The only fighting games I can recommend for their single player alone would be Smash and Mortal Kombat Deception. MKD had an interesting story mode and some other near modes like puzzle fighting that were pretty cool. As neat as that all is though, the gameplay itself is poor though and one of those dark age MK games.
I really don't think the newer NRS games are anything special. They have been reusing the same format since MK vs. DC and it's stale. MKX was really awful. Sure not everyone cares about plot, but you don't have to care that much to laugh at how absurd it is when something stupid happens like Kotal Kahn, the big had leader of Outlord, getting beat by some dweeb Kombat Kid. It's put together in a way that feels like no thought at all went into it. And it's FUSTRATING playing Sub Zero.