The ninth game of [[SNK]]'s [[The King of Fighters]] series. This game has no story and is considered a "Dream Match" game. This is also the only game that was produced by Playmore due to SNK's bankruptcy. The Striker system has been omitted in this game. It later gains an upgrade called "The King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match produced by the recently revived SNK Playmore.

h4. Characters

h5. K' Team

* [[K' (kof)|]]
* [[Maxima]]
* [[Whip (KoF)|]]

h5. Team Japan

* [[Kusanagi Kyou]]
* [[Nikaidou Benimaru]]
* [[Daimon Gorou]]

h5. Team Yagami

* [[Yagami Iori]]
* [[Mature (kof)|]]
* [[Vice (kof)|]]

h5. [[Fatal Fury]] Team

* [[Terry Bogard]]
* [[Andy Bogard]]
* [[Joe Higashi]]

h5. [[Ryuuko no Ken]] Team

* [[Ryou Sakazaki]]
* [[Robert Garcia]]
* [[Takuma Sakazaki]]

h5. [[Ikari (game)|Ikari Warriors]] Team

* [[Leona Heidern]]
* [[Ralf Jones]]
* [[Clark Still]]

h5. [[Psycho Soldier]] Team

* [[Asamiya Athena]]
* [[Sie Kensou]]
* [[Chin Gentsai]]

h5. Women Fighters Team

* [[Yuri Sakazaki]]
* [[Shiranui Mai]]
* [[May Lee]]

h5. Team Korea/Kim Team

* [[Kim Kaphwan]]
* [[Chang Koehan]]
* [[Choi Bounge]]

h5. NESTS Team

* [[Kula Diamond]]
* [[Angel (KoF)|]]
* [[K9999]]

h5. Agents Team

* [[vanessa_(KoF)|Vanessa]]
* [[Seth (KoF)|]]
* [[Ramon (KoF)|]]

h5. Outlaw Team

* [[Yamazaki Ryuuji]]
* [[Blue Mary]]
* [[Billy Kane]]

h5. New Faces Team

* [[Nanakase Yashiro]]
* [[Shermie (KoF)|]]
* [[Chris (KOF)|]]

h5. Mid-boss

* [[King (SNK)|]] (PS2 Only)
* [[Yabuki Shingo]] (PS2 Only)
* [[Kusanagi (clone)|]]

h5. Boss

* [[Omega Rugal]] ([[Rugal Bernstein]])

h4. Console additions

* [[Geese Howard]]
* [[Goenitz]]

h4. Unlimited Match expansions

h5. Art of Fighting Team

* Ryou Sakazaki
* Robert Garcia
* Yuri Sakazaki

h5. Psycho Soldier Team

* Asamiya Athena
* Sie Kensou
* [[Bao (kof)|]]

h5. Women Fighters Team

* King
* [[Toudou Kasumi]]
* Shiranui Mai

h5. Masters Team

* [[Heidern]]
* Takuma Sakazaki
* Chin Gentsai

h5. Pretty Girls Team

* [[Li Xiangfei]]
* [[Shijou Hinako]]
* May Lee

h5. Jhun Team

* [[Jhun Hoon]]
* [[Lin (KoF)|]]
* Yabuki Shingo

h5. NESTS Team

* Kula Diamond
* [[Foxy (KOF)|]]
* Angel

h5. Kyo Clone Team

* Kusanagi
* [[Kyo-1]]
* [[Kyo-2]]

h5. Solo Entry

* [[Nameless (KOF)|]]
* Geese Howard
* Goenitz

h5. Boss

* [[Krizalid]]
* [[Zero (KoF)|]]
* [[Original Zero]]
* [[Igniz (KoF)|]]

h5. Extra Stage Boss

* Omega Rugal

h5. NPC
* [[Isolde (kof)|]]