6) Mortal Kombat X
If NetherRealm Studios decided to conclude their most popular franchise following the release of Mortal Kombat back in 2009, I probably would have been alright with the decision. The reboot reinvigorated a tired and downtrodden franchise, and brought a solid conclusion to a convoluted storyline. Instead, Ed Boon and company figured they could improve upon the foundation laid down by that title with the next major entry in the franchise, Mortal Kombat X.
A celebration of the past and a look into the future, Mortal Kombat X does more to advance the series than perhaps any other previous entry. The combat engine, while not necessarily as deep as some of its contemporaries, is fast and engaging. And the brutal combat, which offers three styles per combatant, continues to delight and disgust in equal measure.
What really impressed me, though, was the goofy, but surprisingly gripping story. It does away with the dead weight of past entries and introduces several interesting new faces, with the cocky Cassie Cage and basically incompetent Kotal Khan being just two of the highlights.
We’re still early into the life of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, but I feel pretty comfortable saying that Mortal Kombat X is currently the best fighter this generation.