Killer Instinct

 Xbox One
User Score
6.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 656 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 362 out of 656
  2. Mixed: 102 out of 656
  3. Negative: 192 out of 656
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  1. metissier
    Jun 22, 2023
    10
    Literally the best fighting game of all time lmao everyone crying on here is a bot.
  2. Alex_Pilgrim008
    Nov 20, 2021
    8
    This Xbox One exclusive is a fantastic reboot of the classic 90's fighter. Like "Street Fighter IV", it has been continuously updated and has improved as a result. In fact, the game has more of a "Street Fighter" feel than its old school predecessors. It looks terrific, features fluid combat and is highly accessible. Thankfully, it caters to both the casual and hardcore crowd. There areThis Xbox One exclusive is a fantastic reboot of the classic 90's fighter. Like "Street Fighter IV", it has been continuously updated and has improved as a result. In fact, the game has more of a "Street Fighter" feel than its old school predecessors. It looks terrific, features fluid combat and is highly accessible. Thankfully, it caters to both the casual and hardcore crowd. There are numerous challenges, tutorials and training modes for those that want to master each character. This is one of the better Microsoft exclusives. I would rate it with an 8.3 out of 10.… Expand
  3. ANTIMETACRITIC
    May 5, 2021
    10
    Una gran alternativa a las otras sagas de juegos de lucha, con toda clase de luchadores.
  4. MOLEX3000
    Jun 23, 2020
    10
    The Return of one of the greatest fighting games of all time! Incredible, frenetic fun and fast passed, great online and an ongoing community! Perfect! ULTRA COMBO!
  5. Kayox
    Nov 25, 2019
    9
    The game has amazing graphics, precise controls, a large selection of characters, many unique stages, and a ton of modes. If you enjoy fighting games I would highly recommend. The only drawback I can think of is that while the stages are well done it really doesn’t matter what stage you select as there is no real difference between the stages except the background image.
  6. Odh
    Sep 6, 2019
    9
    When I heard this game would be done in seasons with DLC, I was a bit disappointed in that it seemed like a shameless cash grab. But after 3 seasons of fighters, gameplay tweaks, good online play, and a really in depth fighting system with excellent tutorials, I would go as far as to say this game is my favorite fighter of this console generation. I mean I would definitely recommend thisWhen I heard this game would be done in seasons with DLC, I was a bit disappointed in that it seemed like a shameless cash grab. But after 3 seasons of fighters, gameplay tweaks, good online play, and a really in depth fighting system with excellent tutorials, I would go as far as to say this game is my favorite fighter of this console generation. I mean I would definitely recommend this game over Smash ultimate, SFV, MKX, MK11, or or the new samurai shodown. Its not the best fighter of all time, just the best of this generation.… Expand
  7. Caeuas
    Oct 3, 2018
    10
    Melhor jogo de luta da atual geração de consoles. Mecânicas únicas e jogabilidade viciante.
  8. alejandra09
    Apr 16, 2018
    10
    Killer Instinct become one of the most interesting fighting games of this generation
  9. slughorn
    Sep 24, 2016
    9
    Good game, but you have to buy characters, btw, the game is excelent, you have must fun alone or with your friends! I'd like so much! A good title to the library on XONE!
  10. DarkReaperV3
    Jun 29, 2016
    8
    Graficos muy buenos, pero pues prefiero el killer instinct viejo y tal vez por eso de alguna forma no me agrado del todo este titulo pues ha cambiafo significativamente el juego. lo positivo es que es gratis y poco a poco van desbloqueando personajes.
  11. TheQuietGamer
    May 29, 2016
    8
    To get the most out of Killer Instinct you are going to have to purchase Seasons 2 & 3, or one of the other bundles out there. If not you're going to be left with a smaller roster of characters and other content. Given all of that is it even worth buying vanilla Killer Instinct? Personally I say yes.

    There's a great combat system in place. The game has some great tutorials in place to    To get the most out of Killer Instinct you are going to have to purchase Seasons 2 & 3, or one of the other bundles out there. If not you're going to be left with a smaller roster of characters and other content. Given all of that is it even worth buying vanilla Killer Instinct? Personally I say yes.

