Unlike later titles like KOF 2003, which use tag-team systems, KOF 2002 follows a traditional round-by-round elimination format.

Decades after its initial Neo Geo release, the game is not just a retro relic; it is actively played. The subsequent release of The King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match polished the visuals and expanded the roster even further, cementing the title as a permanent fixture on modern platforms with rollback netcode.