Video game developer · Japan · Active
SNK
Founded in August 1, 2001
- 255
- games developed
- 125
- games published
- 0
- in development
History of SNK
SNK began as Shin Nihon Kikaku, the company Eikichi Kawasaki founded in 1973 and reorganised as a stock company on 22 July 1978 to make arcade games. Its first titles were Ozma Wars (1979) and Safari Rally (1980), and Vanguard (1981) made its name. From 1981 it used the initials SNK and opened a US branch; in 1986 it became SNK Corporation and released Ikari Warriors, its biggest hit of the period. Today's SNK is a separate company: Playmore, set up on 1 August 2001.
In 1990 SNK launched the Neo Geo MVS, an arcade cabinet with swappable cartridges that could hold up to six games, along with its home version, the Neo Geo AES. The system gave rise to Fatal Fury (1991), Art of Fighting, Samurai Shodown, The King of Fighters, starting with The King of Fighters '94, and Metal Slug. The Neo Geo CD, the Hyper Neo Geo 64 arcade board and the Neo Geo Pocket and Pocket Color handhelds followed, but fell short of expectations as the 2D fighting boom ended in the late 1990s.
Pachinko maker Aruze bought SNK in January 2000, and in June it closed its American and European operations; some staff joined Capcom and Arc System Works, while others founded Dimps. With debts of about 38 billion yen, the original SNK was declared bankrupt on 30 October 2001, and that same day Playmore, which Kawasaki had set up in August, won its intellectual property. In 2003 it regained the trademark and became SNK Playmore. For years it mixed pachislot machines and mobile games with titles such as The King of Fighters XIII (2010).
In 2015 Leyou subsidiary Ledo Millennium bought Kawasaki's stake. SNK left the pachislot business, took back its old name in 2016 and released The King of Fighters XIV (2016), the NEOGEO Mini console (2018) and a new Samurai Shodown (2019), the year Terry Bogard joined Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Since 2022 it has been owned by Electronic Gaming Development Company, part of Saudi Arabia's Misk Foundation. It moved its headquarters to Yodogawa-ku, Osaka, in 2023, created KOF Studio in 2024, and in 2026 Katsuhiro Harada founded its subsidiary VS Studio.
Milestones
1978
Shin Nihon Kikaku becomes a stock company.
1986
Renamed SNK Corporation; Ikari Warriors is released.
1990
Neo Geo MVS and Neo Geo AES.
1991
Fatal Fury, its first Neo Geo fighting game.
1994
The King of Fighters '94.
2001
The original SNK goes bankrupt; Playmore takes over its rights.
2003
Playmore is renamed SNK Playmore.
2016
It goes back to the SNK name and releases The King of Fighters XIV.
2022
Misk Foundation's Electronic Gaming Development Company takes control.
Its best-known games
Metal Slug 3
2000 · Arcade · neogeoaes · browser
Metal Slug 2
1998 · Arcade · neogeoaes · PS3
Metal Slug X
1999 · Arcade · neogeoaes · browser
The King of Fighters '98
1998 · Arcade · neogeoaes · PS3
The King of Fighters '97
1997 · Arcade · neogeoaes · PS3
Garou: Mark of the Wolves
1999 · Arcade · neogeoaes · PS4
Samurai Shodown
1993 · Arcade · neogeoaes · PS3
The King of Fighters '95
1995 · Arcade · neogeoaes · PS3
The King of Fighters '96
1996 · Arcade · neogeoaes · PS3
The King of Fighters '99: Millennium Battle
1999 · Arcade · neogeoaes · PS3
The King of Fighters '94
1994 · Arcade · neogeoaes · PS3
The King of Fighters 2000
2000 · Arcade · neogeoaes · browser
Every game it has developed (255)
2026
- Arcade Archives 2: Fighting Golf Series X|S, PS5
- Arcade Archives: Satan of Saturn PS4, Switch
- Arcade Archives 2: Satan of Saturn Series X|S, PS5
- Arcade Archives: Street Smart PS4, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: Master of Syougi PS4, Switch
- Arcade Archives: Touchdown Fever PS4, Switch
- Arcade Archives 2: Touchdown Fever Series X|S, PS5
2025
- Arcade Archives 2: Bermuda Triangle Series X|S, PS5
- Arcade Archives 2: Munch Mobile Series X|S, Switch 2, PS5