    There's a great combat system in place. The game has some great tutorials in place to help you get into the swing of things. It also helps that the fights are complimented by bright, colorful, and flashy graphics. The characters themselves all have their own distinguishing features to make them all worth checking out.

    Now obviously there's multiplayer, great proving grounds for your skills, but how is it's single-player offerings? Basically just a bunch of matches against the AI where you pick a character and see a cutscene at the end. The game gives you some decent incentive to keep going back thanks to unlockables and multiple endings, but it doesn't change the fact that these are just bot matches that likely won't hold your attention long. This is no Mortal Kombat style story mode.

    While perhaps a bit too bare bones for some, vanilla Killer Instinct still offers plenty of reasons to give it a shot. The gameplay is enjoyable enough to even pull you away from the likes of Mortal Kombat from time to time. There's also a way to play it for free to see if the game is for you or not. Going free-to-play does limit the roster to only one, regularly rotating character, but you can experience the game without paying a single-cent.

    The way you buy the more complete versions of it are disappointing. However just the basic game can keep you entertained for quite a while before you feel the need to spring for those other seasons. Overall it's a pretty great fighter, with fairly crappy purchasing system. Still, it's worth it for hardcore fighting game fans even if they don't buy anything more than the base game.    … Expand
  12. Jurassicmonster
    Sep 8, 2015
    9
    Well the graphics are one of my favorite improvements and characters look badass well the bummer is that you have to pay for the rest of the roster but when you do buy them it'll be totally worth and then you're up and kickin ass and let's be honest for a moment who else int hyped for season 3
  13. Cmonsta117
    Jun 27, 2015
    8
    unlike the people that gave this game a bad score because it isn't what most fighting games are shame on you because unlike most fighting games Killer instinct for the Xbox one actually requires you to know how to play a fighting game because it your main source of damage comes from you combos not just button mashing and if you don't have the right amount of skill you can learn how to playunlike the people that gave this game a bad score because it isn't what most fighting games are shame on you because unlike most fighting games Killer instinct for the Xbox one actually requires you to know how to play a fighting game because it your main source of damage comes from you combos not just button mashing and if you don't have the right amount of skill you can learn how to play with the tutorial levels within the dojo section of the game and this helped me out alot to because I was hopeless at this game at first but then I learnt the controls and combos from the tutorial and I find it realy easy to play now so that why I have given the game it's rating.… Expand
  14. Prezident
    Jun 14, 2015
    10
    Best game ever! FINALLY! My favorite ip of all time has come back! I play this game more than any fighting before! This game is the reason why I bought my xbox one!
  15. corpal_hudson
    Apr 11, 2015
    10
    I picked up the Season 1 Combo Breaker physical media and with all the improvements released through updates, I give this game a 10. So much has improved. The visuals look vibrant. The gameplay speed is intense. The volume of characters available is a major improvement. There is a 19 GB patch after or during installation. The complete edition is out and gives you everything. I usedI picked up the Season 1 Combo Breaker physical media and with all the improvements released through updates, I give this game a 10. So much has improved. The visuals look vibrant. The gameplay speed is intense. The volume of characters available is a major improvement. There is a 19 GB patch after or during installation. The complete edition is out and gives you everything. I used to play the arcade version years ago. So I'm probably looking at adding the season 2 to my list now. There are many products so it's still confusing which to buy.… Expand
  16. mray833
    Feb 11, 2015
    10
    So much fun! and the fighting mechanics is incredible! I prefer this game and it's season DLC over MK9. So glad they never gave up on this game and keep supporting it.
  17. Fabrizzio1000
    Feb 4, 2015
    10
    I'm digging the combat not too scrub friendly, but not too hard at entry level.Good connections (heard it uses rollback gg),nothing game breaking at launch,small roster right now. One thing i noticed dynamic music (really cranks up when you're in danger,between rounds),rounds similar to Injustice or rather Injustice has one similar to this game.I'd pick it up from the MS store.
  18. squarewindow
    Jan 7, 2015
    9
    There was always huge potential that this was going to be a disaster. For Killer Instinct's triumphant return after the best part of two decades, Microsoft decided to farm the license out to Double Helix Games, a studio responsible for such recent classics as Silent Hill Homecoming and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. It also seems as though they weren't given much time to work on it, asThere was always huge potential that this was going to be a disaster. For Killer Instinct's triumphant return after the best part of two decades, Microsoft decided to farm the license out to Double Helix Games, a studio responsible for such recent classics as Silent Hill Homecoming and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. It also seems as though they weren't given much time to work on it, as clearly it was expected that it would be an Xbox One launch game, so I'm sure a lot of people were expecting a rush-job to be on the cards.

