| Mortal Kombat 1 | |
|---|---|
 Cover artwork featuringLiu Kang | |
| Developer | NetherRealm Studios[a] |
| Publisher | Warner Bros. Games |
| Director | Ed Boon |
| Designer | Paulo Garcia |
| Artists |
|
| Composer | Wilbert Roget II[1][b] |
| Series | Mortal Kombat |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 4[4] |
| Platforms | |
| Release | September 19, 2023 |
| Genre | Fighting |
| Modes | Single-player,multiplayer |
Mortal Kombat 1 is a 2023fighting game developed byNetherRealm Studios and published byWarner Bros. Games. It is the twelfth main installment in theMortal Kombat franchise, and serves as its secondreboot after 2011'sMortal Kombat. The game takes place after the events of 2019'sMortal Kombat 11, and is set in a newtimeline (the third main timeline in the series' history) created byLiu Kang during his ending in11'sAftermath expansion.[5] In this new timeline, Liu Kang assembles a clique of fighters to participate in the latest Mortal Kombat tournament in Outworld while contending with an alliance formed by TitanShang Tsung. In the follow-up expansion,Khaos Reigns, Liu Kang and his allies must contend with TitanHavik.[6]
The game was released onNintendo Switch,PlayStation 5,Windows, andXbox Series X/S on September 19, 2023. Most versions ofMortal Kombat 1 received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise towards its visual fidelity, roster, first story mode and new mechanics, but criticism for its microtransactions and second story mode. Conversely, the Switch version was negatively received at launch for its technical issues, graphics, and long loading times.
Mortal Kombat 1 features astory mode,online multiplayer withrollback netcode, and offline gameplay, as well as cross-play and cross-progression, a first in the series. However, cross-play and cross-progression are unavailable at launch on Nintendo Switch, though cross-play support was added on February 27, 2024, while the King of the Hill online mode will support cross-play in the future. The game introduces a feature called Kameo Fighters, who provide assistance to the player during fights in a similar fashion to the tag assist fighters of the Towers of Time mode inMortal Kombat 11. These characters are separate from the main roster and are chosen before each fight.
Fatal Blows, first introduced inMortal Kombat 11, make a return. Like before, these can be triggered when a player's health drops below 30%, but this time they have the player and his Kameo Fighter delivering an attack in tandem. Additionally, the most significant attacks performed during the Fatal Blow are highlighted with effects like those seen inMortal Kombat X's X-Ray moves.[7] Also returning is the airborne combo system seen inMortal Kombat: Armageddon and the action spin-offMortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks.[8]
For single-player, the game features the return of the plot-driven Story Mode and the traditional form of Towers mode from the previous games, while introducing the addition of the seasonal Invasions mode, an online mode combining fighting mechanics with board game androle-playing game elements.[9] The players are tasked with moving around the board while completing various challenges on each space they move to, earning rewards such as skins, in-game currency, or concept art for completing the challenges. Each Invasion season lasts around six weeks and has its own board and theme.[10] For multiplayer, the versus modes include Local mode to play a match on the same console, Online mode to play against opponents all over the world, and Tournament mode to host a tournament with a unified rule set for the matches.[9]
Returning as an additional finishing move in a free update released alongside theKhaos Reigns expansion DLC isAnimalities, first introduced inMortal Kombat 3 and its updatesUltimate Mortal Kombat 3 andMortal Kombat Trilogy, which allow the player to morph into an animal and maul their opponent.[6]
After defeatingKronika andShang Tsung,[c] Fire GodLiu Kang uses Kronika's Hourglass to recreate the universe before relinquishing control of it toGeras to become Earthrealm's protector. Over time, he forms a tenuous alliance with Outworld under the auspices of continuing the Mortal Kombat tournaments. In the present, Shang Tsung, now a powerless Outworlder, struggles to make a living selling quack medicine until he is approached by a mysterious individual named "Damashi", who reveals to him that he has the potential to become asorcerer and that unseen forces have been working against him. Meanwhile, Liu Kang recruits farmhandsKung Lao andRaiden, financially strugglingHollywood actorJohnny Cage, and formeryakuza gangsterKenshi Takahashi to compete in the latest tournament, with Raiden eventually being named Earthrealm's champion and winning the tournament.
