Free-to-play mobile KOF port

THE KING OF FIGHTERS-A 2012F is a free action game from SNK Corporation. Released for the 20th anniversary of the King of Fighters franchise, this mobile fighting game features new characters on top of the growing KOF roster. It comes in six game modes for extended replayability, both for casual and serious players.

With the signature SNK art style and a cast of recognizable characters, THE KING OF FIGHTERS-A 2012F is a serious fighting game, like Skullgirls or Shadow Fight 3. The biggest gap for a game this enjoyable is its lack of gamepad support for more traditional players.

Your KOF 13 on-the-go

In terms of visuals and interface, THE KING OF FIGHTERS-A 2012F feels a lot like King of Fighters 13 compressed for mobile. There are over 30 characters to choose from, including canon teams such as the KIM Team of Kim Kaphwan, Chang Koehan, and Choi Bounge. You can also check out the IKARI Team, featuring characters that appeared in other video games like Metal Slug.

The game offers various game modes, such as the one-on-one SINGLE BATTLE or the 3-vs-3 TEAM BATTLE modes. You can try how far you can go with an ENDLESS mode. For the commands, the game tries its best to adapt by remapping its arcade-style controls on your touchscreen. It even takes effort to add a Simple Commands feature to make the complex combos a lot easier.

For fans of the franchise, this mobile port is made irresistible by the addition of a lot of extra content such as illustrations and collectible cards. Still, adapting it with the above features may not be enough for everyone. For example, the lack of gamepad support takes away a satisfying aspect of the KOF games: combos. Similarly, it’s only a single-player with no online options for playing with other people.

Single-player, mobile-only fighting game

Overall, THE KING OF FIGHTERS-A 2012F is an enjoyable mobile fighting game with its own restrictions and requirements. For long-time fans of the franchise, this entry will force you to adapt to the touchscreen controls, although there are some concessions through simplified commands. The art style, character selection, and additional content all make it a portable treat for KOF fans. It’s highly recommended.