Few franchises other than iconicNintendoIPs likeThe Legend of ZeldaandSuper Mariohave maintained a steady schedule of releases for as longMortal Kombat. Since 1992 the fighting game franchise has been pleasing fans around the world with its unique take on the genre and comically overdone violence.
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To celebrate the series, this list will rank the mainline games from worst to best based on their Metacritic score. The more recent games will use thePS2,PS3, andPS4scores they received, While the premier entry will get an honorable mention despite not having a score because of its age.
111992: Mortal Kombat (N/A)
The father of them all was a massive arcade hit and caused a whirlwind of controversy due to its violent content. The gore is tame relative to modern games, however. The gameplay isn’t as fluid as later entries, but the simplicity keeps it accessible. When compared toMK IIandIII, its age starts to show as its graphics and animation aren’t as advanced. While worth experiencing as a curiosity, the first two sequels make make it largely irrelevant.
102011: Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection (59)
This deserves mention because it is the easiest way for gamers to access the originalMortal Kombattrilogy. Unfortunately, it is a less than stellar conversion of the arcade classics. The games are great and all come with multiplayer, but the package lacks bonus content. The story of what could have been is more interesting than the actual release. Before this compilation, anHD remakefeaturing new digitized sprites was in the works.
91995: Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 On Xbox 360 (70)
The only version ofUltimate Mortal Kombat 3with a Metacritic score, the game stands as one of the most complete packages of the 2DMKtitles. The gameplay was further fine tuned for more balance and new characters were added. The only more comprehensive edition of this era isMortal Kombat Trilogy,but it remains on late ’90s consoles and never made its way to the Xbox 360. Curiously enough, some minute details from the originalMK3are missing and a couple of new bugs pop up as well.
81993: Mortal Kombat II On PS3 (72)
The sequel to the original game made numerous key improvements to the gameplay and graphics, greatly improving the combat. Numerous iconic combatants made their debuts in this entry and Shao Kahn became the main antagonist, starting his career as one of gaming’s most enduring villains. Those uninterested in the gameplay who still want the story can always try out 2005’sMortalKombat: Shaolin Monks, a co-op beat ‘em up starring Liu Kang and Kung Lao.
72006: Mortal Kombat: Armageddon (75)
As the sendoff for a generation,Mortal Kombat: Armageddonfeatures every playable character in the series up to that point. Unfortunately, it gave up some essentials in its effort to fit so many fighters. Signature fatalities were replaced by a generic mini game, ending graphics were replaced by a narration, and some characters’ fighting styles were too identical to each other.
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Where it lacked in some spaces, it made up for in others. The Konquest mode is a particular highlight, almost feeling like an entirely different game packaged in.
62008: Mortal Kombat Vs. DC Universe (75)
The crossover game seemed like an unlikely pairing, and marked the last time the gameplay was fully 3D before returning to its roots in 2011. Seeing iconic comic book characters duke it out with theMortal Kombatuniverse is a treat, but the T-rating forced the developers to tone down some of the violence. With movies likeBirds of PreyandJokerreleasing to theaters with R-ratings, it would perhaps be a different game if the team up happened today. While the crossover didn’t continue, Netherrealm Studios now makes theInjusticegames betweenMKentries.
52002: Deadly Alliance (79)
Deadly Alliancehas the distinction of being the first game in the series to not see an arcade release. With this in mind, the game was structured differently. The Konquest mode served as both a way to expand the lore and teach players how each fighter controls. It eschewed the prior entries' simple combat for a focus on long combos, a change not all fans embraced with open arms.
42004: Deception (81)
Deadly Alliance’ssequel expanded upon the new type of fighting, while bringing back stage fatalities. Konquest mode was changed into a realm-trotting adventure where players controlled a new character. It was long and generally considered the game’s weak point, though its story was still praised. Chess and Puzzle Kombat extended the replay value, giving players a respite from the one on one battles for which the series is known.
32019: Mortal Kombat 11 (82)
The most recent entry in the series was a mixed bag for many. Its gameplay felt better than ever and its story mode was a ridiculous thrill ride connecting the series' past and present with an ending leaving the future open to endless possibilities.
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Unfortunately, its goodness was bogged down by an obnoxious system of unlocking new equipment which encouraged microtransactions. If one can look past all the negatives, however, the replay value can last nigh indefinitely due to the rotating towers offering a variety of ways to play.
22015: Mortal Kombat X (83)
This generation’s premierMortal Kombatcame out of the gate swinging. Fighting games typically end up looking gorgeous, andXdelivered. The story mode put the action many years into the future, giving fans older versions of classic characters. Some of their children also joined the fray and quickly became fan favorites. PS3 and Xbox 360 versions were planned, but ultimately cancelled. The new brutality system changed the way people fought, as doing them required certain parameters to be met for their successful execution.
