Common Sense Media Review
By Paul Semel
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Epic fighting game has lots of blood, gore and language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
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Mortal Kombat 1
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 14 parent reviews
Parents say the game is highly criticized for its extreme violence and gore, with many arguing it is inappropriate for younger audiences, although some feel it’s suitable for those aged 10 and over due to its entertaining gameplay. Additionally, while a few reviews mention that the humor and pacing can engage players, the overwhelming consensus is that the graphic content warrants caution for sensitive players.
- extreme violence
- unsuitable for children
- fun gameplay
- engaging story
- gore criticism
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 17 kid reviews
Kids say this game is extremely gory and best suited for mature audiences, with many reviewers recommending it only for those over the age of 12 or 14. While some appreciate the engaging gameplay and narrative, the excessive violence and strong language are consistent concerns, indicating that parents should be cautious and monitor younger players' interactions with the game.
- gore level high
- suitable age 12+
- monitor younger players
- engaging gameplay
- excessive violence
Summarized with AI
What's It About?
Set in the aftermath of 2019's Mortal Kombat 11, MORTAL KOMBAT 1 has the fire god Liu Kang creating a new universe out of the ashes of the old one. But the end result is oddly similar to the one before it; hence why many of the familiar faces from previous games are back, and once again fighting to the death, and why Liu Kang is not happy with his work. This game isn't about the story as much as it is the intense, deep, and engaging fighting and of course, saving Earthrealm (again).
Is It Any Good?
Thanks to a cool new move, this fighting game is just as bloody good as the last couple installments in this long-running series. In Mortal Kombat 1, you once again have to save Earthrealm by fighting a bunch of characters to the death. Though the "why" isn't really all that important as the "how", which comes courtesy of the new Kameo Fighters mechanic allowing you to command a fellow combatant to jump into your match, take a quick shot or two on your opponent, and then step back and wait for you to call them again. It's kind of like a special attack in other games, one that takes time to recharge, but can be very effective.
Admittedly, the Kameo Fighters mechanic is just that: a mechanic. It's not a game changer and it doesn't turn this into a tag team match. But given that the rest of the game has the same smooth and deep controls as the previous installments, Mortal Kombat X and Mortal Kombat 11, as well as the same deadly characters, you know what kind of fight it's going to be. That isn't to say this is a rehash of earlier games with one new move. Instead it adds other exciting elements like fun new places to engage in fisticuffs, most notably, an ostentatious Malibu beach pad. It also has multiple ways to play, including a nicely varied story mode, and multiple options to fight friends online. All of which is why Mortal Kombat 1 is still the first name in bloody good fighting games.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the excessive violence in Mortal Kombat 1. Is this amount of violence and gore warranted or does it go too far? Are there similar games you can play without this much violence?
Families can talk about gore. This series is famous for its blood and gore, and this game has graphic (including x-ray) depictions of people being impaled, decapitated, and graphically hurt and killed. Do you think it makes the game better? Or worse?
Families can talk about being prepared. Like many fighting games, players need to use complicated moves to beat the more skill opponents, both online and in the single-player modes. What does this teach us about the importance of being prepared; of learned those advanced moves before we need them, not after?
Game Details
- Platforms : Xbox Series X/S , PlayStation 5 , Nintendo Switch , Windows
- Pricing structure : Paid ($69.99)
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Warner Bros. Games
- Release date : September 19, 2023
- Genre : Fighting
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : December 11, 2025
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