After learning from Geras that Shang Tsung has regained his abilities and is serving as an advisor to Outworld's EmpressSindel, Liu Kang tasks Kenshi, Kung Lao, and Johnny with investigating Shang Tsung's activities. They travel to Outworld's wastelands, where they encounter Tarkatans, victims of the Tarkat virus outbreak, and witness Shang Tsung extracting bone marrow from the Tarkatans' leaderBaraka. The Earthrealmers intervene, though Shang Tsung escapes to his laboratory. With Baraka's aid, the group locates the lab and stops Shang Tsung from seemingly infecting Outworld's crown princess,Mileena, with the Tarkat virus. However, Mileena attacks them, blinding Kenshi before Shang Tsung injects her with a serum to control her Tarkat symptoms. Her sister, PrincessKitana, andGeneral Shao arrive to capture the Earthrealmers. Shang Tsung misleads them before convening with his ally and fellow sorcererQuan Chi. The Earthrealmers and Baraka are taken to the Flesh Pits, but escape with help ofReptile, a shapeshifting outcast, and encounterAshrah, a NetherrealmDemoness in search ofabsolution, who reveals that Quan Chi is building devices capable of stealing souls on a massive scale. Though Quan Chi uses several souls to createErmac, the group defeats them and destroys one of the soul stealers before all except for Baraka return to Earthrealm to warn Liu Kang.
Liu Kang orders Lin Kuei warriorsSub-Zero,Scorpion, andSmoke to destroy the soul stealers and capture Shang Tsung, but Shang Tsung sways Sub-Zero to his side by promising him access to the undead Dragon Army. As Scorpion and Smoke escape, Geras, upon further investigation, informs Liu Kang that "Damashi" hails from a parallel timeline.
With ConstableLi Mei's help, Liu Kang returns to Outworld to provide Sindel and her daughters with evidence of the sorcerers' treachery and reveal his influence on the current timeline. Shao attempts to ambush the group, but is defeated and captured. The Earthrealmers and Outworlders team up to destroy the remaining soul stealers, only to be ambushed by Ermac. Mileena defeats him, allowing the soul of her father and Sindel's husband, Emperor Jerrod, to manifest and take control of Ermac's body. Upon confronting the sorcerers, they are joined by "Damashi", who is revealed to be the previous timeline's Shang Tsung. He reveals further that while fighting Liu Kang for the Hourglass, they fractured time, creating a separate timeline where he defeated Kronika and Liu Kang and became a Titan. Intending to absorb Liu Kang's timeline, he betrays the sorcerers and summons warriors from his own. Liu Kang's group narrowly drives them off, though Sindel is fatally wounded and appoints Mileena her successor before dying and having her soul absorbed by Jerrod.
Forming a temporary alliance to deal with the threat, Shang Tsung hypothesizes that there are more timelines outside his counterpart's knowledge. Geras adds that he had stored Liu Kang's Titan powers should the need for them arise. As the others leave to destroy the Dragon Army, Liu Kang regains his Titan powers and reunites with his friends from the previous timeline to recruit forces for the upcoming battle. Anticipating this, Titan Shang Tsung summons an army of their evil counterparts. Following a grueling battle, Liu Kang's group prevails, allowing him to erase Titan Shang Tsung and his timeline from existence. After returning everyone he recruited to their native timelines, Liu Kang returns to his own to congratulate his champions over dinner before departing to assist Scorpion and Smoke in founding the Shirai Ryu clan and preparing Earthrealm for future conflicts.
In amid-credits scene, alternate timeline warriors led by TitanHavik observe the aftermath of Liu Kang and Titan Shang Tsung's battle. Feeling it ended too quickly, Titan Havik vows to start a new, longer battle.
Sub-Zero leads the Lin Kuei in an ambush on the Shirai Ryu during the wedding of Scorpion and Harumi alongside two of his armored warriors,Sektor andCyrax, the latter of whom he deceived into believing Scorpion and Liu Kang had betrayed Earthrealm. After learning of Sub-Zero's deception, Cyrax turns on him and helps the Shirai Ryu and wedding guests fend off the Lin Kuei and capture Sub-Zero and Sektor, though Scorpion refuses to forgive Cyrax despite showing mercy at Harumi's behest. Due to them aiding and abetting Shao's rebellion, Liu Kang takes Sub-Zero and Sektor to be judged by Mileena and attempts to convince her to spare them to mend further conflict.
