Mortal Kombat: Every Game Ranked From Worst To Best

The original Mortal Kombat is a major gaming milestone. In the string of endless Street Fighter II clones, this simple arcade title would become a big competitor and establish its identity with its blood and violence. This led to numerous complaints from parents and even the creation of a video game rating system, the ESRB.

But public impact aside, does the first MK still hold up?

Playing it today, the game has a barebones roster and the stages don't have the visual flair of the sequels. Even mainstays like Liu Kang and Johnny Cage don't quite look like themselves, and it's clear the series was still in its infancy.

Still, Fatalities and the inclusion of secrets such as the Reptile fight are fun additions to an otherwise aged title. At the same time, there is a charm to Mortal Kombat's crude presentation and its use of digitized actors is still a stroke of genius.

While Mortal Kombat may not be the best in the series, it deserves credit for setting the standard of future entries.