Mortal Kombat X Review Roundup

The latest entry in the Mortal Kombat series, Mortal Kombat X, is now available, and it brings with it new characters, refinements, and game modes. But are those changes for the better, and are they enough?

Mortal Kombat X--pronounced "Ex," not "ten"--features a reasonably large roster of characters that is effectively made larger by each one sporting three different fighting styles. On top of that, there are several DLC characters which you'll be able to try out without buying them.

We've rounded up some of the first reviews from around the web for you to peruse below. As with some other outlets, GameSpot's review has yet to be finalized as we wait to see how the the online aspect of MKX holds up now that it's out in the wild. But for now, read on to see what we think so far, and check out our piece on everything you need to know about the game.

• Game: Mortal Kombat X
• Developer: NetherRealm Studios
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC
• Release Date: April 14
• Price: $60

GameSpot -- review in progress

"There is so much to do, and a well of fighting styles to explore, that you'll have to try pretty hard to grow bored of it. This is the most visually stunning Mortal Kombat to date, too, mixing over-the-top, Injustice-like moves with an eye-catching visual style. The violence within isn't going to sit well with everybody, and while it sometimes feels like the promise of a brutal finishing move overshadows the core fighting game within, when you see through it, you'll appreciate that Mortal Kombat X is a serious fighting game that's merely dressed with a bit of dark humor, rather than one that's defined by that and that alone." - Peter Brown [Full review]

USGamer -- 4/5

"Mortal Kombat X offers everything a fan could ask from except possibly their favorite character. The graphics and animations received a huge boost thanks to the power of the new consoles, and while not perfect, the net code is vastly improved over previous NetherRealm fighting games. The story mode has been streamlined to make it shorter, but it still retains the cinematic flare fans have come to expect. Faction Wars add an additional layer of polish, even if they aren't as impactful as NetherRealm intended, and Test Your Luck will provide hours of fun for more casual players." - Bryan Dawson [Full review]

Polygon -- 9/10

"Mortal Kombat X is friendly both to casual players who want to experience its rich suite of single-player content and knock around with some friends, but deep enough for competitive players who want to plumb its roster and variations. It's a robust, feature-rich competitive fighting game that hones what's worked for NetherRealm Studios in past games, and even shows hints of restraint and maturity amidst the gory hyper-violence. Paired with an ambitious online meta-game, Mortal Kombat X is one of the best fighting games in the series." - Michael McWhertor [Full review]

GamesRadar -- 3.5/5

"As a whole, Mortal Kombat X is a rock-solid fighting game that owes a lot to the power of its presentation. The story mode is unparalleled in terms of sheer entertainment, but MKX has a way to go in terms of teaching the player how to get the most out of its core systems. Once you've wrapped your head around the many variations and found some actual people to play against, the blisteringly fast back-and-forth matches really start to open up. If you're not willing to make the commitment to seeking out challengers and learning beyond the basics, though, this fighter definitely has a shorter life expectancy." - Lucas Sullivan [Full review]

IGN -- review in progress

"This helps MKX feel like the smoothest-playing Mortal Kombat ever. Walk speeds are snappier, pokes feel more useful, and with the awesome new variation system, there’s more to explore, discover, and exploit than ever before. Liu Kang has a variation where he can switch on the fly between healing and damaging stances, new grappler Torr employs an assist character to double-team opponents, Kotal Khan can place totems to grant himself temporary buffs--this is the kind of stuff you see in Persona 4 or BlazBlue, and seeing NetherRealms open up so many fun new doors is really refreshing." - Vince Ingenito [Full review]

Game Informer -- 9.25/10

"Mortal Kombat X is a fantastic successor in every sense. The mechanics may be similar to 2011's strong release, but with so many new modes and features permeating every part of the experience, it’s a worthy upgrade. Mortal Kombat X is more than the continuation of NetherRealm's successful vision for the franchise; it’s one of the best fighting games in years." - Brian Shea [Full review]