During the negotiation, they are attacked by Titan Havik, who previously fought alongside Titan Shang Tsung and now seeks to merge other timelines with his own. As his Khaosrealm warriors capture Geras, Sub-Zero pursues them, only to be captured too. He soon learns from Havik that he intends to combine Geras' time crystals with six artifacts called the Kamidogu to destroy the multiverse and reshape it in his image before experimenting on Sub-Zero.
Knowing he and Mileena must remain in their timeline to protect it, Liu Kang sends Scorpion, Cyrax, and Sektor to Khaosrealm to rescue Geras. There, they ally themselves with three members of a rebellion against Havik: Lieutenant Colonel Johnathan Cage of a WWII-esque timeline and EmperorRain and EmpressTanya, who had been deposed when Havik's forces absorbed their timeline. Havik traps them in a deadly maze, where Rain sacrifices himself to save Sektor and Tanya. After Tanya negotiates with a trapped, powerful dragon named Orin, they are able to escape and infiltrate Havik's citadel. There, they encounter Sub-Zero, who has been transformed by Havik into a dark being of chaos calledNoob Saibot. After defeating Saibot, they rescue Geras and escape with him and the Kamidogu.
Liu Kang is unable to cure Saibot of his condition, but manages to free him from Havik's control. Havik and his forces invade Liu Kang's timeline, where he steals back and empowers himself with the Kamidogu. Nonetheless, Saibot and Liu Kang defeat him. Saibot attempts to kill him, but Liu Kang and Geras stop him to protect the survivors of Havik's destruction. Liu Kang allows Sektor to leave and become the Lin Kuei's grandmaster while promising to find a way to restore Saibot, keeping him at the Temple of the Elements for safety in the meantime. Scorpion ultimately forgives Cyrax for her transgressions and invites her to join the Shirai Ryu.
The base roster ofMortal Kombat 1 features 22 playable characters, all of them featured in pastMortal Kombat games, including several who have not appeared sinceMortal Kombat: Armageddon (2006). An additional character,Shang Tsung, was offered as apre-order bonus.[8] Two "Kombat Packs" were subsequently released, each with six new playable characters, 3 of them being guest characters. The first pack also includes askin for Johnny Cage featuring the likeness and voice ofJean-Claude Van Damme. The second pack was released with the introduction of the "Khaos Reigns" expansion, featuring three reimagined original characters made for the story mode, in addition to three guest characters released later.[8][6] Characters listed initalics are guest characters.
| Base Roster | Kombat Pack 1 | Khaos Reigns | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Several other characters make non-playable appearances throughout the game; evil versions ofCassie Cage,Kung Jin, andJacqui Briggs appear alongside Takeda during the Battle of Armageddon in the Story Mode, whileKollector appears as a shopkeeper in the game's Invasions mode.
A new element introduced in this game are Kameo Fighters, which are a unique roster of partner characters that assist the main fighters with brief interventions during matches. The base game includes 15 Kameo Fighters, with an additional six added later to the game as downloadable content, all drawn from throughout theMortal Kombat franchise as well as two new characters listed inBold. These characters are chosen separately from the main roster of fighters.[8] Some Kameo Fighters appear as supporting characters in the Story Mode, and some main roster fighters also have a Kameo counterpart.[11]
| Base Roster | Kombat Pack 1 | Khaos Reigns | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
Each Kameo Fighter can provide two types of assists: Summons, which can be performed while the player remains in one place, and Ambushes, which can be performed regardless of what the player is doing. They can also be called in to perform their ownFatalities andBrutalities. In addition, the chosen Kameo Fighter also affects how much health the players will have in a fight.[12][13]
After ceasing support forMortal Kombat 11 (2019),NetherRealm Studios disclosed that it was working on a new project in July 2021.Johnny Cage voice actorAndrew Bowen indicated that the 12th installment was in development in a hastily deleted tweet.[14] In February 2023,Warner Bros. Discovery CEODavid Zaslav announced during a 2022 fourth-quarter earnings call that a twelfth installment in the series was set to be released later in that year.[15]
On May 18, 2023, NetherRealm Studios announcedMortal Kombat 1 with a release date of September 19, 2023. It is the second reboot of the series and is set in the New Era timeline created byLiu Kang after he attained godhood inMortal Kombat 11.[16] NetherRealm Studios announced that those who preorder any version of the game for thePlayStation 5 andXbox Series X/S would receive access to a beta in August, and after the game launches, NetherRealm Studios would providecross-platform play and cross-progression.[17] The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of the game were developed by NetherRealm Studios, theWindows version by QLOC, and theNintendo Switch version byShiver Entertainment (who previously developed the Nintendo Switch port forMortal Kombat 11) andSaber Interactive.[8]
In August 2023,Dave Bautista appeared in a trailer homaging the 1993 "Mortal Monday" commercial for the originalMortal Kombat (1992).[18] The following month, actressMegan Fox was revealed to be voicingNitara,[19] which was met with a very poor reception by players upon release.[20][21]
Mortal Kombat 1 was released forNintendo Switch,PlayStation 5,Windows, andXbox Series X/S on September 14, 2023, for those who have ordered the game'sKollector's Edition andPremium Edition, while purchasers of theStandard Edition were able to access the game on September 19, 2023.
