The Best and Worst Mortal Kombat Clones

We've previously talked here at Um Gamer about how Mortal Kombat influenced many fighting games that came after it. Whether it's its digitized graphics, live-action characters, or violence beyond the acceptable limits of the time, Midway's game changed the gaming industry as a whole, and there's no going back.

And, as the saying goes, "nothing is created, everything is copied," several fighting games took these elements popularized by MK and tried to copy the formula, with results ranging from so bad they weren't even released to so violent they weren't even released. So let's talk a little about ten of these MK clones that stood out amidst the flood of copies released in the 90s and highlight some interesting facts about them. And if you have any questions or have other clone games that weren't included in the list, leave a comment.

Here we'll highlight the clones that simply tried to jump on the MK bandwagon with their over-the-top violence and gore, but failed to deliver any substantial content to attract players. From ridiculous deaths to pure sexualization, these Mortal Kombat clones should be thrown into the "Pit of History."

“Tattoo Assassins” (Cancelled)

This is undoubtedly the most famous example of a "Mortal Kombat" clone, perhaps even the poster child for the absurdities made in the hype surrounding Midway's game. "Tattoo Assassins" was desperately trying to find ways to outdo MK with some ridiculous advertising methods. One example of this was the absurd number of fatalities in the game: over 99 different ways to finish off your opponent.

Yes, idiotic, banal, and unfunny ways to finish off your opponent, like farting on them or stripping them naked. Although the game was completed, it was never released. The only media outlet that reviewed it, the American gaming magazine Next Generation, had nothing but horrible things to say about the game, citing poor controls, glitchy graphics, ridiculous endings, and terrible performance.

“Way of the Warrior” (1994)

"Way of the Warrior" had a lot going for it. It had its own unique identity, similar to martial arts films, a unique cast of characters, and leaned more toward realism than "Mortal Kombat" (more or less). Overall, it was a somewhat competent game when it came to presentation and performance.

So what went wrong? Well, releasing your flagship fighting game with poor controls is sure to turn people off immediately. In short, "Way of the Warrior" never got the attention it could’ve gotten if its controls were less terrible and broken. And would you believe me if I told you this game was made by Naughty Dog? The same company behind games like "Uncharted," "The Last of Us," and "Crash Bandicoot," would you?

“Xenophage: Alien Bloodsport” (1995)

Like "Way of the Warrior," "Xenophage: Alien Bloodsport" had the potential to gain a decent fan base. Its concept of alien beasts battling each other to save their home planets was a cool premise that many players would have embraced. However, part of the game's failure may be the fault of publisher Apogee Software.

With "DOOM" enjoying success thanks to its freeware nature, many developers and publishers were trying to replicate the same idea: send out enough free copies of the game in the hopes of generating enough hype among players to make it the next big hit in gaming. But apparently, the deal didn't work out because the game was nowhere near as good as Doom.

“Kasumi Ninja” (1994)

Speaking of unimpressive MK clones, "Kasumi Ninja" almost didn't make the list because we completely forgot it existed! Have you heard of it? Both the character designs and the backgrounds are extremely generic. And the worst part is, this was the result of corporate meddling!

According to producer Jim Gregory, publisher Atari forced the developers to reduce their roster of fighters from twenty to eight, and no one knows whether the twelve who were cut had interesting designs or not. What we do know is that the eight chosen essentially sealed the fate of "Kasumi Ninja." It was bad enough that the game was nearly unplayable thanks to its terrible sound and controls, and focusing on completely forgettable characters didn't help matters.

“Catfight” (1996)

The entertainment world, in general, revolves largely around two things: sex and violence. Anyone who works in games, film, television, comics, and other media knows this well. But some think that's all a product needs to be successful. An example of this is "Catfight," which was simply a Mortal Kombat with an "all-female cast". You already know why it was made and who it was made for, especially when you realize that the game's publisher was an adult entertainment company.

Developer Phantom Card even got actress Katalin Zamiar, who played Kitana, Jade, and Mileena in MK2's motion capture, to play one of the game's characters! But we know sex appeal only gets you so far. The graphics, controls, audio, and everything else have earned "Catfight" the reputation of one of the worst games ever made.

