Mortal Kombat 1

GGReconDave McAdam

Mortal Kombat 1 is the most complete package I have ever seen in a fighting game. It is an excellent new chapter for returning fans and a great jumping-on point for new players. In this new golden era of fighting games, where more people are playing them than ever before, Mortal Kombat 1 is exactly what we need. A fighting game for everyone, and a beautiful reminder of why we play.

Press StartJames Berich

9.5/10

Mortal Kombat 1 is a joyful reinvention of a series that is continually hitting its stride. A strong and varied roster is bolstered by an ingenious Kameo system that offers up a great degree of player flexibility unlike anything else. While it’s a bit off an odd choice to not have crossplay at launch and the approach to gear is bound to be divisive, Mortal Kombat 1 feels like the most complete Mortal Kombat experience so far. And perhaps even one of the best fighting games I’ve ever played.

The Nerd StashAmir Naseri

9/10

After two decades of Mortal Kombat video games' stories, Mortal Kombat 1 serves well as a polished reboot. The gameplay has hardly changed since MK11, introducing Kameos to pay homage to the classic MK titles.

XboxEraGyőző "FairyEmpire" Baki

8.8/10

And ultimately, that’s Mortal Kombat 1’s dilemma. It delivers a fantastic storyline with sensational fan service, extremely smart gameplay improvements, the new exciting Invasions mode, the Kameo system that throws in a lot of depth, with visuals absolutely unparalleled by any fighter on the market. The reboot, however, isn’t quite as valid of an entry point for newcomers as initially suspected, and with (so far) much less content and vareity than Mortal Kombat 11’s 4-year long support, it is perhaps not an essential buy for less enthusiastic fans – for now, at least.

Sirus GamingJD Base

8/10

When the issues of a game are rolled and stomped by its greatness, then it’s something to invest on if you have some spare.

The OuterHavenKarl Smart

Mortal Kombat 1 brings the idea of a whole new universe into light with an amazing, but really fast-paced, story mode. However, the rest of the game feels like Mortal Kombat as a franchise has stagnated in terms of gameplay with nothing really innovating things outside of the cameo fighter system. Then we have the impending microtransaction additions that you know are coming, and I hate those with a passion.

Dot EsportsCale Michael

8/10

Unfortunately, the lack of appealing single-player content beyond the story and barren online matchmaking variety will limit the time casual players spend with the game once their friends stop playing or if Invasions doesn’t grab their interest.

Worth PlayingAdam Pavlacka

7.5/10

The fan favorite champions -- now joined by Johnny Cage himself -- are pitted against one another in the ultimate battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders.

MonsterVineSpencer Legacy

Mortal Kombat 1 certainly looks gorgeous, with the characters being shockingly detailed and realistic. This makes the ridiculous finishers even more wild than ever, though it also makes the characters a bit less colorful and immediately recognizable. The designs of the cast are more mixed this time around, though ideally, future skins might help change that.

PC GamerRobin Valentine

70/100

A solid but oddly soulless entry that fails to commit to being a series reboot.

Digital TrendsTomas Franzese

During Mortal Kombat 1’s superhero movie-like story campaign, one standout action scene finds me inside a dingy dungeon full of Shang Tsung’s disgusting experiments. Kenshi, Baraka, Johnny Cage, and Kung Lao fight against a horde of monsters within the grimy lab, and an intense fight ensues. Instead of cutting to a traditional 1v1 fight, it all initially played out in an impressive cutscene choreographed and “filmed” like it had all happened within one take. The scene may not have much in terms of emotional depth or unique gameplay interaction, but it’s a thoroughly entertaining fight that I’v...

EurogamerChris Moyse

Mortal Kombat 1 envisions an exciting future with fluid combat, a fantastic story mode, and superb visuals - but receding features, underbaked mechanics, and a dated online experience keep it in the past.