- Arcade Archives: Munch Mobile PS4, Switch
- Arcade Archives: Chopper 1 PS4, Switch
- Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves Series X|S, PS4, Switch 2, PC
2024
- Metal Slug: Attack - Reloaded Series X|S, PS4, PC, PS5
2022
- Big Bang Pro Wrestling Switch
- The King of Fighters XV Series X|S, PS4, PC, PS5
2021
- Metal Slug: Commander Android, iOS
- Samurai Shodown Enhanced Series X|S
- Arcade Archives: Guerrilla War PS4, Switch
2020
- Samurai Shodown V Perfect Arcade, PS4, PC, XONE
- Arcade Archives: Ikari III - The Rescue PS4, Switch
- Arcade Archives: P.O.W. - Prisoners of War PS4, Switch
- Arcade Archives: Sasuke vs Commander PS4, Switch
2019
- Arcade Archives: T.N.K III PS4, Switch
- Arcade Archives: Victory Road PS4, Switch
- Samurai Shodown Arcade, Stadia, Series X|S, PS4
- Arcade Archives: Psycho Soldier PS4, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: Samurai Shodown V Special PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- Arcade Archives: Ikari Warriors PS4, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: The Ultimate 11 - SNK Football Championship PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: The King of Fighters 2003 PS4, Android, PC, iOS
- ACA Neo Geo: Ninja Master's PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: Kizuna Encounter PS4, Android, PC, iOS
2018
- ACA Neo Geo: The King of Fighters 2002 PS4, Linux, PC, iOS
- Arcade Archives: Athena PS4, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: King of the Monsters 2 PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- Arcade Archives: Alpha Mission PS4, Switch
- KOF Chronicle Android, iOS
- ACA Neo Geo: 3 Count Bout PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: Zupapa! PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: Cyber-Lip PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- The King of Fighters XIII: Galaxy Edition PC
- ACA Neo Geo: Aggressors of Dark Kombat PS4, Android, PC, iOS
- SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy Arcade, PS4, PC, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: Metal Slug 4 PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: League Bowling PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: Top Player's Golf PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: Baseball Stars Professional PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: Super Sidekicks 2 PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: Ghost Pilots PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: Sengoku 3 PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: The Last Blade 2 PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: Samurai Shodown III PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
2017
- ACA Neo Geo: Real Bout Fatal Fury Special PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: Top Hunter Roddy & Cathy PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: World Heroes 2 Jet PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: Soccer Brawl PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: The King of Fighters '97 PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: Mutation Nation PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: Real Bout Fatal Fury PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: Metal Slug X PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: Burning Fight PS4, PC, iOS, XONE
- ACA Neo Geo: Samurai Shodown II PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: Magician Lord PS4, PC, iOS, XONE
- ACA Neo Geo: The King of Fighters 2000 PS4, Android, PC, iOS
- ACA Neo Geo: The King of Fighters '96 PS4, Android, PC, iOS
- ACA Neo Geo: Super Sidekicks PS4, PC, iOS, XONE
- ACA Neo Geo: Fatal Fury Special PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: Super Baseball 2020 PS4, PC, XONE
- The King of Fighters XIV: Galaxy Edition PC
- The King of Fighters XIV Steam Edition PC
