Samurai Shodown Classic
Sega Genesis / Mega Drive · Fighting / Action
King of the Monsters
| System | Sega Genesis / Mega Drive |
|---|---|
| Released | 1991 |
| Genre | Fighting, Action |
| Developer | SNK |
| Publisher | Takara |
| Players | 1–2 players |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Series | King of the Monsters |
| Legacy | Well-known · legacy score 9 |
Released for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive in 1991, King of the Monsters is a fighting game developed by SNK and published by Takara. It blends fighting and action elements.
It landed about 2 years into the Genesis's life. Other notable Genesis releases from 1991 include Sonic the Hedgehog, Streets of Rage and Shining in the Darkness. Among the 41 Genesis fighting games in our database, it ranks #10 by legacy score.
It is part of the King of the Monsters series; on the Genesis you can also try King of the Monsters 2. The series also appears on other systems with King of the Monsters (Neo Geo) and King of the Monsters 2 (Neo Geo). SNK also made Samurai Shodown, Fatal Fury 2 and Fatal Fury: King of Fighters for the Genesis.
King of the Monsters supports up to 2 players, whether that means taking turns or going head-to-head.
Pick it if…
- you want to fight, blast and test your reflexes
- you have time for a quick session (under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
- you have a friend to play against
Maybe skip it if…
- you prefer story-driven games or have no one to play against
What playing King of the Monsters is like
Fighting games pit two characters against each other in short one-on-one bouts. Depth comes from learning special moves, combos and each character's strengths.
Tip for newcomers: Pick one character and learn their basic special moves before branching out. Fighting games are at their best against a friend at a similar skill level.
King of the Monsters cheats & codes
17 codes on file (Action Replay, Emulator memory codes). Here are a few Action Replay codes to start with:
| Infinite Energy P1 | FF3B37:3C |
|---|---|
| Infinite Energy P2 | FF3D37:3C |
| No Energy P1 | FF3B37:00 |
| No Energy P2 | FF3D37:00 |
| Character Highlighter P1 | FF1529:XX |
| Character Highlighter P2 | FF152D:XX |
King of the Monsters walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for King of the Monsters.
If you like King of the Monsters, the Matrix also picks…
Mortal Kombat Classic
Mortal Kombat II Classic
Fatal Fury: King of Fighters Deep cut
Mortal Kombat 3 Classic
Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 Classic
ClayFighter Classic
Playing Genesis games today
Genesis games are fast and immediate, and many are made for two players. Official collections and Nintendo Switch Online carry a big slice of the library, and Rec0m88 can run your own Genesis backups with online netplay.
King of the Monsters FAQ
When did King of the Monsters come out on the Genesis?
King of the Monsters was released for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive in 1991.
Who made King of the Monsters?
It was developed by SNK and published by Takara.
Is King of the Monsters multiplayer?
Yes. King of the Monsters supports up to 2 players.
How long does King of the Monsters take to play?
As a fighting game, King of the Monsters typically falls into the "Quick session" category: under an hour, or endless arcade fun. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.
Read more about King of the Monsters on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.