NetherRealm is one of the best fighting game studios on the planet, with Mortal Kombat X among its most polished and engaging titles. It’s no surprise that the studio produced a follow-up, and it’s even gorier and more intense than its predecessors. Mortal Kombat 11 features brutal fatalities, a cast of memorable characters old and new, and a wild, time-hopping story.
Returning characters in MK11
Mortal Kombat 11’s full character roster has not been unveiled yet, but several of the biggest characters appeared during the game’s official announcement stream in January, and a few have been revealed here and there as we get closer to the game’s release.
Raiden
Classic Mortal Kombat character Raiden returns to the lineup in Mortal Kombat 11, and he’ll have his powerful magical bolt abilities, as well as acrobatic dodges and a spear weapon. His “dark” character will be central to the main story.
Sub-Zero
Sub-Zero returns with his icy attacks in tow, and he has a deservedly flashy fatality move. After freezing an enemy, he decapitates them with his ax, then shatters their frozen head.
Scorpion
Sub-Zero’s doppelgänger Scorpion is also getting in on the fun with his signature chain-and-spear combination weapon. One of Scorpion’s fatalities involves the fighter throwing his spear through an enemy’s chest before decapitating them and impaling the severed head.
Sonya Blade
Sonya Blade is back in the series for Mortal Kombat 11, and she’s voiced by former UFC fighter and current WWE wrestler Ronda Rousey. Using a combination of martial arts and weaponry, she’s a deadly force, and her fatality involves launching a target into the air with her guns so they’re cut to bits by a helicopter blade.
Baraka
The teeth of the Mortal Kombat series, Baraka, is ready to chew some faces in Mortal Kombat 11. Shown in the announcement footage, Baraka’s fatality has him rip the face and skull off of his opponent before pulling out their brain and taking a healthy bite out of it.
Skarlet
The blood-bending Skarlet is capable of using her enemies’ blood against them. Combined with quick knife strikes, she can pull enemies in for a follow-up blow by using their own blood. Her fatality involves draining an enemy of blood, forming airborne crystal spears out of them, and then driving them back into their corpse.
Liu Kang
Liu Kang has been confirmed to make an appearance in Mortal Kombat 11, however, information on the character’s attacks and fatalities are being kept under wraps for now. In the past, he has relied heavily on kicking moves which we’re positive will make a return in MK11.
Kano
Kano was confirmed prior to the launch of Mortal Kombat 11 during a Brazilian community event. He will feature a cyborg eye as well as a knife. Gameplay information for the character hasn’t been revealed yet, but in Mortal Kombat X he could disembowel enemies before frying a hole in their head.
Kabal
Kabal kind of returns in Mortal Kombat 11. He’s been resurrected as an evil incarnation of himself. The lightning-fast fighter uses his dual blades and spin attacks to catch opponents off-guard, as well as ranged blade wheels for longer distances. For his fatality, he carries a target by their legs until their face peels off, then leaps ahead and slices them lengthwise.
D’Vorah
Ed Boon announced D’Vorah to Inside Xbox during the official Mortal Kombat 11 reveal stream. Introduced in Mortal Kombat X, she’s an insect humanoid with beady black eyes and control over winged creatures in combat. Thus far, her fatalities for the new game have not been revealed.
Jade
Jade is back in Mortal Kombat 11 and was given her own reveal trailer to show off her moves. The staff-wielding fighter can teleport from one side of her enemy to the other, throw bladed weapons to keep a combo string together or leap onto someone’s back to stab them in the skull. For her fatality, she pops out an enemy’s eyeball and slices them in half at the waist.
Shao Kahn
Shao Kahn will be available to those who pre-order Mortal Kombat 11, and can be purchased separately on his own. He just briefly appeared in the game’s initial announcement trailer, chuckling as he took a seat on a metal throne. His moves and fatalities for the game have not been revealed, and he has often served as an antagonist.
Johnny Cage
All-around cool guy and father of Mortal Kombat X‘s Cassie Cage, Johnny Cage makes his return to the series in Mortal Kombat 11. Johnny Cage makes use of powerful kicks, punches, and energy bolts to keep enemies at bay, and he has access to a camera flash to briefly stun enemies before going in for the kill. For his fatality, does multiple takes of a “deadly uppercut” that ends with the enemies head thrown directly at the screen.