    Luckily, somehow, the developers have confounded expectations and produced a game more than worthy of the name. Ken Lobb, one of the designers of the original Killer Instinct arcade game, was brought in to oversee production, and they hired a few guys who had previous experience of fighting game development, and it paid off. The new KI feels true to the original vision, very faithful in gameplay terms to the classics but with the responsiveness you would expect of a 2013 title. Everything feels correct, right down to the music. The OTT combo system still takes centre stage but things have been made a lot more interesting by some of the gameplay systems, such as "counter breakers" (which enable you to counter a combo breaker and carry on the combo), as well as the presence of a meter which indicates how long you can keep a combo going before it will end, which means you can plan when to use things like shadow moves (which delay the meter's rise) and instinct mode (which resets it completely) to keep the combo going as long as possible. One star of the show in particular is the excellent Dojo mode, which teaches you first how to play fighting games, and then how to play Killer Instinct. In education terms, it's the best mode of its kind in any fighting game, without exception.

    Chief quibble aimed at the game by professional reviews is, of course, the lack of content, with only six characters and a paucity of modes at launch. While this is a fair criticism, it's much better to have a lack of content in the game's initial state than for the game mechanics to be substandard. The foundations are there and they're rock solid, and more content is coming in time - two more characters and an arcade/story mode by the end of March 2014 and then another "season" of content (likely another 8+ characters) due towards the end of 2014. Ideally everything would have been available from day one, of course, as now there's a high probability of balancing issues, but the fact that there is a new KI game at all, and that it's this good... I can let it slide.    … Expand
  19. kagebatsu
    Dec 11, 2014
    10
    This game was the reason I bought an XboxONE last year. I have been a fan of killer instinct since the first game, which i played on SNES. I have fond memories of that little black cartridge, me making up nonsense lyrics for Orchid's theme, and me smashing buttons and managing an ultra combo with cinder (how the hell did i do that?). I got KI2 on N64 and for a goo, what, 15 years? I waitedThis game was the reason I bought an XboxONE last year. I have been a fan of killer instinct since the first game, which i played on SNES. I have fond memories of that little black cartridge, me making up nonsense lyrics for Orchid's theme, and me smashing buttons and managing an ultra combo with cinder (how the hell did i do that?). I got KI2 on N64 and for a goo, what, 15 years? I waited for a sequel. When KI was announced for XB1, I flipped. Then I played the game and was immediately transported back to KI1.

    I honestly don't understand the hatred this game receives. I really don't.

    I read reviews complaining the game is nothing like the original, and then in the same breath, that the game copies the fighting mechanic from the first game. One reviewer on this site wrote: "The gameplay is straight out of 1997--nothing new here." But in the previous sentence, s/he says that the game is nothing like the originals.

    What?

    I hate dubstep. I am ashamed whenever I hear it. But Killer Instinct's soundtrack makes me change my mind. Each of the new tracks I hear has some piece of the original songs. What's even more impressive: I believe no one from the original series worked on this new kI, and yet they still managed to capture that sound that the original games had. That shows you how much time and energy the developers actually put into playing the original games (or at least researching).

    The characters I will agree do not look as flashy and sexy as, say, the new ones in MKX. However, I think they look way better than the characters in SF4. I'm sorry, at least Jago doesn't look like this thighs are bigger than his head. Can anyone honestly say that they like the SF4 character models better than KI's? Seriously?

