08/10/2026
FIGHT! 34 years ago today, Mortal Kombat changed the game!
In 1992, Mortal Kombat hit arcades and became a phenomenon. The digitized fighters, brutal finishing moves, unforgettable characters, and those legendary words “FINISH HIM!” made it unlike anything we had seen before.
And let’s talk about those quarters! How many did you feed into this machine trying to make it just one more round? You’d put your quarter up, wait your turn, pick your fighter, and hope nobody standing beside you knew every special move and Fatality.
This game was a game changer. It sparked controversy, helped reshape conversations about video game ratings, and launched a franchise that is still going strong today with games, movies, merchandise, and generations of fans.
From Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Kano, Liu Kang, Raiden, Sonya Blade and Johnny Cage to everything Mortal Kombat would eventually become, this is where it all began.
If you were in the arcades in 1992, you already know... FINISH HIM!