Every Mortal Kombat Game, Ranked From Worst to Best

I’ve been a Mortal Kombat fan since the first game dropped back in ’92, and it’s amazing to see how the developers at Midway and now NetherRealm have constantly tried to make each new installment better. Okay, it might not be as strategically complex as Street Fighter, but what it lacks in that area, it more than makes up for with crazy violence, a ton of stuff to do, and a story mode that’s just completely over the top. What I really appreciate is that the team isn’t afraid to experiment and try new things, even if not every idea lands perfectly. There have been so many Mortal Kombat games over the years, and I’ve put together a ranking below. I’ve combined versions like Mortal Kombat 3 and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 into one entry to keep things simple, but I definitely considered both when deciding where each game falls on the list.

Here is every Mortal Kombat game ranked from worst to best.

16) Mortal Kombat: Special Forces

Mortal Kombat Special Forces is widely considered the worst game in the Mortal Kombat series, and one of the worst games of all time. The game’s development was troubled, and co-creator Ed Boon has acknowledged this. The issues stemmed from the departure of co-creator John Tobias during the game’s production.

Despite a difficult development and the departure of a key creator, Special Forces still ranks as the worst game in the series. While playing as Jax in an action-adventure game seemed promising, poor level design and repetitive gameplay led most players to quickly lose interest.

15) Mortal Kombat: Onslaught

Without the contributions of its dedicated players, Special Forces: Onslaught would likely be much lower on this list. The game attempted to combine mobile beat ’em up action with RPG elements, but ultimately failed to create an enjoyable experience. Its focus on gacha mechanics felt like a cynical attempt by Warner Bros. to generate revenue, which we’ll discuss further below.

The game Onslaught was a commercial failure and was discontinued after just one year. While the Mortal Kombat team has had other unsuccessful releases, Onslaught was by far the most immediate and complete flop – even worse than Special Forces.

14) Mortal Kombat 4

With MK4, the Mortal Kombat series transitioned to 3D graphics for the first time, offering players a new visual experience. This installment also previewed the direction the series would take by adding weapons, a feature that would become more prominent in later games.

Sadly, Mortal Kombat 4 doesn’t quite reach the quality of the first three games, especially when it comes to the story. It’s become famous for some really strange endings, like Jax’s, which has voice acting that sounds similar to the awkward dialogue in the original Resident Evil.

13) Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero

It’s a little strange that Mythologies: Sub-Zero was released before Special Forces. While it wasn’t a fantastic game, the combination of action-adventure gameplay and live-action cutscenes was at least an interesting idea.

While the platforming feels really random and the fighting can become repetitive, this game was an interesting attempt by the developers. Despite its criticisms, Sub-Zero paved the way for features like Konquest Mode. It also helped the series expand beyond just tournaments, allowing the creators to explore new ways to tell stories.

12) Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe

Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe is a good game that cleverly uses its characters. While it was enjoyable to include DC superheroes, the game ultimately feels like it might have been better focused solely on Mortal Kombat.

The fighting itself wasn’t bad, though some modes like Klose Kombat and Free-Fall Kombat felt a little slow. My biggest problem, though, was the toned-down violence. I understand DC didn’t want overly graphic scenes, but if the game wasn’t going to embrace the series’ signature brutality, what was the point?

11) Mortal Kombat: Armageddon

Some fans would probably place Armageddon higher on this list. As the last game in the original series, it features almost all of the key characters. However, it doesn’t have much space for new faces, and the characters Taven and Daegon suggest that the developers might have benefited from a fresh start.

I have some problems with the Konquest mode. It might be unpopular, but I actually preferred the role-playing game style of Deception to the more action-focused mode in Armageddon. And while creating your own fatalities was fun at first, the professionally made animations were so much better that I didn’t really use that feature much.

10) Mortal Kombat

It feels strange to place the original Mortal Kombat so low on the list. It’s a truly iconic game that was revolutionary when it came out. But I’m ranking these games based on how good they are, not just how important they were. Considering that, the first Mortal Kombat is a solid game, though it’s fairly simple by today’s standards.

While the original Mortal Kombat was groundbreaking, the sequels really improved upon its strengths. That’s why I’ve placed it a bit lower on this list, even though it was incredibly important and influential when it came out in 1992.

9) Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance

I’ve honestly spent more hours playing Deadly Alliance than any other Mortal Kombat game. I got it when I first got my GameCube, and I was blown away by how cool it was to fight in full 3D and switch up fighting styles mid-match. I say all this because I know some fans aren’t thrilled with characters like Bo’Rai Cho, Li Mei, and Kenshi, but they’re actually some of my absolute favorites!

Some players didn’t like the changes to the fighting system, but the added complexity has become a hallmark of later games in the series. Deadly Alliance also debuted Konquest mode, which was simpler than it would become in Deception, but it was a good first attempt at something new. The game did have some technical problems, and the decision to leave out Liu Kang was a notable one.

8) Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks

Liu Kang, the main character of the series, finally starred in his own game in 2005. After years of trying, Midway created a successful spin-off action-adventure title featuring Liu Kang and Kung Lao as they relive the events of Mortal Kombat 2.

The game blended classic Mortal Kombat movement with a combo system similar to action games like God of War. It also offered a fun co-op mode for playing with a friend. While fans often overlook MK spin-offs, this one was successful enough to warrant a sequel, which unfortunately never materialized due to funding issues.

7) Mortal Kombat 1

Released recently, Mortal Kombat 1 is a fantastic fighting game. While some players aren’t fans of the Kameo system, I believe it adds a new and interesting layer to gameplay, letting players create more complex and strategic combos.

What bothers me most about MK1 is NetherRealm’s return to the multiverse concept. It feels like the developers started with the idea of a final battle against alternate versions of familiar characters and then built the entire game around that single scene.

Adding to the frustration, this game seems to rely heavily on making money from players. Unless you’re willing to spend extra money, you’ll likely need to spend many hours playing to unlock all the content. While MK1 could have ranked higher, interference from Warner Bros. held it back.

6) Mortal Kombat: Deception

Deception surpassed the already impressive combat system in Deadly Alliance. It adds new features like the ability to interrupt enemy attacks, grab weapons scattered throughout the arenas, and use environmental hazards to deliver devastating finishing blows.

As we discussed, Deception revisits the Konquest mode and transforms it into a huge, role-playing game. While the voice acting isn’t great and the story is just okay, playing through it all was really fun. Plus, with the additions of Chess Kombat and Puzzle Kombat, this game might have the best collection of mini-games in the entire MK series.

5) Mortal Kombat 11

Like Mortal Kombat 1, MK11 would probably rank higher if it wasn’t for the excessive microtransactions and the frustrating amount of grinding needed to unlock everything. However, if you ignore those issues, MK11 is a fantastic game, especially good at welcoming new players.

The game’s updated tutorial is really helpful for beginners, and the online connection is now smoother than ever. While I personally found the fighting a bit sluggish, a lot of players appreciated the slower, more strategic pace. Plus, it features one of NetherRealm’s strongest story modes, which is then expanded with a huge DLC. It’s a shame, though, that NetherRealm has already revisited the multiverse concept in MK1.

4) Mortal Kombat (2011)

The latest Mortal Kombat returned to its classic 2D fighting style, delivering the over-the-top, fast-paced, and incredibly violent action the series is known for. Running at a remarkably smooth 60 frames per second, it was clear Mortal Kombat had made a triumphant return.

NetherRealm really delivered with the story in this game, essentially retelling the first three Mortal Kombat games following the events of Armageddon. Through some clever time travel, Raiden attempts to alter the past. While they’ve revisited this approach in later games with mixed results, it felt fresh and innovative back in 2011.

3) Mortal Kombat II

Building on everything players loved about the first Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat 2 improved the formula with more brutal Fatalities, innovative new finishing moves, a roster of beloved characters, and even a secret fighter. It truly had it all.

As a fan, I remember everyone being blown away by how much better MK2 was compared to the first Mortal Kombat. It was a huge step up – kind of like when Capcom released Street Fighter 2 after the original Street Fighter. MK2 was just so much more polished and fun that it almost made the first game feel outdated. It cleaned up at the 1994 gaming awards, and honestly, it still holds up really well today!

2) Mortal Kombat 3

Things took a strange turn with Mortal Kombat 3. While the 1995 game was generally good, adding combos and a dash button, Midway surprisingly removed some popular characters – Scorpion being the biggest disappointment for fans.

Fortunately, Midway followed up with Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, bringing back Scorpion and most of the original fighters. It also introduced team battles with two characters on each side, and a tournament mode for up to eight players. Many fans consider Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 the definitive version of the game and a peak in the series’ history.

1) Mortal Kombat X

Mortal Kombat X builds on the foundations of Mortal Kombat 2 and 3, and improves upon Mortal Kombat (2011). It’s a larger and more refined game, and while it still includes in-game purchases, it strikes a better balance than some other entries in the series, potentially offering fans the best experience regarding monetization for the time being.

There’s a lot to enjoy in this game! The fighting is quick, brutal, and just as over-the-top as you’d expect. The story picks up where the previous Mortal Kombat left off, jumping forward in time and introducing a new generation of fighters called the Kombat Kids. And they’re a blast to play – I especially love D’Vorah!

While the game’s use of microtransactions is a valid concern, the downloadable characters are fantastic. NetherRealm made a brilliant choice by including iconic horror villains. It’s hard to imagine a more exciting matchup than Liu Kang versus Jason Voorhees or Leatherface – it’s truly a highlight!

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2025-10-26 23:15