    The combo system in this game is SO addictive. I've fought against a guy who did a triple/230 hit ultra combo against me. Then I discover that that is incredibly difficult to do--it takes a bit of practice. It's so fun to watch/play against someone who really knows what theyre doing in this game. I think the combos look energetic, fun, dynamic, and aggressive. Again, the sound! The sound effects in this game are top notch. Ultra combo hits make their own music! Navigating the menus echoes the KI1 theme! WTF this game is freaking cool.

    C-C-C-COUNTER BREAKER. ULTRA! all of that mess is back, and better, in my opinion.

    The pricing model that the game works on is what I enjoy. Many game companies nowadays are releasing incomplete games (Destiny, for example, which I love, mind you), and then charging for DLC not months after the incomplete game is released. I've never played such an honest and friendly game. I really feel like the developers listen to fans and aren't trying to gouge them for money every chance they get. Sure, there are microtransactions, but they do have to make money somehow on the game. They release an incomplete game, and instead of forcing me to pay 60 bucks for it, they say: here, pay 5 bucks per character, or 20 bucks per season, and we'll keep you updated on when new seasons and characters and game modes come out. How friendly is that? I love it.

    The new season changes and improvements tell me that the developers are truly devoted to fans. Kan-ra is so freaking cool. Cinder is back. Riptor. TJ combo. And they are adding new females (ARIA, one of the few female bosses in fighting games I can think of).

    The UI is sick. I love it. I disagree with the people who think it looks blocky. Check out the small details on Fulgore's costume design. Each color has a different emblem (xbox, double helix, rareware).

    I honestly feel like there are people who just don't want to like this game, and then they come up with excuses as to why it's bad. Seriously, some people think this is on the same level of bad as RISE OF THE ROBOTS? are you kidding me? go home with that mess.

    do you know what this game would look like if it were *actually* bad?

    It would crash every fight (I don't think I've EVER gotten disconnected from a fight in this game; compare that to SCV which drops me if my connection goes below a 3). Battles would lag so much you'd get intimate with Orchid real fast. The game would be broken in deep ways: combos wouldn't connect because of balancing issues; one character could beat the rest because with relative ease since he has a move that was OP. The soundtrack could have NOTHING to do with the original KI games. The storyline wouldn't even mention ultratech. Do you see where I'm going here? Do we now know what is truly a bad game? Class dismissed.

    Seriously, for everyone who hopped up here and gave the game a ZERO (*facepalm*, seriously, again, a zero? that's reserved for games that don't even boot up properly), why don't you carefully remove your head from your rear end and go play it again.    … Expand
  20. Darklurkr23
    Nov 27, 2014
    9
    The Game is absolutely AMAZING. One of THE best fighting game soundtracks ever made (by 1 Mick Gordon), Killer Instinct is a great revamp of KI 2 more then classic KI. Easy to pick up and play, the only people who give it 1s and 2s are those who don't go into training dojo for 15 minutes. You can LITERALLY learn all basic moves and combos in 15 minutes. Auto-Doubles are a very easy wayThe Game is absolutely AMAZING. One of THE best fighting game soundtracks ever made (by 1 Mick Gordon), Killer Instinct is a great revamp of KI 2 more then classic KI. Easy to pick up and play, the only people who give it 1s and 2s are those who don't go into training dojo for 15 minutes. You can LITERALLY learn all basic moves and combos in 15 minutes. Auto-Doubles are a very easy way to combo the way YOU like, and it's all mind games w/ combo or counter breakers. This game has a very low learning curve, but once you delve above rank 13 or so, you get to manuals, which is where the "experts" will start to shine. But if you're a regular online warrior you can easily get in on the game that is pretty much Xbox One's best Exclusive.

    Yes, it's 40 dollars for both season's combo breaker packs. If you are a true fan or like costumes or just want to support KI in general, pick up both Ultra which is 80. Especially now for Season 1 that you don't have to wait for characters. Or mix and match however you want. Season 3 is confirmed so base your money on that.

