be violent and sadistic. Her fighting style incorporates elements of Muay Thai and professional wrestling.
King of Dinosaurs King of Dinosaurs is a new character introduced in The King of Fighters XIV. This mysterious wrestler wears a T-Rex mask. His fighting style is grapple-focused, with crushing hold attacks.
K’ Team
K’ K’ (pronounced K Dash) first joined the series in The King of Fighters ’99. He has a serious personality and is easy to enrage. His fighting style is dubbed “Pure Violence” but incorporates elements of Jeet Kune Do.
Kula Diamond Kula Diamond made her first appearance in The King of Fighters 2000. Raised a heartless killer, Kula has begun to show more human-like emotions. Her fighting style encompasses control of ice, allowing her create ice and summon crystals.
Maxima Maxima joined the roster in The King of Fighters ’99. He’s an honorable man who is devoted to his responsibilities. His fighting style is augmented by technology, giving him superhuman strength and endurance.
Women Fighter’s Team
King King is a crossover from the Art of Fighting game series. She’s kind and trustworthy, and extremely loyal to her friends. Her fighting style is a very distinct type of Muay Thai, encompassing several aerobatic jumping kicks.
Mai Shiranui Mai Shiranui was first introduced in Fatal Fury 2 and is one of SNK’s more famous characters. She’s a cheerful airhead who admires beauty and attractiveness. Her fighting style utilizes Shiranui-ryuu, a form of ninjutsu that combines with fire powers.
Alice Alice was (oddly enough) introduced in the pachinko slot machine game Garou Densetsu The Legend of Wild Wolf. She’s a cheerful young girl who loves to make lewd jokes. Her fighting style is a hybrid between Fatal Fury characters Terry, Andy, Joe, and Rock.
South America Team
Nelson Nelson is a new fighter introduced in The King of Fighters XIV. He fights to become a world champion all while he waits for his fiance to wake from a coma. His fighting style is traditional boxing, utilizing powerful punches and quick footwork.
Zarina Zarina makes her debut in The King of Fighters XIV. She fights to protect the nesting of her toucan companion Coco whose species is threatened by extinction. Her fighting style utilizes samba dancing and capoeira.
Bandeiras Hattori Bandeiras Hattori is a new character introduced in The King of Fighters XIV. He’s the founder of the Brazilian Ninja Arts Dojo. His fighting style utilizing ninjutsu with moves varying from strikes and flashy throws.
Another World Team
Nakoruru Nakoruru made her first appearance in Samurai Shodown. She’s calm and gentle and often shy towards people. Her fighting style incorporates the arts of the Ainu people and uses a kodachi.
Mui Mui Mui Mui is a character first introduced in the SNK pachinko game Dragon Gal. She is very affectionate and always seems to be hungry. Her fighting style is a basic kung-fu with ancient roots.
Love Heart Love Heart made her debut in the SNK pachinko game series Sky Love. Her personality is somewhat mysterious. Her fighting style utilizes a sword and she uses Airstream Arts.
Ikari Team
Ralf Jones Ralf Jones was first introduced in the top-down shooter T.N.K. III. He’s very hot-blooded and cares only for action. His fighting style is a mercenary combat style that uses some wrestling moves and punches.
Clark Still Clark Still is a fighter first introduced the arcade game Ikari Warriors. He is known for his undying loyalty and rarely displays much emotion. His fighting style is a mercenary combat style that focuses more on grappling than strikes.
Leona Heidern Leona Heidern made her first appearance in The King of Fighters ’96. She has trouble displaying emotions and rarely expresses herself outside of her mission.
Psycho Soldier Team
Athena Asamiya Athena Asamiya is a fighter first introduced in the action arcade game Psycho Soldier. She is outgoing, polite, and friendly with righteous virtues. Her fighting style incorporates Wing Chun Kung-Fu and her psychic abilities.
Sie Kensou Sie Kensou was also first introduced in Psycho Soldier. He is outgoing, goofy, and dislikes training. His fighting style incorporates Northern Shaolin, an aerobatic style of Kung-Fu.
Chin Gentsai Chin Gentsai is another fighter who debuted in Psycho Soldier. He is an old acquaintance of Tung Fu Rue and loves to get drunk. He is a master of various fighting styles but relies mostly on Drunken Fist.
Yagami Team
Iori Yagami Iori Yagami made his groundbreaking debut in The King of Fighters ’95. He’s the sworn rival of Kyo Kusanagi, battling him for decades in KOF titles. His fighting style is the Yaskani style of ancient martial arts which incorporates the use of claws.
Mature Mature is a fighter first introduced in The King of Fighters ’96. She is known for her ruthlessness and for toying with her victims. Her fighting style utilizes speed and cutting powers alongside acrobatic maneuvers.
Vice Vice debuted in The King of Fighters ’96. She is a violent person and takes great pleasure in killing others. Her fighting style focusing on grappling and a variety of throws.
Villains Team
Xanadu Xanadu is a new addition to The King of Fighters XIV roster. He considers himself to be a superior intellectual in the world and has a childlike battle temperament. His fighting style utilizes his superhuman strength and sonic yells.
Chang Koehan Chang Koehan is a fighter first introduced in The King of Fighters ’94. Once a brutal man, he has become more lethargic and silly over time. His fighting style revolves around the use of a steel ball and powerful striking.
Choi Bounge Choi Bounge is another fighter first playable in The King of Fighters ’94. His appearance greatly resembles horror film character, Freddie Kruger. His fighting style uses steel claws he created himself.
South Town Team
Geese Howard Geese Howard was first seen as the very challenging boss in arcade game Fatal Fury: King of Fighters. He considers himself a mighty warrior and thinks very highly of himself. His fighting style resembles Aikijutsu, with a focus on throws, counter throws, and locks.
Billy Kane Billy Kane made his debut alongside Geese in Fatal Fury: King of Fighters. He lives a life of crime and likes to focus on earning easy money. His fighting style uses a sansetsukon, or three-section staff.
Hein Hein is a new fighter introduced in The King of Fighters XIV. He is modest and mild-mannered but hides a sadistic side. His fighting style is called Gambits, an elegant style with moves named after chess terminology.
Art of Fighting Team
Ryo Sakazaki Ryo Sakazaki is a bit of a silly fighter first introduced in game Art of Fightingas a parody of Street Fighter’s Ken and Ryu. He takes fighting very seriously and is loyal to his friends and family. His fighting style is called Kyokugenryu Karate and revolves around the use of fierce punching attacks.
Robert Garcia Robert Garcia is a character first introduced in Art of Fighting. His personality resembles the stereotypical rich partying playboy. His fighting style is also Kyokugenryu Karate but focuses more on lethal kicks.
Yuri Sakazaki Yuri Sakazaki is a character first introduced in Art of Fighting 2. She focuses on self-improvement and loves to find new trends. Her fighting style is a lower level Kyokugenryu Karate, though she sometimes imitates moves from Street Fighters characters as well.
WHEW! That’s one big roster for a modern fighting game, isn’t it. You can see them all in action now thatKing of Fighters XIV arrives on PlayStation 4 on August 23. And if you want to learn more about these characters and their histories, be sure to check out our expansive SNK Wiki!