Cassie Cage
Johnny Cage’s daughter, Cassie Cage’s mother is the returning Sonya Blade, which accounts for their similar appearance. She had one of the grosses fatalities in Mortal Kombat X, shooting an enemy in the head before sticking a glob of gum in the bleeding wound until it inflated and popped.
Jacqui Briggs
Another character returning after debuting in Mortal Kombat X, Jacqui Briggs is the daughter of Jax Briggs. She is also a member of the Special Forces, and can fire energy bolts from devices on her wrists as she charges toward her enemies, detonating explosives for devastating damage at the end of her attack. Her fatality — which is below under Kotal Kahn — sees her decapitate an enemy, toss a grenade into their stomach, and detonate it.
Erron Black
Yet another returning character from Mortal Kombat X, the gun-slinging Erron Black is back in Mortal Kombat 11. An outlaw with money on the mind, he makes use of dual revolvers in combat, and appears to use a coin-flipping mechanic similar to Two-Face from Batman. Rather than deciding if you live or die, however, Erron just shoots the coins into your eye sockets.
Kotal Kahn
Outworld Emperor Kotal Kahn makes his return from Mortal Kombat X, bringing a brutal fighting style that can quickly turn the tide of a battle. He’s armed with an enormous sword that he can use to launch targets into the air or even saw their bellies, and he can turn into a cat to maul their faces.
Noob Saibot
Infamous Mortal Kombat veteran Noob Saibot will indeed appear in Mortal Kombat 11. Armed with powerful projectile attacks, blades, and magical abilities, he’s a formidable threat. He’s no slouch when it comes to countering, either. For his fatality, he disembowels his enemy, ventures inside of their digestive system, and tears them in half vertically. Gross.
Liu Kang
Previously seen in story footage, Liu Kang was officially confirmed as a playable fighter during the first PlayStation State of Play presentation on March 25. His move-set wasn’t heavily demonstrated during the video, but we do know a dark version of the character uses flaming kicks and will be in the campaign.
Kung Lao
Kung Lao is also back for Mortal Kombat 11, and was confirmed during the same State of Play trailer. Hit abilities will once again feature his blade hat, which he can throw to deal severe damage. Naturally, his fatality slices off part of an enemy’s head.
Jax
Jax — the father of Jacqui Briggs — returns from Mortal Kombat X. He’ll be able to deliver devastating punches while holding an enemy up by their neck, and a younger version of the character will battle against his older self during the campaign. He’s also seen slamming two enemies’ heads together during a cutscene, killing them both.
Kitana
Kitana will be returning to Mortal Kombat 11, and her moves look to make her a master of space control. With a tornado attack that launches enemies and sets them up for combos, she can chain together several brutal blows. Her signature fans play a major role, as do her spiked heels. For her fatality, Kitana throws two fans, cutting her enemy in three separate pieces before throwing a knife into their head.
Frost
The ice-based villain Frost returns in Mortal Kombat 11, and makes use of projectile attacks. She’s deceptively dangerous and plays a role in the game’s story mode. For her fatality move, she grabs her enemy and impales them on multiple giant icicles, ending by slamming their head on an ice ceiling above.
New characters in MK11
While we’re still waiting to hear confirmation about Todd McFarlane’s Spawn, there are a few new characters coming to MK11 that have been confirmed, with some being featured in gameplay and others in story teasers. These are the ones we know so far:
Kronika
Kronika will play a major role in the game’s story mode, acting as an antagonist who is revealed to have been involved in the series since the events of the very first game. Kronika has time manipulation powers, and she is only available as a boss character.
Geras
Geras, meanwhile, is capable of changing the environment around him at will. He has been shown in gameplay footage, and is capable of erecting a barrier in the middle of a stage, or turning sand into a giant hammer in mere seconds. According to IGN, Geras is a minion of Kronika and is also able to control time, including changing the round timer or rewinding to restore his health.
Other characters such as Shinnok appear to also be coming to the game, as they’ve been shown off in menus and cinematics, but they have not been officially confirmed as playable yet. As we approach the April release date, more light will likely be shed on them.