    Control 10/10 - Dojo mode is a breeze
    Soundtrack 10/10 - Godlike
    Graphics 8/10 - Some classic costumes leave questioning, but other then that it's a beauty
    Story -3/10 but it Doesn't matter it's a FIGHTING GAME. Ultratech = BAD

    FIGHT ON    … Expand
  21. PlaceboHead
    Oct 20, 2014
    10
    Killer Instinct is EXACTLY how Modern Fighters should feel! I won't lie: I bought an Xbox One exclusively for this game. As a diehard Nintendo fanboy, I've grown up with Jago, Orchid, Glacius and rest. But, those games didn't age too well. Choppy animations, Cookie Cutter characters (everyone throws fireballs, has a Dragon Uppercut, ect ect), and lack of replay value.

    KI 3 (as I'll call    Killer Instinct is EXACTLY how Modern Fighters should feel! I won't lie: I bought an Xbox One exclusively for this game. As a diehard Nintendo fanboy, I've grown up with Jago, Orchid, Glacius and rest. But, those games didn't age too well. Choppy animations, Cookie Cutter characters (everyone throws fireballs, has a Dragon Uppercut, ect ect), and lack of replay value.

    KI 3 (as I'll call the X1 version) takes the game mechanics and refines them to perfection. Attacks, Specials, Combos, and Combo Breakers make up the essentials of the fights. Shadow meters build and allow for super charged attacks with various benefits. There is a Rock, Paper, Scissor system under the hood that makes the game a giant mind game against your opponent. Do you go for a manual combo (harder to pull off but harder to break)? Or a quick and easy less damaging combo? What about a few fireballs at a distance to dram them in, then get them with an Shadow Opener?

    Game Modes are: Arcade (with 3 endings per character), VS (online and off), Training Dojo (Boot Camp), Practice, and Survival.

    Items can be unlocked for character customization to add flair.

    All this for $20. This is an INSANE deal for fighting fans. Next Gen graphics, gameplay, and characters that all have different play styles.

    A Must Buy for any X1 owner    … Expand
  22. EpikRaikku
    May 26, 2014
    9
    This game was awesome! The announcer Ranging from DOUBLE to ULTRAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!! makes you feel like you accomplished something. Also the characters have great new designs, Graphics are great, a bit hard to figure out at first but then you get the hang of the combos. This game is worth the money
  23. asjklasjklas
    May 15, 2014
    8
    Unless you aren't into the disappointingly minimal and unoriginal -- even after DLC has been purchased, and there is a lot -- overall atmosphere in comparison to many other greater fighters, don't let its minor flaws negate the experience; Killer Instinct revives everything that made its 90s predecessors classics and refines it marvelously, it's especially done well thanks to some strikingUnless you aren't into the disappointingly minimal and unoriginal -- even after DLC has been purchased, and there is a lot -- overall atmosphere in comparison to many other greater fighters, don't let its minor flaws negate the experience; Killer Instinct revives everything that made its 90s predecessors classics and refines it marvelously, it's especially done well thanks to some striking visuals and casual and competitive friendly controls.… Expand
  24. MrFilmCutz
    Mar 24, 2014
    10
    one word review, amazing, plus you get the classic version of the KI when u buy the Ultra edition. I can not put this game down. Takes me back to the 90's all over again.
  25. zaxortus
    Mar 12, 2014
    9
    Fantastic fighting game, I´ve been playing for a lot of hours and still addicted to it. I don't give it a 10 because it has a lot of glitches, some minors, others not so much, including loosing all the tiles and statics.
    If you want a good fighting game and link combos this is for you.
  26. Whoami
    Mar 11, 2014
    10
    Best game ever, you start with only one character and I love microtransactions, gets me off, makes me feel all hot and gooey....Nowadays its rare that rarely puts out good games anymore, but this game is great at manipulating people into microtransation... MMM my favorite with a side of bacon... I wanna put killer instinct as the hall of fame game
  27. shinkuhadoken
    Feb 21, 2014
    10
    I would normally not even bother writing a review for a game let alone giving a game a 10. This game though is amazing.
    The game is friendly to newer players who might not be great at fighting games. They are able to jump right in and have a great time. This game has the best training that I have ever seen in a fighting game. It teaches you basics so that you can play any fighting    I would normally not even bother writing a review for a game let alone giving a game a 10. This game though is amazing.
    The game is friendly to newer players who might not be great at fighting games. They are able to jump right in and have a great time. This game has the best training that I have ever seen in a fighting game. It teaches you basics so that you can play any fighting game not just this one.