- ACA Neo Geo: King of the Monsters PS4, Android, PC, iOS
- ACA Neo Geo: Metal Slug 2 PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: The Last Blade PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: Garou - Mark of the Wolves PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: Last Resort PS4, PC, iOS, XONE
- ACA Neo Geo: Sengoku 2 PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: Sengoku PS4, PC, iOS, XONE
- ACA Neo Geo: Metal Slug 3 PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: World Heroes Perfect PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: Neo Turf Master PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: The King of Fighters '98 Series X|S, PS4, PC, PS5
2016
- ACA Neo Geo: Alpha Mission II PS4, Android, PC, iOS
- ACA Neo Geo: Metal Slug PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: Samurai Shodown PS4, PC, iOS, XONE
- ACA Neo Geo: The King of Fighters '94 PS4, Android, PC, iOS
- The King of Fighters XIV Arcade, PS4, PC
- Metal Slug: Attack Android, iOS
2014
- Metal Slug Defense Android, PC, iOS
- Metal Slug 3 PS3, PS4, Linux, PC
2013
- The King of Fighters XIII Steam Edition PC
- Metal Slug 3 Android, iOS
- ACA Neo Geo: Nam-1975 PS4, Wii, PC, iOS
2011
- The King of Fighters 2012-i iOS
2009
- Metal Slug XX PS4, PC, Vita, PSP
2008
- Days of Memories: Sekai de Ichiban Atsui Fuyu Mobile
- Days of Memories: Kaze Mau Miyako de Tsukamaete! Mobile
- Days of Memories: Boku to Kanojo to Koto no Koi Mobile
- The King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match Arcade, PS4, PC, X360
2007
- Days of Memories: Junpaku no Tenshi-tachi Mobile
- Days of Memories: Koi ha Good Job! Mobile
2006
- Days of Memories: Kare to Watashi no Atsui Natsu Mobile
- Days of Memories: Ooedo Renai Emaki Mobile
- Days of Memories 2: Boku no Ichiban Taisetsu na Kimi he Mobile
2005
- Days of Memories: Boku to Kanojo no Atsui Natsu Mobile
- The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact - Maniax XBOX, PS2
2004
- The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact XBOX, PS2
2003
- Metal Slug 3 XBOX, PS2
2001
- SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters 2 - Expand Edition
- Nakoruru: Anohito kara no Okurimono PC, DC
- Metal Slug X PS3, PS1, PSP
2000
- Cool Cool Jam
- Cool Cool Toon DC
- The King of Fighters 2000 Arcade, neogeoaes, browser, PS3
- Crystalis GBC
- Ganbare Neo Poke-Kun
- The King of Fighters: Battle de Paradise
- The King of Fighters: Evolution PC, DC
- Metal Slug 3 Arcade, neogeoaes, browser, neogeomvs
- The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny
1999
- Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage PS3, PS1, PSP
- Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure
- Garou: Mark of the Wolves Arcade, neogeoaes, PS4, Android
- SNK vs. Capcom Card Fighters' Clash - SNK Card Fighter's Version
- SNK vs. Capcom Card Fighters' Clash - Capcom Card Fighter's Version
- The King of Fighters '99: Millennium Battle Arcade, neogeoaes, PS3, Wii
- Fatal Fury: Wild Ambition PS3, PS1, PSP
- The King of Fighters: Dream Match 1999 DC
- Buriki One
- Metal Slug X Arcade, neogeoaes, browser, neogeomvs
- Baseball Stars
1998
- Baseball Stars
- The Last Blade 2 Arcade, neogeoaes, PS4, Wii
- King of Fighters R-1
- Samurai Shodown 64: Warriors Rage
- Beast Busters: Second Nightmare
- Real Bout Garou Densetsu Best Collection Saturn
- The King of Fighters '98 Arcade, neogeoaes, PS3, Wii
- Real Bout Garou Densetsu Special: Dominated Mind PS3, PS1, PSP
- Xtreme Rally
- Real Bout Fatal Fury 2: The Newcomers Arcade, neogeoaes, Linux, Wii
- Metal Slug 2 Arcade, neogeoaes, PS3, neogeomvs
1997
- Samurai Shodown 64
- The Last Blade Arcade, neogeoaes, browser, PS3
- Road's Edge
- The King of Fighters: Heat of Battle Game Boy
- The King of Fighters '97 Arcade, neogeoaes, PS3, Wii
- Shinsetsu Samurai Spirits: Bushido Retsuden Saturn, PS1
- Real Bout Fatal Fury Special Arcade, neogeoaes, Wii, Saturn
1996
- Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge Arcade, neogeoaes, PS3, Wii
- The Ultimate 11: SNK Football Championship Arcade, neogeoaes
- Kizuna Encounter: Super Tag Battle Arcade, neogeoaes, neogeomvs, Wii
- Samurai Shodown III Game Boy
- The King of Fighters '96 Arcade, neogeoaes, PS3, Wii
- The King of Fighters '95 Game Boy
- Art of Fighting 3: The Path of The Warrior Arcade, neogeoaes, Wii, PC
1995
- Real Bout Fatal Fury Arcade, neogeoaes, PS3, Wii
- Samurai Shodown III Arcade, neogeoaes, PS3, Wii
- The King of Fighters '95 Arcade, neogeoaes, PS3, Wii
- Savage Reign neogeoaes, neogeomvs
- Fatal Fury 3: Road to the Final Victory Arcade, neogeoaes, Wii, PC
- Super Sidekicks 3: The Next Glory Arcade, neogeoaes
1994
- Samurai Shodown II Arcade, neogeoaes, Wii, Android
- King of the Monsters 2 Genesis/MegaDrive
- Samurai Shodown SNES, SFAM
- Nettou Garou Densetsu 2: Aratanaru Tatakai Game Boy
- The King of Fighters '94 Arcade, neogeoaes, PS3, Wii
- Samurai Shodown Game Boy
- Super Sidekicks 2: The World Championship Arcade, neogeoaes
- Art of Fighting 2 Arcade, neogeoaes, Wii, PC
- Top Hunter: Roddy & Cathy Arcade, neogeoaes, neogeomvs, Wii
1993
- Fatal Fury Special Arcade, neogeoaes, SNES, x1
- Samurai Shodown Arcade, neogeoaes, PS3, Wii
- 3 Count Bout Arcade, neogeoaes, neogeomvs, PC
- Sengoku 2 Arcade, neogeoaes, neogeomvs, Wii
1992
- Super Sidekicks Arcade, neogeoaes, PS3, PC
- Fatal Fury 2 Arcade, neogeoaes, SNES, x1
- Art of Fighting Arcade, neogeoaes, PS3, PS4
- King of the Monsters 2 Arcade, neogeoaes, SNES, Wii
- Last Resort Arcade, neogeoaes, neogeomvs, Switch
- Mutation Nation Arcade, neogeoaes, neogeomvs
- Baseball Stars 2 Arcade, neogeoaes, neogeomvs, PC
- Soccer Brawl Arcade, neogeoaes, neogeomvs, PC
1991
- Fatal Fury Arcade, neogeoaes, PS3, SNES
- Quiz Daisousa Sen: The Last Count Down neogeoaes, neogeomvs
- Alpha Mission II Arcade, neogeoaes, PS3, neogeomvs
- King of the Monsters Arcade, neogeoaes, SNES, Linux
- Ghost Pilots Arcade, neogeoaes, neogeomvs, PC
- Quiz Meitantei Neo & Geo: Quiz Daisousasen Part 2 neogeoaes, neogeomvs
- Robo Army Arcade, neogeoaes, neogeomvs, PC
- Sengoku Arcade, neogeoaes, neogeomvs, Wii
1990
- Ikari III: The Rescue DOS
- Ikari III: The Rescue C64
- Ikari III: The Rescue famicom, NES
- Ikari Warriors Atari7800
- Ikari Warriors Atari2600
- Dexterity Game Boy
- Nam-1975 neogeoaes, neogeomvs
- Crystalis famicom, NES
- Baseball Stars Professional Arcade, neogeoaes, neogeomvs
- Riding Hero Arcade, neogeoaes, neogeomvs
- Puzzled neogeoaes, neogeomvs, Switch
- League Bowling Arcade, neogeoaes, PS3, neogeomvs
- The Super Spy neogeoaes, neogeomvs, PC
1989
- Ikari III: The Rescue Arcade
- SAR: Search and Rescue Arcade
- Beast Busters Arcade, Atari-ST, Amiga
- P.O.W.: Prisoners of War famicom, NES
- Baseball Stars Arcade, famicom, NES
- Prehistoric Isle Arcade, PS3, PS4, PC
- Street Smart Arcade, PS3, Genesis/MegaDrive, PSP
1988
- Ikari Warriors ZXS
- Ikari Warriors Atari-ST
- Ikari Warriors Amiga
- Guerrilla War ZXS
- Guerrilla War ACPC
- Guerrilla War famicom, NES
- P.O.W.: Prisoners of War Arcade
- Iron Tank: The Invasion of Normandy NES
- Sky Soldiers Arcade
- Ikari Warriors II: Victory Road famicom, NES
- Fighting Golf famicom
- Lee Trevino's Fighting Golf Arcade, NES
1987
- Ikari MSX
- Ikari Warriors DOS
- Ikari Warriors Apple][
- Ikari Warriors ACPC
- Ikari Warriors C16
- Guerrilla War C64
- Athena C64
- Jongbou Arcade, famicom
- Athena Arcade, ZXS
- Touch Down Fever Arcade, NES
- Athena famicom, NES
- Psycho Soldier Arcade, PS3, C64, ZXS
- World Wars Arcade
- Bermuda Triangle Arcade
1986
- Ikari Warriors II: Victory Road Arcade, PS3, C64, ZXS
- Ikari Warriors famicom, NES
- Guerrilla War Arcade, PS3, PSP
- Alpha Mission famicom, NES
- Athena Arcade, PS3, PSP
- Ikari Warriors Arcade, PS3, PSP
1985
- Canvas Croquis Arcade
- Hal 21 Arcade, PS3, PSP
- Alpha Mission Arcade, PS3, PSP
- TNK III Arcade, C64, ZXS, ACPC
1984
- Mad Crasher Arcade