A skin for Johnny Cage based on the likeness ofJean-Claude Van Damme is available as premium downloadable content; the developers had previously sought to have Van Damme portray Cage in the originalMortal Kombat.[22] The first Kombat Pack was announced duringSan Diego Comic-Con 2023, consisting of three returning characters fromMortal Kombat X in 2015;Ermac,Quan Chi,Takeda and three additional guest characters;Omni-Man from theInvincible series byImage Comics,Peacemaker fromDC Comics, andHomelander fromThe Boys byDynamite Entertainment.[23] Details for the entire pack were previously leaked through a listing onAmazon Italy.[24]
To coincide with the trailer for the second season of the animated seriesInvincible (2023–2024), actorJ.K. Simmons was announced to reprise his role of Omni-Man from the series.[25] In August 2023, voice actorJamieson Price was revealed to be reprising his role of Ermac fromMortal Kombat X.[26] Later that same month duringGamescom 2023, Boon confirmedJohn Cena would voicePeacemaker, after portraying the character from both the 2021 filmThe Suicide Squad and the television seriesPeacemaker (2022–present).[27] Shortly around the game's release, Ed Boon revealed that there was an attempt to getJohn Wick as a potential guest character, alongside actorKeanu Reeves as a skin forKenshi.[28] In November 2023, actorAntony Starr revealed he would not be reprising his role as Homelander from the television seriesThe Boys (2019–present) for the DLC through anInstagram comment.[29] In June 2024, coinciding with the release of thefourth season, Jake Green was revealed to be the new actor voicing the character.[30] Moreover, Ed Boon revealed there was an attempt to getMichonne fromThe Walking Dead as a guest character before they went with Omni-Man.[31]
During a panel atSan Diego Comic Con 2024, a DLC story expansion calledKhaos Reigns was revealed, which contains a fighter pack featuring six new playable characters.Noob Saibot and female versions ofSektor andCyrax, were released on September 24, 2024, along with the expansion, while guest charactersGhostface from theScream franchise,Conan the Barbarian from hisself-titled 1982 film, and theT-1000 fromTerminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) were announced during the same presentation and released at later dates.[6]Roger L. Jackson reprised his voiced role as Ghostface whileSkeet Ulrich, who playedBilly Loomis in thefirst film, provides his likeness for the character in brief moments that Ghostface is unmasked.[32]Robert Patrick reprises his role as both the facial model and voice actor for the T-1000 whileArnold Schwarzenegger provides his likeness for Conan, who is voiced byChris Cox who previously voiced theT-800 inMortal Kombat 11.[33]
Coinciding with the release of the Conan character on January 21, 2025, an update featured a new character being a pink-colored ninja namedFloyd as a non-playable secret boss as his color scheme is a direct reference to the bandPink Floyd as his namesake. Similar to Reptile in the originalMortal Kombat and Smoke and Noob Saibot inMortal Kombat II, he is fought after completing various challenges and utilizes moves from all of the other male ninjas, much likeChameleon from earlier titles.[34]
On May 14, 2025, NetherRealm Studios releasedMortal Kombat 1: Definitive Edition, a version containing all post-launch content, including Kombat Pack 1 and Kombat Pack 2, the "Khaos Reigns" story expansion, and previously released pre-order and additional cosmetic items. The development team subsequently confirmed that, while they would be continuing to support the game, no further DLC characters or story chapters were planned, instead shifting their focus to their next project.[35]
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | (PC) 82/100[36] (PS5) 83/100[37] (XSXS) 84/100[38] |
| OpenCritic | 87%[39] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Destructoid | 8/10[40] |
