Mortal Kombat 1 is the 'best Mortal Kombat to date', critics say

It sounds as if there’s lots of fun to be had. Mortal Kombat 1 reviews are beginning to trickle in. Why trickle, I hear you ask? Well, critics haven’t had their review codes for very long at all so while some have managed to publish their reviews already, others remain a work in progress. As such, we don’t have anything in the way of a solid Metacritic score yet. PlayStation 5’s score currently sits at 85, but this only takes into account five reviews. On Xbox, Switch, and PC, the score remains ‘tbd’. If you take a closer look at those reviews though, many hail Mortal Kombat 1 as ‘the best Mortal Kombat to date’.

In their five out of five star review, VGC wrote, “Mortal Kombat 1 is the best Mortal Kombat game to date. It looks stunning, has a brilliant Story mode, its new Invasions mode will keep solo players busy and, above all else, it's an absolute joy to play. Thoroughly essential for die-hards, lapsed fans and newkomers.”

Gaming Age also gave the game a perfect score, saying, “Overall, Mortal Kombat 1 is a polished, beautiful work of art that is a remarkably innovative entry into the long running franchise. You can feel the love and care that went into recrafting existing characters in a way I never knew I would love.”

VG247 rated it a very respectable four stars, noting, “Mortal Kombat 1 is a generally positive step in a new direction. I find myself frustrated with Liu Kang's decision to allow live service DNA to creep into his new universe, and I long for some of the features left behind (like the Krypt). Mortal Kombat 1 sets the stage for a new era of MK that you can't help but get pumped up for. NetherRealm, like the characters in its ultraviolent universe, is staring right into the face of a brave new world and locking eyes with the future. Keeping those eyes in its head, though, may remain a challenge.”

VideoGamer opted for a score of 90, writing, “With gorgeous next-gen visuals, spine-wringing combos, and new Kameo fighters, Mortal Kombat 1 is less a reboot and more an accessible yet fulfilling return to form,” while Screen Rant awarded a more conservative 70. They said, “If you were hoping to see The Great Kung Lao of myth, however, or an entirely new cast of characters, Mortal Kombat 1 isn't essential, and brings very few truly new ideas to the table.”