From Arcade to AFK: Our Hands-On Experience with Netmarble’s THE KING OF FIGHTERS AFK

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Story Highlights

  • The game brings more than 100 iconic Fighters from the classic KOF franchise!
  • Easy progression and offline rewards.
  • Generous currencies and a plethora of content.

Oh, the arcade! A kaleidoscope of sensations unlike any other, where victorious bragging intertwines with distant cries of frustration. It’s a rollercoaster of fun and frustration, but wouldn’t it be extraordinary if a momentary fury could catapult me straight into the fighting game I’m frantically pressing buttons on? Imagine immersing myself in that RPG!

In THE KING OF FIGHTERS AFK, the unnamed character finds themselves not merely observing battles but actively participating alongside iconic KOF fighters. Featuring nostalgic pixel art and energetic soundtracks, it’s a game that puts you right in the heart of the action. First showcased at Tokyo Game Show 2024, the game launched its early access phase in May 2025 and opened global pre-registrations last month.

Summon iconic fighters from the KOF franchise

Rather than worrying about intricate strategies and precision timing for your attacks, instead, you’ll mostly focus on enhancing your combatants and letting them duke it out amidst the turmoil on their own. This shift in approach offers a refreshing break from the usual fast-paced excitement characteristic of fighting games, but don’t be fooled – the gameplay remains just as thrilling even without constant button pressing.

When you call upon characters from the extensive roster in the game, you have the opportunity to leverage their synergies and create an unbeatable team. Each character boasts a unique synergy, and when you pair those with the same synergy type during battle, you can trigger potent bonus effects that boost your team’s overall performance.

Additionally, this synergy isn’t exclusive to fighters; exceptional and top-tier pets also possess synergies, greatly simplifying the creation of your optimal synergetic team! Feel free to experiment with your lineup arrangements and marvel at the chaos as it unfolds on the main menu. Your team will autonomously progress from one stage to another, dishing out punishment to any challengers foolish enough to cross their path.

As a gamer, I can’t wait to summon the stage boss before moving on to the next level, a moment where I can showcase my fighters’ skills in a visually appealing retro style inspired by the iconic NEOGEO POCKET COLOR. The thrill of seeing these classic characters demonstrate their moves on-screen is indescribable, especially since legends like Kyo Kusanagi, Iori Yagami, and Athena Asamiya are jumping into the action.

Utilise the game’s AFK feature to maximise rewards in little time

You’ll find over a hundred unique combat characters to amass, and though it may initially appear daunting, gathering your collection is really quite straightforward by just playing through the primary storyline. This is because the rewards are incredibly generous – so much so that it becomes easy to continue advancing and expanding your fighters due to the plentiful resources you receive.

For instance, in this game, the main currency is the valuable Ruby. You can accumulate these by completing daily missions, using passes, and logging in during events. There’s also a helpful guide to assist you throughout your journey, ensuring you’re never confused about tasks such as defeating three opponents or summoning ten fighters. With this guidance, you’ll always be on track to earn more Rubies.

There are also rewards available when you’re away from the keyboard (AFK), which accumulate even if you’re offline. However, what really shines in this game is the “Lucky Ride” content, where you can gather gear with varying rarities to improve your stats. This exciting feature is presented by Terry Bogard, who rides a super-cool motorbike while wearing his famous outfit, making it quite visually appealing as well.

Face off Boss battles, participate in Raids, and keep Leveling up

The primary focus is to continually advance and enhance your account, which encompasses more than just the Influence Tier, as it allows you to boost your Attack (ATK), Defense, and Health (HP). Additionally, progressing further opens up additional content.

For instance, the NESTS Lab allows you to enhance your PEN performance by approximately 30%. On the other hand, the entertaining Supporter Center enables you to handle your supporters efficiently using playful megaphones for additional benefits. Not only does this feature offer various Active Effects, but it also brings sprites to life within the center (the Cool Guy Referee is quite cool, might we consider including him in the combat roster?).

In simpler terms, the game offers typical areas known as “Raid content” where you can gather resources, battle unique enemies for experience points (EXP) and gold, engage in training at the “Club Dungeon”, and in the significant location called “City of Vengeance”, you can collect Fuel necessary for the upgrading of your “Lucky Rides”. These rides serve to increase your own Player Level. Naturally, nobody would want Terry’s vehicle to run out of fuel, right?

Absolutely, and with the grand official launch, there’s an opportunity for numerous events where you could win up to 3,000 Summon Tokens. This event is particularly exciting because it offers a chance to immediately obtain one of eight legendary fighters! If you’re interested in participating, why not visit The King of Fighters AFK’s official website today?

Collaboration Note

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2025-09-04 19:14