Cetrion
The third new character in Mortal Kombat 11 is Cetrion, revealed by Game Informer as part of its month-long coverage. An “Elder God of Nature,” Cetrion can summon enormous boulders to pummel her enemies, as well as ice, water, storms, and wind. For her fatality move, she fires a beam of energy out of her mouth and obliterates her opponent.
Kollector
Kollector is the fourth new character in Mortal Kombat 11, and acts as an “enforcer” for Shao Kahn. His only concern is his own wealth. With four arms, he’s capable of delivering quick strikes and disarming throws, and he can also teleport and use energy attacks to stun enemies before following up with a combo. For his fatality, Kollector leaps on top of his target and eviscerates them before ripping off their head.
DLC Characters in MK11
Shang Tsung
Shang Tsung, a character that has been in the series since the very first Mortal Kombat, will be the first DLC character included in Mortal Kombat 11. His appearance is based on actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, who played him in the live-action film and will also voice the character.
It’s rumored that there will be 13 DLC characters in total, and in a reported leak from the Nintendo Switch version of the game, files appear to suggest that Spawn, Sheeva, the Joker, and Nightwolf will be among those included.
MK11 story
Picking up after the events of the rebooted Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat X, Mortal Kombat 11 heavily features Raiden, who is still in his “Dark” form after he went back in time to change the events of the original three games. Events from the past will “fold” into present timeline events, according to an interview director Ed Boon gave to the PlayStation Blog.
Characters will meet different versions of themselves, including Liu Kang, and there will be unintended consequences of the time manipulation. As mentioned previously, Kronika plays a key role in the story and joins the head of Shinnok after he is brutally decapitated by Raiden. Boon referred to her as the “boss of bosses,” secretly working to direct the events of every game up to this point. Following Sinnok’s defeat, it’s Kronika who decides to rewind time and “restart history.” Enemies and friends alike appear ready to band together to defeat a more immediate threat.
Sonya Blade will also play a role in the story, and she’s joined by former UFC and current WWE fighter Ronda Rousey. Details on the specific plot points are being kept secret, however, with Rousey only knowing about scenes that directly involve her character.
Gameplay
The moment-to-moment gameplay of Mortal Kombat 11 will be familiar to fans of the most recent games and the Injustice series, with a focus on characters’ special abilities, including Scorpion’s famous spear and Baraka’s razor-sharp teeth. However, rather than having players string together lengthy attack combinations, the individual moves are more brutal, and there’s a greater focus on resource management than there was in Mortal Kombat X.
New to the series is the “Fatal Blow” move, which is similar to the X-Ray attacks we’ve seen in Mortal Kombat X. These attacks are tied to your health, and will only become available once you’re at less than 30 percent of your total. Despite the name, these aren’t instant kills but can sway the course of a battle if you and your opponent are both whittling down each other’s bars.
Also new is a “perfect block” system, which allows you to deal extra damage after timing your block correctly, and the offensive and defensive meters have been moved to separate bars so you have more freedom in how you want to use your resources. Speaking to Game Informer, Ed Boon explained that the offensive meter will allow you to enhance existing attacks, while the defensive meter will let you escape from an enemy’s combo.
Microtransactions
Mortal Kombat 11 will feature microtransactions in the form of “time crystals” that can be used to buy additional cosmetic gear. These will also occasionally be given out through normal gameplay and will not give players any advantage over those who don’t choose to use them. Mortal Kombat 11 will not feature any loot boxes — a smart move after the fiasco surrounding the chests in Middle-earth: Shadow of War.
Pre-orders and special editions
You can pre-order Mortal Kombat 11 for access to the bonus character Shao Kahn, who was announced during the reveal livestream event in January.
The Premium Edition of the game will also include six new DLC characters, and one-week early access to them, as well as seven skins and gear sets. The Kollector’s Edition, meanwhile, is a GameStop exclusive. It includes everything in the Premium Edition, as well as a magnet, life-sized Scorpion mask, and a collector’s box.
The Kollector’s Edition is only available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, while the Premium Edition is also available on PC.
When can we play it, and on what platforms?
Mortal Kombat 11 will be available on April 23 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
