SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy
A 2v2 tag-team fighting game featuring SNK's iconic heroines in a non-canon spin-off adventure!
SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy is a fighting title developed by SNK for the PlayStation 4 and by Abstraction Games for the Nintendo Switch, with the PC version handled by SNK themselves. It launched on the Switch and PS4 in September 2018, with SNK and SEGA handling publishing in Japan and Asia, while NIS America released it internationally. An arcade version followed in October 2018 exclusively in Japan, and a Windows edition came out in February 2019. The game is a spiritual successor to SNK Gals' Fighters, employing a 2v2 tag-team battle system previously seen in Kizuna Encounter: Super Tag Battle.
In gameplay, each player controls two characters per match, designating one as the "Attacker" (the active fighter) and the other as the "Supporter" (who provides assists). Unlike most fighting games, normal moves cannot defeat an opponent; players must land a finishing move called a "Dream Finish." A dedicated button allows characters to guard, and items are available for additional tactical options. The game includes a story mode with dialogue that changes based on the characters fighting, along with unlockable costumes and cosmetic items for customizing appearances. Online play and a Spectator Mode, where players can watch others' matches, are also featured.
The plot is a non-canon spin-off with no confirmed placement in the KOF timeline. After the last KOF tournament, several female fighters lose consciousness and wake up in a strange mansion, alongside some male fighters who have been transformed into women. The villain, known only as 'The Master' (or 'Boss'), reveals he has trapped them in his castle within a pocket dimension, forcing them to battle for a chance to return home. His secret plan is to harness the energy from their fights to power an ancient statue, merging his pocket dimension with the real world and expanding his collection of women. When only two fighters remain, The Master confronts them to gather the final energy, but they defeat him. He suffers a mental breakdown and flees as the dimension collapses, sending all fighters back to their dreams just before they awaken.
Characters listed in bold are post-release downloadable content, while those in italics are guest characters.
Development followed the success of The King of Fighters XIV. SNK had planned a sequel, The King of Fighters XV, but instead chose to create a lighter game focuse
- Developer
- SNK (PS4), Abstraction Games (Switch), SNK (PC)
- Publisher
- SNK, SEGA (Japan/Asia), NIS America (International)
- Platforms
- PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, Arcade
- Release
- September 2018 (Switch, PS4), October 2018 (Arcade, Japan only), February 2019 (Windows)
- Genre
- Versus fighting game
- Sales
- 300,000 units as of April 2019
Lore & Background
The story is a non-canon spin-off with no confirmed placement in the KOF timeline. After a tournament, several female fighters fall unconscious and awaken in a strange mansion, with some male fighters changed into women. The mastermind 'The Master' (or 'Boss') traps them in his pocket-dimension castle, forcing them to battle for a chance to return home. He secretly plans to use the energy from their fights to empower an ancient statue, merging his dimension with the real world to gather more women. When only two fighters remain, The Master confronts them but is defeated; he escapes as the dimension collapses, and the fighters return to their dreams before reawakening.
Reader's Guide
SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy represents a deliberate shift by SNK toward a lighter, female-focused fighting game after the success of The King of Fighters XIV. Its 2v2 tag-team system, where players choose an Attacker and a Supporter, and the requirement to use a 'Dream Finish' to defeat opponents, set it apart from other fighting games. The game's sexualization of characters was intentional, though producer Yasuyuki Oda noted that characters like Mai Shiranui had received similar reactions in other titles. The partnership with NIS America aimed to promote the game in the West, and cross-promotional collaborations with Arika and Square Enix brought guest characters Thief Arthur and a female Skullomania. Despite mixed critical reception—praised for unique gameplay and animation but criticized for simple combat and empty stages—the game sold 300,000 units by April 2019. Its legacy includes being one of SNK's first projects for a Nintendo console in years and a spiritual successor to SNK Gals' Fighters.
Did You Know?
- The game is a spiritual successor to SNK Gals' Fighters.
- It is impossible to defeat an enemy with a normal move; a 'Dream Finish' is required.
- Miss X, a male crossdressing fighter, was later announced as downloadable content.
- Guest characters include Thief Arthur from Million Arthur and a female version of Skullomania from Fighting EX Layer.
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