Is MK 11 Worth It in 2026? Yes, Absolutely.
If you‘re considering picking up Mortal Kombat 11, the answer is a resounding yes. Three years after launch, MK11 remains not only one of the best fighting games available, but one of the best games period thanks to NetherRealm‘s continual support and updates. With its excellent fighting mechanics, wealth of content, and gory fatalities, MK11 is absolutely worth your time and money in 2022.
A Fighting System with Depth
MK11 rewards skillful play with its fighting system. Unlike some fighting games that emphasize long combos, MK11 is more focused on strategy. The offensive meter encourages you to spend it wisely rather than spam special moves. The defensive meter adds rock-paper-scissors depth to countering your opponent‘s attacks. There is a satisfying risk-reward factor to meter management and timing your attacks for big damage when the opportunity arises.
The gameplay has incredible depth while remaining accessible for new players. Dial-a-combo makes picking up combos easy, but expert players will link together their own crushing blows and special move cancels. With every update, the balance between the 37 fighters on the roster gets better. No single fighter dominates the tiers; you can win with skill rather than just character picks.
The Gold Standard for Content
Simply put, no fighting game comes close to matching the amount of content and modes in MK11. There is an insane amount of gameplay here for your money:
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Cinematic Story Mode: The 12 hour story mode features AAA production value and furthers the MK lore with its time travel plot.
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Towers of Time: This evolving series of challenge towers provides endless gameplay with fun modifiers to test your abilities.
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The Krypt: Explore Shang Tsung‘s island and unlock chests for new gear, costumes, fatalities, and more. It‘s almost a game by itself!
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Online Modes: Test your skills against others in ranked matches, casual matches, and private King of the Hill lobbies.
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AI Battles: Customize AI fighters and have them battle offline for rewards. A mindless but rewarding way to unlock gear.
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Klassic Towers: Arcade-style towers let you fight through ladders against the roster and bosses.
No other fighting game can match the breadth and depth of single-player, online, and multiplayer content available in MK11. And that‘s before considering the graphics and attention to detail NetherRealm put into every facet of presentation.
Packed Roster of Fan Favorites
MK11‘s base roster of 25 fighters was already strong with the likes of Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Raiden, Johnny Cage and all the expected classics. But NetherRealm has supported the game with 12 DLC fighters including The Terminator, The Joker, Spawn, and even John Rambo.
The final roster sits at 37 unique fighters spanning ninjas, sorcerers, gods, movie guests, and more. Having nearly every key character from Mortal Kombat‘s long history is a dream come true for fans. And the three years of ongoing balance patches means every fighter is viable in the meta.
Key Stats and Facts about MK11
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Over 8 million copies sold across all platforms as of May 2021.
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Maintains a ‘Very Positive‘ 86% review score on Steam with over 70,000 reviews.
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Currently the 13th most played fighting game on Steam with 5,613 daily players.
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Ed Boon won Best Game Director at The Game Awards 2019 for his work on MK11.
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Winner of numerous 2019 Game of the Year awards from IGN, Game Informer, and more.
Mortal Kombat 11 vs Other Major Fighting Games
| Game | Release Date | Active Players | Metacritic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mortal Kombat 11 | April 2019 | 5,613 | 88 |
| Tekken 7 | June 2017 | 11,477 | 85 |
| Street Fighter V | Feb 2016 | 2,628 | 83 |
| Dragon Ball FighterZ | Jan 2018 | 2,111 | 87 |
MK11 holds up remarkably well even against newer fighting games in terms of active players. And it is considered by reviewers to be better than its closest franchise rivals.
Expert Opinions on MK11
Fighting game experts agree that MK11 offers some of the best content and gameplay of any title in the genre:
"Three years later, Mortal Kombat 11 somehow still feels as fresh and fun as it did on launch day… the game‘s longevity comes down to its near-perfect blend of accessibility and depth." – Den of Geek
"I can’t think of a game that does a better job of shaking up the fighting game formula without sacrificing the spirit of the genre." – EGM
My Take as a MK Enthusiast
As someone who has played every Mortal Kombat game since the 90‘s, MK11 is easily one of the best in the series. The varied gameplay modes give you endless ways to enjoy it. The feeling of pulling off a brutal fatality or crushing your opponent never gets old. And the Fatal Blow slow-motion effects add so much cinematic impact to key moments.
The brutal combat is recognizable as Mortal Kombat, but modernized with gorgeous graphics and animation. As a fighting game, it hits the perfect balance between strategic play and over-the-top gore. Seeing Mortal Kombat legends like Scorpion rendered so vividly with their classic moves intact is a joy. I can‘t wait to see what NetherRealm does next with Mortal Kombat 12!
The Verdict: Absolutely Worth Playing in 2022
From the excellent combat mechanics to the fun solo content and outstanding graphics, Mortal Kombat 11 represents the pinnacle of what this legendary series can offer. The deep gameplay continues to evolve through patches and the huge roster of fighters provides endless variety. Both casual fans and hardcore fighting game enthusiasts will find something to love with MK11.
Three years after launch, this game still feels fresh and packs a ridiculous amount of gameplay for the price. If you enjoy fighting games and the Mortal Kombat universe, do yourself a favor and pick up MK11 – it remains a bloody brilliant masterpiece in 2022 and beyond.