10 Amazing Game Spin-Offs You Totally Forgot Existed

10. Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks

Out of all the fighting games that have taken the world by storm, Mortal Kombat easily has the coolest and most fascinating lore. The original game was a violent potpourri of cinema genre classics, including Kickboxer, Enter the Dragon, and Big Trouble in Little China - yet over time, the storyline has evolved and expanded to the point where even the mainline entries now feature fully cinematic campaigns, something few fighting games can boast.

With such a rich backstory, you’d assume spin-offs would be ripe for the picking. However, NetherRealm Studios (then Midway Studios LA) stumbled out of the gate with a mediocre Sub-Zero platformer (Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero) and a clunky 3D action title starring Sonya and Jax (Mortal Kombat: Special Forces). Both left a bad taste, which likely explains why this third attempt was unfairly overlooked.

Shaolin Monks launched during the PS2 era and is essentially a 3D beat-'em-up with local co-op. It follows Liu Kang and Kung Lao as they brawl their way through the Netherrealm, pummelling anything in sight. It was a stellar modernization of a dying genre, backed by a surprisingly engaging campaign and great buddy-cop chemistry between its two leads.

With the Mortal Kombat Kollection bringing remasters of those other heavily criticized spin-offs, it’s a shame this vastly superior effort has been left out. Here’s hoping it makes it into the next collection volume - with online co-op, pretty please.