| Digital Trends | 3.5/5[41] |
| Eurogamer | 3/5[42] |
| Game Informer | 9/10[43] |
| GameSpot | 8/10[44] |
| GamesRadar+ | 5/5[45] |
| Hardcore Gamer | 3.5/5[46] |
| IGN | 8/10[47] (NS) 3/10[48] |
| Jeuxvideo.com | 16/20[59] |
| Nintendo Life | (NS) 4/10[49] |
| PC Gamer (US) | 70/100[50] |
| PCGamesN | 8/10[51] |
| PCMag | 4.5/5[52] |
| Push Square | 7/10[53] |
| Shacknews | 9/10[54] |
| TouchArcade | 3.5/5[55] |
| Video Games Chronicle | 5/5[58] |
| VG247 | 4/5[56] |
| VideoGamer.com | 9/10[57] |
Mortal Kombat 1 received "generally favorable reviews" from critics, according to review aggregatorMetacritic.[36][37][38] 87% of critics recommended the game on review aggregatorOpenCritic.[39]
TheNintendo Switch version was critically panned upon release for its poor graphical quality, extensive load times, poor performance, and numerousbugs.[48][49] Mitchell Saltzman ofIGN, who had given the version on PlayStation 5 an 8 out of 10,[60] gave the Switch port a 3, stating, "There's a hint of a great fighting game still peeking through the blurry backgrounds, but its horrendous load times, inconsistent framerate, muddy visuals, and plethora of bugs make the Switch version an altogether aggravating way to play what is a great fighting game on other platforms."[61]
To address the Switch's version launch issues and NetherRealm Studios' commitment to the Switch version, series creator Ed Boon addressed media outlets like BBCNewsbeat that "Anything that we see that is not acceptable will absolutely be addressed," and "[the Switch version] will be supported, like we did with Mortal Kombat 11!"[62]
Due to its violence and gore,Mortal Kombat 1 is banned inJapan,South Korea andChina.[63]
On January 27, 2024,Warner Bros. Games announced thatMortal Kombat 1 had sold 3 million units.[64] By August 2024, the game had sold more than 4 million copies.[65] It was the eighth best-selling video game in the US in 2023.[66] By January 2025, it was reported that the game has surpassed the sales number of 5 million copies.[67] As of August 2025, the game has sold over 6 million copies.
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Golden Joystick Awards | Best Multiplayer Game | Won | [68] |
| Best Game Trailer("It's In Our Blood" trailer) | Nominated | |||
| The Game Awards 2023 | Best Fighting Game | Nominated | [69] | |
| Innovation in Accessibility | Nominated | |||
| Equinox Awards 2023 | Best Multiplayer Game | Nominated | [70] | |
| Best Acting (Portuguese) (Marcelo Salsicha -Johnny Cage) | Nominated | |||
| 2024 | Game Audio Network Guild Awards | Audio of the Year | Nominated | [71][72] |
| Best Audio Mix | Nominated | |||
| Best Cinematic & Cut Scene Audio | Nominated | |||
| Best Main Theme | Nominated | |||
| Best Original Song | Nominated | |||
| Best Original Soundtrack Album | Nominated | |||
| Music of the Year | Nominated | |||
| Sound Design of the Year | Nominated | |||
| 27th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards | Fighting Game of the Year | Nominated | [73][74] | |
| Outstanding Achievement in Animation | Nominated | |||
| 22nd Visual Effects Society Awards | Outstanding Visual Effects in a Real-Time Project | Nominated | [75] | |
| 24th Golden Trailer Awards | Best Video Game Trailer("Answer the Call" trailer) | Nominated | [76] | |
| National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers (NAVGTR) Awards 2023 | Game, Fighting | Nominated | [77] | |
| Can I Play That Awards 2023 | Barrier Breaker (NetherRealm Studios) | Won | [78] | |
| AbilityPoints Diamond Award | Won | [79] | ||
| 2025 | 28th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards | Fighting Game of the Year(Khaos Reigns) | Nominated | [80] |
In-game footage ofMortal Kombat 1 was featured in the episode "The Iron Pot" ofCreature Commandos.[81]
Erik Campbell is seen playingMortal Kombat 1 inFinal Destination Bloodlines.
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