Mortal Kombat 3

The third installment escalates the series' story as the evil emperor Shao Kahn launches a full-scale invasion of Earthrealm after absorbing the soul of Shang Tsung. With the realms merging and Raiden's powers weakened, a new roster of warriors must fight to repel the invasion and restore the balance. New characters join returning favorites, and the game introduces running, more combo-focused combat, and the dreaded Motaro and other bosses. The framing gives every fight a desperate, city-to-city urgency as Earth's defenders battle through Kahn's forces. On the Genesis the port brought the signature digitized fighters and gory finishing moves home, albeit with some version differences. Its faster pace and expanded mechanics made it a favorite among competitive fighting fans of the era.