11 Best Fighting Games Of The Decade (So Far)

4. Mortal Kombat X

Mortal kombat x quan chi
NetherRealm Studios

Despite all of the hoo-ha back in the 90s that saw NetherRealm's - then Midway Games - first foray into the genre of gore-laden mortal combat scrutinized to no end because of its 'realistic' depiction of violence, the series, like NetherRealm itself, have survived the odds and kept the series alive for over two decades.

There have been some missteps (take a bow, Mortal Kombat Mythologies) and mistakes made along the way, but good or bad, every mistake and success has helped NetherRealm master its craft, the end result being Mortal Kombat X.

Tight mechanics, excellent character design and visceral gore: the series' adored hallmarks have never been better than they are in X, but what Ed Boon and his team should be praised for most, is keeping Mortal Kombat relevant and fresh, especially in a time when gore is no longer the taboo subject matter it used to be.

In a few years' time, we'll no doubt be gushing over how much Mortal Kombat XI (read: hopefully not the actual name) does to advance the blood and guts-soaked formula, but for now, X is the best in its class. Untouchable.

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Contributor
Contributor

Joe is a freelance games journalist who, while not spending every waking minute selling himself to websites around the world, spends his free time writing. Most of it makes no sense, but when it does, he treats each article as if it were his Magnum Opus - with varying results.