Play Mortal Kombat 3 Online

Mortal Kombat 3 on the Sega Genesis is brutal, even by this series' standards. Shao Kahn straight-up wins at the start—Earthrealm’s already toast, and now you’re part of a ragtag group of survivors trying to fight back. Liu Kang, Sonya, Sub-Zero, and a few others are all that’s left against Kahn’s army of cyber-ninjas, sorcerers, and that four-armed monster Motaro.

The fighting feels faster here thanks to the new run button, and the dial-a-combo system makes pulling off wild strings of attacks way more satisfying. Stage fatalities are gorier than ever (of course), and the Vs. codes add this weird, secret layer where you can unlock buffs before a match. It’s the last MK game with the original digitized actors, so the fighters still have that grimy, real-but-not-real look that makes the violence hit different.

Just don’t expect mercy—Shao Kahn is still the most unfair final boss in fighting game history.