The Entire Mortal Kombat Franchise in 10 Infographics.
Come here! The Mortal Kombat franchise began with the release of an arcade game in 1992 and has grown steadily over the years, becoming a multimedia behemoth encompassing 24 games (12 mainline and 12 spin-offs and updates), five animated films, three television and web series, over 60 comics, and four feature-length films. The Mortal Kombat universe features hundreds of fighters, complex interconnected storylines spanning thousands of years and multiple dimensions, and several complete timeline reboots. Understanding it all can be as challenging as fighting Shao Kahn. Below are ten infographics that detail the brutal and unruly Mortal Kombat universe.
Mortal Kombat Heroes
When playing Mortal Kombat one-on-one, you can choose any character from the “Choose Your Fighter” screen, but the film franchise definitely has its fair share of goodies. Below are the main heroes fighting for Earthrealm in the latest MK timeline, along with their weapons and supernatural abilities.
Mortal Kombat Villains and Rogues
Mortal Kombat’s villains are a combination of muscular conquerors and masters of manipulation and sorcery. They are victims of their own ambitions, corrupted by external forces, or simply enjoy ripping out people’s spines.
But some of the franchise’s most memorable characters exist in the gray area between Good and Evil. While they aren’t necessarily complex, MK villains are at least interesting. Below are the key villains and unexpected characters from the MK films.
All about Arcana
Arcana hadn’t appeared in any Mortal Kombat game or film until 2021’s Mortal Kombat , which centered on the dragon’s birthmarks denoting special abilities. But in 2026’s Mortal Kombat 2, Arcana is completely absent. Presumably, Johnny Cage was also born with this special birthmark, but this is never revealed or discussed; Mortal Kombat lore can be cryptic.
Mortal Kombat film chronology
Creating a single timeline for the vast Mortal Kombat universe is impossible. Part of the franchise’s joy lies in its variations on the theme of an interdimensional martial arts and magic tournament with the fate of the world hanging in the balance. The four Mortal Kombat films take place in two different timelines. Here’s how they’re divided.
Mortal Kombat video game timeline
The Mortal Kombat video games can be divided into three distinct eras: the original games from Midway, the mid-era games from Netherrealm Studios, and the new era, a complete reboot of the series from Netherrealm. Here’s how the games are divided into these eras.
Mortal Kombat’s Basic Concepts and Characters
Details regarding characters, plot, and lore may change from game to game and film to film, but there are certain concepts, relationships, and rules that are present in every major Mortal Kombat release. This is the franchise’s DNA.
Mortal Kombat Families
Mortal Kombat centers on strange monsters tearing each other apart, but it’s also a story about family . Blood ties, marriages, and friendships play a vital role in the functioning of the universe. The current Mortal Kombat storyline explores key familial ties and relationships.
Mortal Kombat Outcasts
Over the franchise’s 34-year history, over 100 game characters have been introduced, so inevitably, there have been some failed attempts. Below are the most iconic, hated, and hilarious fighters who didn’t make the cut.
Mortal Kombat film critical and commercial ratings
The battle for Earth’s existence may unfold in an interdimensional martial arts tournament, but the battle for Mortal Kombat as a film franchise is fought through box office receipts and critical acclaim. Here’s how each film performed in each of these areas.
Mortal Kombat vs. the World
The Mortal Kombat universe has been a constant source of controversy in real life since the first game’s release in the 1990s, much to the dismay of parents. Here are three of the most significant clashes between MK and the real world.