The world of competitive Mortal Kombat is a cut throat one- - whether you’re digitally ripping the spine out of your friends or in the training room recording your play "Teching" inputs for that extra two percent damage, success and failure can become a grind. After the finger cramps, carpal tunnel and the eye aches set in, even the most seasoned fighting game aficionado needs a change of pace sometimes.
If you’re finished hammering out the surprisingly deep Mortal Kombat 11 campaign, and perhaps over the cheese of the online play, there are many alternatives for you to try. Whether you’re looking for a little more flash, a little less zoning or a touch more anime in your fighting game experience, these titles have got you covered.
Killer Instinct (2013)
Available on PC and Xbox One
While it seems like digging up the corpse of this fondly remembered but doomed franchise would be a bad idea, Mortal Kombat fans will find much to enjoy about this since sidelined IP from Double Helix. The game shines as it always has in the Combo Breaker mechanic (which hasn't changed much since the game debuted in 1994) and is sorely lacking in today's seemingly infinite multi-air juggling combinations featured in the fighting games of today.
This time around, however, the title includes a "Counter Breaker," which, as the name suggests, is a Combo Breaker for Combo Breakers. This mechanic sets up a surprising interactivity between attacker and defender, as whiffing on either opens a player up for massive damage. Whereas most fighting games have one player watching for the extended time of the combo, the mind games are abound in Killer Instinct.
While it doesn't have the bells and whistles of newer or higher budget Triple-A fighting games, fans of Mortal Kombat who are simply looking to shout at their friends while violently screaming "Ultra Combo" will be pleasantly surprised by the cerebral game play at hand.
Dragon Ball FighterZ
Available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch
An obvious choice for the anime lover, Dragon Ball FighterZ has style, substance and, yes, all the planet annihilating destructive finishes you’d come to expect from any video game attempting to place itself in the world of Akira Toriyama’s beloved fighting manga.
Instead of the sepia tones and horror-themed backgrounds of Mortal Kombat, players will find bright, beautifully rendered landscapes built to tickle the nostalgia bones of anyone who watched the anime. Visually gorgeous, the animations in DBFZ are smooth, flashy and ripped straight from the canon material -- a far cry from the muted dark tones of the Warner Brothers juggernaut.
Dragon Ball FighterZ may lack the visceral experience Mortal Kombat provides, but it falls in line with its high demand for technical superiority in the competitive scene. While this 2D anime tag-fighter from Arc System Works is known for providing a beginner friendly control scheme, both Mortal Kombat and DBFZ reward technical grinders with high value combinations beyond the basics for any player willing to put the time in.
Street Fighter V Champion Edition
Available on PC and PlayStation 4
Likely to be on any list of both great and terrible fighting games, Street Fighter V is no stranger to both controversy and praise. Initially launching in 2016 with the absolute bare minimum of fighting game features (the title lacked a single-player mode, costumes and had limited levels, in addition to a low character count), SFV was received poorly. On top of that, many encountered server issues, only leading to more headaches for the game and everyone involved.
Instead of giving up on it, though, Capcom set out to rectify the game's issues. Its 2020 incarnation, Street Fighter V: Championship Edition, boasts a frankly monstrous amount of content: 40 Characters, over 200 costumes, 34 stages, and extra game modes including single-player.
A tried and true franchise that has stood the test of time, Street Fighter’s latest addition to the series is not only fun but also a mainstay of fighting game competitions everywhere. With its diverse roster, there’s bound to be a character that translates well from a Mortal Kombat skill set. If you’re looking to trade your ice beams for Hadoukens in a competitive setting, this title is for you.
Gang Beasts
Available on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One
With the next generation of consoles just around the corner, each promising better computing power, visceral fidelity and improved fighting game mechanics, the fighting game community is salivating at the thought of new 4K definition blood in the water. Gang Beasts delivers nothing of the sort, and instead opting for an intentionally horrendous control scheme in an arena brawling party game whose only balancing mechanic is the idea that none of the (up to 8) players have any idea what’s going on.
While the stage selection is limited and the graphics may not push any modern platform to its limits, the gameplay is highly enjoyable and consists of striking your opponent to the point of unresponsiveness and throwing them into level hazards to win. The charm of watching opponents grip ledges for their lives as you beat them mercilessly is not unlike the savoring moments just before executing the perfect Fatality.
Players who enjoy the brutality of Mortal Kombat, but are looking for a game they can play with other family members and/or younger players should opt for this lighthearted but still satisfying game from indie developer Boneloaf.
Injustice 2
Available on PC, Android, iOS, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One
Warner Bros' DC fighting game is a shoe in for people interested in Mortal Kombat-esque fighting games. While its main appeal is that it allows players to live out the endless debates over which superhero would win in a fight, Injustice 2's single-player campaign mode also deserves attention. It takes various influences from other comic story arcs and has even spun off into its own comic series.
While it lacks the gratuitous violence of Mortal Kombat, Injustice shines in other, more subtle ways. Placing a heavier influence on RPG influences, such as stat boosting gear, Injustice 2 offers much more in terms of play style customization. Paired with a large library of environmental interaction and over the top stage transitions, Injustice 2 delivers on the city demolishing headcanons that longtime fans created while smashing action figures together as children.