Mortal Kombat has never been much of a game for pacifists. The name has always been a big hint. But this latest addition to the saga, Mortal Kombat 11, makes the violence more visceral and the blood more spattery than ever before.

As with the previous editions, this console game is focused around sending your fighter into a battle-to-the-death scenario, in which only one player can win.

Due to the extremely explicit violence portrayed in the Mortal Kombat series, there has been much discussion over its suitability for younger players, and, as to be expected, this new game is now restricted to those 18 years old and above.

And with good reason. Every detail of the fights, every bone breaking and every splash of blood, is now graphically celebrated in high definition.

The important fights have a story line that surround them – but due to the large number of new characters players can choose from in Mortal Kombat 11, the story is far less relevant.

Many old favourites have also made a comeback - but the big highlight of the new game is that players can individualise the characters as much as they like, so that each figure can become the players' alter ego, playing to their every strength and preference.

Mortal Kombat 11 is available on Xbox One and Playstation 4, with a Switch version on the way. The game costs around US$70 (RM291). – dpa