Play Mortal Kombat Online

I first played Mortal Kombat on the Sega Genesis in 1993, a port of the arcade game by Midway. It was a big deal at the time, standing out from other fighters with its digitized actors and controversial content. The Genesis version felt like a direct, if slightly compromised, piece of the arcade experience brought home.

You control one of seven fighters, like Scorpion or Sub-Zero, in one-on-one martial arts battles. The main goal is to win two rounds against an opponent by depleting their life bar, progressing through a tournament ladder. Signature mechanics include the high and low punch and kick system, special moves performed with specific joystick and button combinations, and the infamous Fatalities, gruesome finishing moves executed after winning a match. The pacing is fast and aggressive, with a steep difficulty curve, especially in later fights. It feels raw and immediate, a game where every match is a tense, personal duel.