It's October 31st, and that means most people will eat candy and watch scary movies to frighten the bejesus out of themselves. But some people opt to lean into the horrors of combat and embrace the violent, gory nature of video games instead. And what franchise has the most notorious violence and brutality of any series?

MORTAL KOMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!

Here is the best fatality from every mainline game, and a runner-up, if you want to see human flesh get burnt, peeled, electrocuted, poisoned, incinerated or just plain eaten.

'Mortal Kombat' (1992): Sub-Zero's Spine Rip

The move that led Congress to investigate the video game industry, and create the ESRB ratings system. This is the single most iconic fatality in the entire series, and might be the best (depending on whom you ask). This is what made "MK" what it is today, and is one of the greatest moments in gaming history.

Runner-up: Kano's heart rip

'Mortal Kombat II' (1993): Mileena's Maneater

I don't know if words can describe what it was like back in the mid '90s to see a lady eat a human man and spit out his bones. It's a feeling of disgust and lust and intrigue that's very hard to pull off, and it's a reason people think this game is the best in the series and still talk about this franchise to this very day.

Runner-up: Shang Tsung's soul suck

'Mortal Kombat 3' (1995): Sektor's Crusher

Does this one make sense? No. Is it cool as hell? Yes. It's so pure and wacky, just a big ol' crusher machine hiding inside of Sektor's chest, and SQUISH you're dead (chefs kiss).

Runner-up: Jax's big step

'Mortal Kombat 4' (1997): Quan Chi's Leg Bash

What a bizarre behavior to give to your main antagonist. He just loves tearing off a leg and beating someone to death with it, doesn't he? This is extremely funny and so random and unique, it stands head and shoulders above the rest of "MK4."

Runner-up: Reptile's vomit

'Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance' (2002): Scorpion's Spearhead

This game has some rather tame fatalities, but Scorpion finally gets a fun wrinkle on his usual "throw his spear into the opponent's head and rip it off" routine. It gets stuck! That's fun.

Runner-up: Kitana's kiss

'Mortal Kombat: Deception' (2004): Sub-Zero's Baseball Pitch

Out of any game, this might be the worst collection of fatalities I've ever seen. But this one stands out simply because I like when he skates backwards to get a good distance away, like he's trying to be a pitcher on a mound.

Runner-up: Sindel's scream

'Mortal Kombat: Armageddon' (2006): Make Your Own Fatality!

This is really the N/A section of the list because the "build-a-fatality" system was a total dud. It was the same handful of options to bludgeon or de-limb your opponent, and it was just uninspired design.

So instead, we'll mention some honorable mentions that didn't make the list that you should look up. Ermac using telekinesis to contort enemies in the wrong ways is always a treat, as is any time someone like Kenshi or Kitana uses a sword or fans as a fast moving grinder/saw to just turn opponents into mince meat. Those are fantastic.

'Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe' (2008): The Joker's Killing Joke

This is a fun reference from Alan Moore's "The Killing Joke" (especially the animated movie version), and is the only bright spot in an otherwise bloodless affair of a game.

'Mortal Kombat 9' (2011): Noob Saibot's Wishbone Split

As much as I love Kung Lao using his hat to rip someone in half, the most outlandish and yet oddly simple way to cleave one in two is how Noob Saibot did it. Just wishbone break a guy in half, from the legs, bottom up. Ruthlessly and unnecessarily violent, and so outrageous I can't help but think this might be the GOAT fatality.

Runner-up: Kung Lao's hat buzzsaw

'Mortal Kombat X' (2015): Cassie's Selfie

The Cage family got quite the TLC with their fatalities in these recent games. Cassie, a fan favorite, got the most tongue-in-cheek stuff by far, and the fake social media page has so many little details that make this one truly stand out amongst the rest.

Runner-up: Ermac's inner workings

'Mortal Kombat 11' (2019): Johnny Cage's Hollywood Antics

These two are tied because I couldn't quite pick between them. The uppercut decapitation is an homage to the original games, but Johnny never quite is able to pull it off, hence flicking the camera off. And the jokes with the puppet are so bad they're brilliant.

Runner-up: D'Vorah's new species

'Mortal Kombat 1' (2023): Geras' Time Travel Rewind

This is by far the most clever fatality ever done, and it makes you want to immediately rewatch it just to say "damn I wish I had thought of that!" This and the runner-up fatality are quite beautiful, in a twisted, morbid kind of way, if you think about it.

Runner-up: Liu Kang's black hole sun