In a surprising turn of events at the 41st Golden Joysticks Awards, Mortal Kombat 1 swept kick its way into winning the "Best Multiplayer Game" award. But, instead of being met with joy and jubilation, even the fans are casting doubt about why and how a game like MK1 won such a prestigious award. This unexpected accolade for the latest installment in the iconic fighting game series overshadowed what many anticipated would be a night dominated by RPG juggernauts such as Baldur's Gate 3, which indeed swept away several major awards, or maybe even Diablo 4 or its contemporary, Street Fighter 6.
Despite Mortal Kombat's longstanding popularity and its entrenched position within mainstream gaming culture, more so among casual audiences, this particular award has raised more eyebrows than it has celebrated triumphs. The initial announcement, made on the official Golden Joysticks Twitter page, drew criticism, with many players pointing out that MK1 didn't deserve to win. Specifically, MK1 lacked several key multiplayer features, including crossplay, online lobbies, online training modes, and other functionalities that are integral to a modern multiplayer experience.
Naturally, the ever-vocal fighting game community couldn't help but draw comparisons to Street Fighter 6, which is a far more deserving title after garnering critical acclaim earlier this year for its robust combat mechanics and endearing characters as well as a comprehensive suite of multiplayer features. The stark contrast in the multiplayer capabilities between Mortal Kombat 1 and Street Fighter 6 has left many questioning the criteria for award selection at the Golden Joysticks.
