When it comes to fighting games, there isn’t another franchise that’s as popular as Mortal Kombat. It’s the best-selling fighting game series ever created and overall one of the highest-grossing media franchises globally.
The first game in the series came out in 1992 and is considered one of the best video games of all time. The game became such a huge success that it spawned many sequels, a comic book series, movies, TV shows, and much more.
If you’re a fan of games like Mortal Kombat, we’ve got the perfect list for you. To help you explore some new franchises and subgeneres of fighting games, we’ve handpicked the best 8 games like Mortal Combat that you should check out today.
Killer Instinct (2013)
Killer Instinct is a video game series that became immensely popular during the 1990s, getting released for the first time in arcades.
Killer Instinct initially came out as a free-to-play game in 2013. This version included all the game modes, but only had a single playable character. Players were able to purchase additional playable characters. A retail version of the game came out a year later and it included more characters and content.
The characters in Killer Instinct are very balanced, which is extremely important for fighting games. You can learn all the core mechanics and techniques with different characters in the Dojo tutorial.
There are both single-player and multiplayer modes in Killer Instinct. The online multiplayer mode has a monthly tier-based ranked league, where you can challenge other players across the globe and move up the ranks.
The game offers plenty of customization options and cool costumes. There are 20 different stages with dynamic environments where you can fight opponents, and the music in the game is highly praised by both critics and players.
Killer Instinct is a fun, fast-paced, and bloody fighting game with a classic, arcade feel. It’s a great pick for fans of games like Mortal Kombat.
Soulcalibur VI
Soulcalibur VI is a weapon-based fighting game and is available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows. It features an amazing 3D system and gorgeous graphics.
In this game, you have multiple characters with unique weapons. The base roster has 21 characters but there are more available via DLC. There are a hundred slots for custom characters in Soulcalibur VI. One of the pleasant surprises in the game is that the Witcher also makes an appearance as a character.
There are multiple game modes in Soulcalibur VI. You can even journey back to the 16th century and revisit the events of the first game in the series in the single-player Soul Chronicle mode. If you’d like to challenge players around the world, you can choose the online mode.
There’s also the option to create your own character in the creation mode.
Soulcaliber VI is a great pick for fans of games like Mortal Kombat who want to explore new franchises and fictional worlds. It’s a beautiful and immersive fighting game.
Injustice: Gods Among Us
Injustice: Gods Among Us is a fighting video game based upon the DC Comics fictional universe. You can play the game on PlayStation 3 and 4, Windows, Xbox 360, Wii U, and PlayStation Vita. There is also a free-to-play version of the game available for iOS and Android devices.
The game is a lot of fun, even if you’re not too fond or familiar with the DC Comics universe. But if you’re a fan of comic books or movies, you’ll surely enjoy the game even more since you can pit any hero or villain against one another. Injustice: Gods Among Us features both single-player and multiplayer modes.
The game is set in a 2.5D environment. In other words, movement occurs on a 2D plane but the backgrounds and characters are 3D. The fights follow a similar concept to Killer Instinct. Instead of having multiple rounds, a match consists of a single round and the players have two life bars each.
The environments take inspiration from locations famous in the DC Universe, such as the Fortress of Solitude and the Batcave. Injustice: Gods Among Us features an interesting story mode that consists of several chapters.
With an immersive world, iconic characters, and satisfying gameplay, what’s not to love? Mortal Kombat fans are sure to get a kick out of this game.
Divekick
Divekick is a fighting game with unique mechanics and characters, available for PlayStation 3 and 4, Windows, Xbox One, and PlayStation Vita.
This game became legendary by being the first two-button fighting game ever released. The buttons you can use in the game are to dive and kick. The game is meant to show players how much depth a single move can have, and to focus on other gameplay elements like mind games and spacial awareness.
When you press the dive button, your character in the game performs a vertical jump. After doing this, players need to press the kick button to do a diving kick. The speed of your jump and kick vary depending on the character you choose.
Divekick contains many fighting game motifs for comedic purposes. For instance, each player has a health bar during the fight but the round is over after you only get hit once. If you’re a fan of fighting games, you’ll notice many inside jokes in Divekick that are popular among the competitive fighting game community.
There are 15 different characters to choose from in the game. They all have one specialty. You guessed it – it’s the dive kick. This game is about as fun and original as they come, and it’s one of the best fighting games on Steam for Mortal Kombat fans to check out.
Street Fighter V
Aside from Mortal Kombat and Tekken, there isn’t a fighting game series as legendary as Street Fighter. It represents one of the highest-grossing game franchises ever created and has a long history. The first game in the series came out in arcades way back in 1987.
Street Fighter V came out almost 30 years after the release of the first game in the series. The game is available for PlayStation 4 and Windows, and fans of games like Mortal Kombat are sure to love it.
When it came out in 2016, players had 16 different characters to choose from. Twelve were already known in the Street Fighter universe, and four characters were completely new. Over time, 30 more characters were introduced through downloadable content and updates.
Street Fighter V features both single-player and multiplayer game modes. Like its predecessors, it features a 2D fighting gameplay and is filled with various attacks and special abilities you can use to defeat your opponent.
Tekken 7
Tekken is one of those video game series that has built such a huge legacy that it will be remembered forever.
The first release in the series came out in 1994 and became so popular that it spawned several more entries as well as eight spin-off games. It currently holds the fourth spot on the list of best-selling fighting game franchises of all time.
Tekken 7 is available for Windows, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4, and it’s a must-play for any fans of classic fighting games.
There are 54 playable characters in the game. This number of characters is quite impressive and keeps the fun going for a long time since you can always explore new fighters and moves.
The game is much more beginner-friendly compared to previous installments in the series. It’s a good pick for fans of games like Mortal Kombat who want to play something more laidback and approachable.
Tekken 7 has some intriguing elements to its gameplay, such as a Power Crush move that allows you to perform an attack while absorbing your opponent’s hits. Another interesting feature is a critical move unique to each character called Rage Art, which deals 30% damage and triggers a cinematic sequence.
Dead or Alive 6
Dead or Alive 6 is the sixth main instalment in the Dead or Alive fighting video game series. This game is available for Xbox One, Windows, and PlayStation 4. This game features fast-paced gameplay in a 3D playing field.
The tutorials in this game are very beginner-friendly and will help you master your moves before you start fighting opponents. It’s an ideal pick for fans of games like Mortal Kombat who are newer to the fighting game genre.
Dead or Alive 6 features both single-player and multiplayer modes. The graphics are very realistic and the attention to detail is superb. Everything from hit effects to facial expressions makes the experience seem as real as possible.
There are 31 playable fighters in the game. Most of them are already known to fans of the Dead or Alive series. There are three new characters in this instalment, including NiCO, Diego, and Kula Diamond. Kula is a guest character famous for her appearances in The King of Fighters video game series.
MultiVersus
For the final title on this list, we chose a game that is available for Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. It’s one of the best fighting games on the PS5, and Mortal Kombat fans are sure to love it.
MultiVersus has 19 playable characters you can choose from. They come from ten franchises owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Some of these franchises include Looney Tunes, the DC Universe, Game of Thrones, Tom and Jerry, Scooby-Doo, Adventure Time, as well as Rick and Morty.
The game features both single-player and multiplayer modes. MultiVersus is a platform fighting game, allowing up to four players in a match.
There are three different modes you can choose in MultiVersus. You can play the standard 1v1 experience, but there is also a 2v2 co-op option. You can also play 4-player free for all matches, which can be quite crazy.
Apart from local play, you can also jump into online matches with players from across the globe.
There are a lot of customization options in MultiVersus, with plenty of interesting skins for the different characters on the roster.
