79
iRank94
Fighting2D Fighter
OfflineSoloMultiplayerCo-opSci-Fi2D
IGDB95· 11OC92· 78
Year 2014Dev Sora · Nintendo
50 Games like The King of Fighters 2002 that you should try
Games like The King of Fighters 2002 · Find similar →
More about this game →Ranking compiled by Lluis Enric Mayans, Founder & Head of ContentHow this is calculatedOrdered by an attribute-similarity model, not editorial opinion.
If The King of Fighters 2002 left you wanting more, this list of 50 similar games is for you. Each one shares part of its essence — fighting mechanics, setting scifi and offline — and is ranked by a similarity score computed across 7 attributes. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U comes closest (79/100).
iRank67/ 100
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Quick answer
The closest game to The King of Fighters 2002 is Super Smash Bros. for Wii U — scoring 79/100 on our similarity scale. Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Slap City follow close behind.
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Top games similar to The King of Fighters 2002
50 similar games foundUpdated May 2026
Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to The King of Fighters 2002. Each one has been evaluated across 7 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.
Fighting2D Fighter
OfflineSoloMultiplayerCo-op2D
IGDB91· 4
Year 2008Dev Sora · Nintendo
✓ Fits the 2D fighting games cluster, with fighting mechanics, offline and single-player focus
≠ Its own twist: precision platforming, melee combat and ranged combat, while skipping setting scifi
Released 6 years after The King of Fighters 2002.
Genre100Game mode100Visuals100
Fighting2D Fighter
MultiplayerSoloCo-opOffline2D
Steam👍 95%· 2.9KRAWG👍 79%· 29IGDB85· 1
Year 2018Dev LudosityPlaytime ~3hOn PC
✓ Same family of 2D fighting games: fighting mechanics, multiplayer gameplay and single-player focus
≠ Where it differs: brings precision platforming, melee combat and early access, while skipping setting scifi
Slap City is a streamlined platform fighter with characters and locations from the Ludosity universe! Slap your way through multiplayer modes like Battle and Slap Ball either locally or online, or take on a bunch of single-player challenges!
Released 16 years after The King of Fighters 2002.
Genre100Game mode100Visuals100
Fighting2D Fighter
MultiplayerCo-opOfflineSolo2D
Steam👍 94%· 15KRAWG👍 87%· 440MC86OC87· 165
Year 2022Dev Tribute Games · DotEmuPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox
✓ Both are 2D fighting games — sharing fighting mechanics, multiplayer gameplay and co op
≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, vibe casual and strong narrative focus, while skipping setting scifi
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge reunites Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello to kick shell in a beautifully realized pixel art world invoking the turtles’ classic 1987 design.
Where it drifts furthest from The King of Fighters 2002: setting.
Released 20 years after The King of Fighters 2002.
Genre100Game mode100Visuals54Setting0
Fighting2D Fighter
SoloMultiplayerCo-opOffline2D
Steam👍 96%· 38KRAWG👍 77%· 114
Year 2017Dev Dan FornacePlaytime ~4hOn PC · Xbox · Nintendo
✓ Same family of 2D fighting games: fighting mechanics, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay
≠ Its own twist: precision platforming, competitive edge and melee combat, while skipping setting scifi
Rivals of Aether is a platform fighting game developed and published by Dan Fornace in 2014. The game takes heavy inspiration from the founder series of its genre, Super Smash Bros., and specifically its second entry, Super Smash Bros. Melee.
Released 15 years after The King of Fighters 2002.
Genre100Game mode88Visuals58
Fighting2D Fighter
OfflineMultiplayerCo-opSolo2D
Steam👍 92%· 19KIGDB83· 12OC84· 150
Year 2020Dev DotEmuOn PS4 · Linux · Android
✓ Both are 2D fighting games — sharing fighting mechanics, offline and multiplayer gameplay
≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, deep RPG systems and action RPG combat, while skipping setting scifi
Released 18 years after The King of Fighters 2002.
Genre100Visuals100Game mode85
Fighting2D Fighter
MultiplayerCo-opSoloOffline2D
Steam👍 97%· 6.6KRAWG👍 81%· 70MC82IGDB90· 1OC81· 11
Year 2018Dev Team ReptilePlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Xbox
✓ Same family of 2D fighting games: fighting mechanics, multiplayer gameplay and co op
≠ Stands apart with sports simulation, competitive edge and melee combat, while skipping setting scifi
Lethal League Blaze is an intense, high speed ball game, with unique characters, outta sight sounds and none of that weak shit. In Shine City, the anti-gravity ball game has long been illegal. The group who kept playing was dubbed the Lethal League.
