Where to Start · Mortal Kombat
Where to Start with Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat is NetherRealm Studios' fighting game franchise running since 1992 — the series that caused the creation of the ESRB ratings board with its digitised actor graphics and graphic fatality finishing moves. The franchise is known for its over-the-top violence, its large and diverse roster of fighters, and an increasingly ambitious story mode that plays like an interactive action film.
Unlike most fighting games, Mortal Kombat has a continuous and increasingly complex narrative canon. Each game builds on the previous timeline, though the 2011 reboot effectively created a fresh start that makes it accessible to newcomers.
If you only play one Mortal Kombat game
Play Mortal Kombat 11 (2019) or Mortal Kombat 1 (2023). MK11 is the most polished and content-rich entry in the series — the Krypt exploration mode, the Towers of Time, and a story mode that features time manipulation with past and present versions of characters meeting each other. MK1 (2023) is the latest entry — a fresh timeline reset with a new story, the Kameo Fighter system adding assist characters, and the best netcode in the franchise. Either is a valid modern starting point with no prior MK knowledge required.
Mortal Kombat (2011) — the reboot that saved the franchise
Mortal Kombat (2011, also called MK9) is the game that revived the franchise after years of declining quality — a reboot that retold the original trilogy's story with modern graphics and rebalanced gameplay. Its story mode is the best in the series for dramatic impact — characters die, timelines change, and the ending sets up the subsequent games. MK9 is the starting point if you want to follow the modern story arc from the beginning. Available on PS3/Xbox 360/PC.
Mortal Kombat X
Mortal Kombat X (2015) continues directly from MK9 — 25 years later, new characters including Cassie Cage, Jacqui Briggs, Takeda, and Kung Jin alongside returning veterans. MKX introduced the Variation system — each character has three different move sets — and is the most mechanically innovative entry. Its story is the bridge between MK9 and MK11. Available on PS4/Xbox/PC.
The classic era
The original Mortal Kombat trilogy — MK1 (1992), MK2 (1993), MK3 (1995) — is the historical foundation. MK2 is the peak of the classic era — the roster additions (Kitana, Mileena, Johnny Cage's rivalry with Shang Tsung), the balance improvements, and the fatalities that defined the franchise's reputation. The Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection on PC includes MK1, MK2, and Ultimate MK3. The classic games show their age but are playable for historical context. Mortal Kombat 4 and Deadly Alliance through Armageddon (the 3D era) are largely skippable — the franchise was at its weakest between the original trilogy and the 2011 reboot.
Story mode — an accessible entry
Mortal Kombat's story modes play like interactive action films with fights interspersed through cutscenes. MK11's story mode can be watched/played in about 8 hours with no prior fighting game skill required — the game offers difficulty assists. If you want the story without the competitive fighting game commitment, MK11's story mode is a legitimate standalone experience.
What platforms you need
MK1 (2023) — PS4/PS5/Xbox/Switch/PC. MK11 Ultimate — PS4/PS5/Xbox/Switch/PC. MKX — PS4/Xbox/PC. MK9 — PS3/Xbox 360/PC. Classic trilogy — PC via Arcade Kollection or original hardware.
Recommended order
MK11 or MK1 for immediate modern play. MK9 → MKX → MK11 → MK1 for the complete modern story arc. Classic trilogy after the modern games for historical context.