    The combat system is really great! There is something for everyone! Mind games, combos, combo breakers, bluffs etc!
    This game has it all! ULTRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    … Expand
  28. Elysium_AM
    Feb 13, 2014
    10
    This is how you continue a game. I played the originals and loved them! But this, this is a work of art:

    Graphically this game is amazing, all the particle effects look awesome and don't distract enough to keep you focused on those combos with the high resolution stages and at a locked 60FPS that's just to marvel at. The speed of combat when compared to the originals, makes the    This is how you continue a game. I played the originals and loved them! But this, this is a work of art:

    Graphically this game is amazing, all the particle effects look awesome and don't distract enough to keep you focused on those combos with the high resolution stages and at a locked 60FPS that's just to marvel at.

    The speed of combat when compared to the originals, makes the originals look like playing a chess game without the clock. I though KI was fast originally, but this games has caused me the inability to play the original, simply because the speed comparison is so radical!

    The re-imagining of the characters are beautifully done, Spinal now looks like an undead nightmare and not some generic skeleton (Not that I'm complaining as the tech at the time of the original wouldn't allow for an amazingly detailed character).

    The online, the ping is amazing! There is that occasion of a lagging match, but 90% of the time it is just so seemingly lag free I forget I'm playing online!

    I only have one complain and that's the lack of story mode, but which KI had a story mode? This is a game I am looking forward to seeing develop! The Speed, The Graphics, The Pure Sheer Awesomeness that is: "KILLER INSTINCT!"    … Expand
  29. DrSpence
    Feb 8, 2014
    10
    Excellent game with get up and go capabilities! Top of the line fighter! What i really thought was a cool feature ,is by this game being on the hard drive i can watch tv, on commercials snap tv , and pkay a couple rounds of killer instinct. Totally sweet. All the characters are cool, no filler all killer
  30. Myles_Prower
    Jan 24, 2014
    8
    This is the first fighting game I've ever played and I hugely enjoy it, the action is intense and complex making it engaging you want to play just one more match all the time to try something out, despite only 8 characters in season 1 each one is incredibly different to another in the way they play and in appearance, it also takes time to master each character properly and focus on usingThis is the first fighting game I've ever played and I hugely enjoy it, the action is intense and complex making it engaging you want to play just one more match all the time to try something out, despite only 8 characters in season 1 each one is incredibly different to another in the way they play and in appearance, it also takes time to master each character properly and focus on using them to the best of their abilities. Graphics are beautiful with particle effects showing the stage when special moves are performed with well modelled and animated characters all running at an unflinching 60 fps. At the time of writing this the game has not many game modes with only 1 Vs. 1 matches and a survival mode with ranked and unranked multiplayer however arcade modes and a campaign has been confirmed to be added in March free of charge in addition to a steady stream of updates and balancing. My only issue is that I wish all the content was available from launch and there was more customisation for the characters, but for next gen graphics and gameplay for only $20 it is very well priced.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Best Xbox One Game of 2013
5
#5 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2013
4
#4 Most Shared Xbox One Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 51 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 51
  2. Mixed: 26 out of 51
  3. Negative: 0 out of 51
  1. Critical Hit
    Oct 9, 2014
    80
    Flashy, brutal and deeper than you'd expect. Killer Instinct is back baby.
    Read full review
  2. XGN
    Jan 3, 2014
    70
    Even though the demo is pretty disappointing, the full Killer Instinct proves to be a really nice addiction to the fighting genre. Most of the characters come directly from the first Killer Instinct-game, but this time they look really gorgeous on the new Xbox One. The fighting system of Killer Instinct is a very layered one, which will keep you busy for loads of hours although a campaign mode is definitely missed.
    Read full review
  3. Hyper Magazine
    Dec 29, 2013
    70
    An excellent tutorial partially makes up for the tiny roster. [Feb 2014, p.68]
See all critic reviews »