Released 16 years after The King of Fighters 2002.
Genre100Visuals100Game mode81
Fighting2D Fighter
MultiplayerOfflineSoloSci-Fi2D
Steam👍 96%· 80
Year 2019Dev Haunted TiePlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux
✓ Fits the 2D fighting games cluster, with fighting mechanics, setting scifi and multiplayer gameplay
≠ Stands apart with precision platforming, punishing difficulty and melee combat, while skipping co op
Play as a karate master starfish, a space slug, or a prince sausage firin’ some... BIG LAZEEEERS! Choose one of the 8+ heroes, each with unique skills and try to win the Domiverse Tournament ™. You will dive into a wacky world where each hit kills.
Released 17 years after The King of Fighters 2002.
Genre100Setting73Game mode67Visuals58
Fighting2D Fighter
SoloMultiplayerCo-opSci-Fi2D
IGDB87· 15OC92· 149
Year 2018Dev Sora · NintendoOn Switch
✓ Both are 2D fighting games — sharing fighting mechanics, setting scifi and single-player focus
≠ Where it differs: brings precision platforming, dark, oppressive atmosphere and fantasy world, while skipping offline
Released 16 years after The King of Fighters 2002.
Genre100Visuals100Game mode77Setting56
70
iRank79
Fighting2D Fighter
MultiplayerCo-opOfflineSolo2D
Steam👍 94%· 6.1KRAWG👍 73%· 190MC82IGDB63· 2OC71· 16
Year 2014Dev Team ReptilePlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Xbox
✓ Both are 2D fighting games — sharing fighting mechanics, multiplayer gameplay and co op
≠ Its own twist: sports simulation, competitive edge and melee combat, while skipping setting scifi
Lethal League - the opportunity to express the most criminal desires. For example, to pierce the face of your opponent. But not directly - in the process of playing baseball. You can play six characters on seven rings.
Where it drifts furthest from The King of Fighters 2002: setting.
Released 12 years after The King of Fighters 2002.
Genre100Game mode89Visuals79Setting0
67
iRank84
Fighting2D Fighter
Co-opMultiplayerSoloOffline2D
Steam👍 84%· 635
Year 2021Dev Will Winn GamesPlaytime ~1hOn PC
✓ Same family of 2D fighting games: fighting mechanics, co op and multiplayer gameplay
≠ Its own twist: precision platforming, vibe casual and combat tactical, while skipping setting scifi
Plunder Panic is a swashbuckling, up to 12-player action-arcade game where two rival crews battle for supremacy on the high seas! Featuring both local and online play, work with your crew to plunder booty, defeat the enemy captain, or scuttle their ship.
Released 19 years after The King of Fighters 2002.
Genre100Game mode71Visuals59
Fighting2D Fighter
SoloMultiplayerOfflineCo-op2D
Steam👍 72%· 46KIGDB84· 6OC84· 148
Year 2023Dev NetherRealm Studios · WB GamesOn Xbox · PC · PS5
✓ Fits the 2D fighting games cluster, with fighting mechanics, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay
≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling, horror tension and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping setting scifi
Where it drifts furthest from The King of Fighters 2002: setting.
Released 21 years after The King of Fighters 2002.
Genre100Visuals86Game mode83Setting0
71
iRank66
Fighting2D Fighter
OfflineSoloMultiplayerSci-Fi2D
IGDB66· 7
Year 2012Dev SuperBot Entertainment · Sony Computer EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3
✓ Both are 2D fighting games — sharing fighting mechanics, setting scifi and offline
≠ Stands apart with precision platforming, dark, oppressive atmosphere and visual third person, while skipping co op
Released 10 years after The King of Fighters 2002.
Genre100Setting100Game mode84Visuals69
#14Brawlhalla
70
iRank69
Fighting2D Fighter
SoloMultiplayerCo-opOffline2D
Steam👍 80%· 406KRAWG👍 47%· 1.1KIGDB75· 1OC68· 12
Year 2014Dev Ubisoft · Ubisoft EntertainmentPlaytime ~2hOn PC · PS · Xbox
✓ Both are 2D fighting games — sharing fighting mechanics, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay
≠ Stands apart with precision platforming, vibe casual and melee combat, while skipping setting scifi
Brawlhalla is a free-to-play fighting game with platformer elements. You pick a character from 39 available heroes (this amount is increasing with new updates) and try to knock your opponent off the stage. The controls are simple to make the game easy to master.