Not all MK clones are that bad. Some simply tried to ride the hype of over-the-top violence, but they delivered much more than that, like good original stories, interesting characters, or mechanics that were truly worth trying. Some are still around today, even years after release, and others still have a loyal fanbase who hope that, one day, their favorite fighters will see the light of day once more.

“Killer Instinct” (1994)

The funny thing about "Killer Instinct" is that it was initially developed to challenge "Mortal Kombat". It was pitched to Namco; they said "No" and went off to make their own failed MK clone called "Weaponlord". Meanwhile, in the unlikely hands of Nintendo, "Killer Instinct" was a huge success in both arcades and home consoles.

The menacing monsters, incredibly fast gameplay, incredibly long combos, and mind-blowing music were absolutely infectious and still are today! Sure, it wasn't as gory, but overall, it delivered adrenaline in every way possible, which is why it received a reboot with new characters and why many continue to play this 2013 version published by Microsoft Studios to this day.

“Eternal Champions” (1993)

Released for the Mega Drive and developed by SEGA, this clone is one of those that was relatively successful thanks to the combination of a good story involving a tournament that brings together fighters from various eras, interesting characters (including some bizarre ones like a pinscher, a snake, a monkey, an owl and a rooster), although forgettable, decent music and competent controls.

The game had its fatalities, called Overkills, but other than that, there wasn't anything that really set "Eternal Champions" apart, especially since Mortal Kombat itself was available to play WITH BLOOD (something the Super Nintendo didn't have). However, the SEGA CD version came with much better music and some Overkills in 3D scenes. It was worth checking out.

“Primal Rage” (1994)

Another game that sought to stand out through violence and fatalities to ride the Midway game's hype, but instead of trying to create a cast of characters (and failing like many clones), they simply took dinosaurs and other animals to compose their hall of fighters, had them fight, and that was it. There was no need for an excuse for one monster to destroy the other with claws and teeth. They just had to let them do what they knew how to do.

Using hand-animated figures, photographed in stop-motion style and then digitized for the game, "Primal Rage" managed to create its own style and a fan base that wasn't just for a violent game with decapitations and deaths (although it wasn't as heavy as MK itself, it did have its share of gore). "Primal Rage" is, like Killer Instinct, one of the clones that deserved a revival and a new chance. Imagine seeing the beasts killing each other done in Unreal Engine 5?

“The Kung-Fu Master Jackie Chan” (1995)

As far as Mortal Kombat knockoffs go, there's nothing weirder than "The Kung-Fu Master Jackie Chan". After all, this is a fighting game featuring three different versions of kung-fu movie star Jackie Chan, battling a series of digitized characters, with fighters using falcons and dressed in traditional Chinese garb. Furthermore, while the game has its fatalities, Jackie Chan doesn't eliminate his enemies! He gets up and gives a thumbs-up, indicating all is well. Yes, it's bizarre, but it results in a surprisingly fun fighting game.

Created from a deal between developer Kaneko and Chan's production company, Chan starred in the fighting game in exchange for funding for his film "Thunderbolt". Despite its eccentric origins, The Kung-Fu Master Jackie Chan manages to add unprecedented speed to the Mortal Kombat formula, more closely resembling Marvel vs. Capcom than the game series that inspired it.

“Thrill Kill” (1998)

This one was once called "the Mortal Kombat of the 32-bit generation," and unlike others, it had enough quality to truly make an impact. Developed by Paradox Development for the PlayStation, the game was nearly finished but eventually canceled by Electronic Arts, which didn't want its brand associated with such an absurdly violent title.

The game had a straightforward premise: four-player fights in closed arenas, filled with blood, fetishism, sadism, and grotesque characters, each with a more disturbing look than the last (a dominatrix in a gas mask, a psychiatric patient, a demonic dwarf, etc.). The gameplay was fast, responsive, and already featured several ideas that would later migrate to other series (including Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style, which used the same graphics engine). Despite its cancellation, Thrill Kill leaked in the form of pirated copies and became a cult favorite.