- Vanguard 2 Arcade
1983
- Mahjong Kyoushitsu Arcade
- Munch Mobile Arcade, ti-99
1982
- Lasso Arcade
1981
- Fantasy Arcade
1980
- Sasuke vs. Commander Arcade, PS3, PSP
1979
- Ozma Wars Arcade, PS3, PSP
- Safari Rally Arcade
Games it has published without developing them (125)
- Vanguard 1981
- Zarzon 1981
- Marvin's Maze 1983
- Vulgus 1984
- Time Soldiers 1987
- Chopper I 1988
- Touchdown Fever II 1988
- Satomi Hakkenden 1989
- Gang Wars 1989
- Sky Adventure 1989
- Cyber-Lip 1990
- Magician Lord 1990
- Minasan no Okage-sama Desu! 1990
- Burning Fight 1991
- Bakatonosama Mahjong Manyuki 1991
- Blue's Journey 1991
- EightMan 1991
- Crossed Swords 1991
- Legend of Success Joe 1991
- Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams 1991
- Super Baseball 2020 1991
- Viewpoint 1992
- Ninja Commando 1992
- Andro Dunos 1992
- World Heroes 1992
- Spinmaster 1993
- Windjammers 1994
- Zed Blade 1994
- Metal Slug 1st Mission (Version B) 1994
- Metal Slug 1st Mission (Version C) 1994
- Metal Slug 1st Mission (Version D) 1994
- Power Spikes II 1994
- Gururin 1994
- Karnov's Revenge 1994
- Aggressors of Dark Kombat 1994
- Goal! Goal! Goal! 1995
- Master of Syougi 1995
- Galaxy Fight: Universal Warriors 1995
- Quiz King of Fighters 1995
- Double Dragon 1995
- Far East of Eden: Kabuki Klash 1995
- Pulstar 1995
- Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer 1995
- Stakes Winner 1995
- Aero Fighters 3 1995
- Neo Geo CD Special 1995
- Neo Turf Masters 1996
- Over Top 1996
- Stakes Winner 2 1996
- Neo Drift Out: New Technology 1996
- Metal Slug 1996
- Super Dodge Ball 1996
- Ragnagard 1996
- Oshidashi Zintrick 1996
- Ninja Master's: Haou Ninpou-ko 1996
- Pleasure Goal 1996
- Ryuuko No Ken Gaiden 1996
- Waku Waku 7 1996
- Twinkle Star Sprites 1996
- Metal Slug: Super Vehicle-001 1997
- The Irritating Maze 1997
- Neo Geo Cup '98: The Road to the Victory 1998
- Neo Geo Cup '98 Plus 1998
- Blazing Star 1998
- Radikal Bikers 1998
- Nettou Real Bout Garou Densetsu Special 1998
- The King of Fighters: Kyo 1998
- Gauntlet Legends 1998
- Puzzle Link 1998
- Shock Troopers: 2nd Squad 1998
- Neo Geo Cup '98 Plus Color 1998
- Samurai Shodown! 1998
- Master of Syougi 1998
- Metal Slug 1st Mission (Version A) 1999
- Dive Alert: Matt's Version 1999
- Ganryu 1999
- Master of Syougi Color 1999
- Strikers 1945 Plus 1999
- Prehistoric Isle 2 1999
- Fatal Fury: Wild Ambition 1999
- Athena: Awakening from the Ordinary Life 1999
- Crush Roller 1999
- Samurai Shodown! 2 1999
- Metal Slug 1st Mission 1999
- Puyo Pop 1999
- Magical Drop Pocket 1999
- Neo Turf Masters 1999
- Dive Alert: Becky's Version 1999
- Pac-Man 1999
- Densha de GO! 2 1999
- Dark Arms: Beast Buster 1999 1999
- SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium 1999
- Koudelka 1999
- Faselei! 1999
- The Last Blade (Best Collection) 2000
- Metal Slug 1st Mission (Best Collection) 2000
- SNK Gals' Fighters 2000
- Evolution: Eternal Dungeons 2000
- Metal Slug 2nd Mission 2000
- Picture Puzzle 2000
- Ogre Battle Gaiden 2000
- Zupapa! 2001
- Metal Slug 2nd Mission (Best Collection) 2001
- Sengoku 3 2001
- The King of Fighters 2001 2001
- Metal Slug 4 2002
- The King of Fighters 2002 2002
- The King of Fighters 2003 2003
- SNK vs Capcom Card Fighters DS 2006
- Athena: Full Throttle 2006
- The King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match 2009
- The King of Fighters Encounter 2011
- Pulstar 2014
- ACA Neo Geo: Shock Troopers 2017
- ACA Neo Geo: Fatal Fury 2017
- ACA Neo Geo: Over Top 2017
- ACA Neo Geo: 2020 Super Baseball 2017
- ACA Neo Geo: Aero Fighters 2 2017
- ACA Neo Geo: Super Sidekicks 3 - The Next Glory 2018
- The King of Fighters for Girls 2019
- King of Fighters R-2 2020
- The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny 2020
- Fatal Fury First Contact 2020
- SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters' Clash 2022
- SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos 2024