Mortal Kombat 3 on SNES is where the series really starts getting wild. You’ve got the same brutal fights, but now there’s this whole dystopian Earthrealm thing going on—Shao Kahn’s basically turned the place into a wasteland, and you’re punching your way through it. The new run button changes everything—suddenly fights feel faster, more desperate. And the fatalities? Even more ridiculous (in the best way).

First time I played, I went straight for Kabal because dual hook swords? Yes, please. Then I immediately got wrecked by a CPU Smoke spamming teleports. Classic MK. The roster’s a mix of old favorites and weird new picks—who asked for Stryker, honestly?—but it all somehow works. Just don’t expect the SNES version to be as smooth as the arcade; some of the animations are a little choppy, but the blood’s still red (if you know the code).

If you’re into ’90s fighting games, this one’s a time capsule of over-the-top violence and questionable character designs.