Where it drifts furthest from The King of Fighters 2002: setting.
Released 12 years after The King of Fighters 2002.
Genre100Visuals100Game mode89Setting0
Fighting2D Fighter
SoloMultiplayerCo-op2DRanged
IGDB100· 1
Year 2001Dev HAL Laboratory · Nintendo
✓ Both are 2D fighting games — sharing fighting mechanics, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay
≠ Stands apart with precision platforming and ranged combat, while skipping setting scifi
Genre100Visuals100Game mode77
Complete list of The King of Fighters 2002 alternatives
The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with The King of Fighters 2002, ordered from highest to lowest similarity score. Use the filters above to narrow down by genre, setting or game mode and find the alternative that best fits your playstyle.
71
Street Fighter X Tekken
Fighting
63
Roof Rage
Fighting · Platformer
63
Injustice 2
Fighting
65
MultiVersus
Fighting · Platformer
61
Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition
Fighting
62
Nidhogg
Fighting · Sports
62
Mortal Kombat X
Fighting
63
The King of Fighters XIII
Fighting
60
Street Fighter 6
Fighting · Adventure
59
Ancient Dungeon
Fighting · RPG
61
Mortal Kombat 11
Fighting
62
ULTIMATE MARVEL VS. CAPCOM 3
Fighting
63
Mortal Kombat: Deception
Fighting · Puzzle
61
SoulCalibur VI
Fighting
61
TEKKEN 7
Fighting · Sports
62
THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 ULTIMATE MATCH FINAL EDITION
Fighting
62
Killer Instinct
Fighting
62
Dead or Alive 2
Fighting
61
Ultra Street Fighter IV
Fighting
58
Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes
Fighting
61
Party Hard
Fighting · Puzzle
58
Persona 4 Arena
Fighting · RPG
58
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
Fighting · Platformer
57
GigaBash
Fighting · Battle Royale
63
The King of Fighters '98
Fighting
62
WWE 2K18
Fighting · Sports
63
The King of Fighters '97
Fighting
52
Super Street Fighter IV
Fighting
62
Mortal Kombat 4
Fighting
61
Mortal Kombat Trilogy
Fighting
52
Injustice: Gods Among Us
Fighting · Adventure
60
Dragon Ball GT: Final Bout
Fighting
59
Tekken Tag Tournament
Fighting
59
Street Fighter II
Fighting
59
Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi
Fighting
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Rankings in the same genre
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best game similar to The King of Fighters 2002?
- The closest game to The King of Fighters 2002 is Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, scoring 79/100 on our similarity scale. They share 7 gameplay attributes, including fighting mechanics, offline and single-player focus. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
- What are the top games like The King of Fighters 2002?
- The three closest games to The King of Fighters 2002 are: 1. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U (79/100, 7 shared attributes) 2. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (72/100, 6 shared attributes) 3. Slap City (72/100, 6 shared attributes). All share The King of Fighters 2002's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 50 candidates across 7 dimensions.
- Is Super Smash Bros. Brawl similar to The King of Fighters 2002?
- Yes, very much so — Super Smash Bros. Brawl scores 72/100 similarity to The King of Fighters 2002. They share 6 attributes, including fighting mechanics and offline. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
- What Fighting games are similar to The King of Fighters 2002?
- The best Fighting games similar to The King of Fighters 2002 are Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Slap City and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge. All share the Fighting genre alongside other key The King of Fighters 2002 attributes like fighting mechanics, offline and single-player focus.
- How is similarity to The King of Fighters 2002 calculated?
- We compare The King of Fighters 2002 against every game in our catalog using 7 gameplay attributes: genre, atmosphere, world structure, play modes, combat style, and more. Each category is weighted differently — genre matters more than visual style, for instance. The result is a 0-100 score reflecting how closely a game replicates the The King of Fighters 2002 experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.
- Are there free games similar to The King of Fighters 2002?
- Yes — Brawlhalla is free and scores well on similarity to The King of Fighters 2002. It's a great way to test whether the play style clicks before investing in other paid titles.