Younger versions of classic characters have already been introduced in the series with characters meeting themselves at different points in time in Mortal Kombat 11, and exploring earlier relationships and histories could be interesting. While some characters could very likely make a return, this does open the doors for newer faces or even mythic characters that have only been referenced in previous games to make an appearance.īringing the story back 500 years to the era of The Great Kung Lao is risky, but it gives players a chance to see some iconic characters in their younger (and less powerful) years. However, if this is the path that the next game goes down, it also means that players will enter the timeline at a much earlier point, before fan-favorites like Scorpion or Sub-Zero are even born. It's likely that NetherRealm will make the second ending canon, as it opens up so many more opportunities than a dark timeline where Shang Tsung rules with an iron fist. The game culminated with a joint Earthrealm/Outworld army coming together to defeat her, only for Shang Tsung to enact his own plan for revenge and dominance in Aftermath.ĭepending on player actions, Aftermath can either end with Shang Tsung ruling over all the realms, or he is erased from existence if Liu Kang beats him and the latter ushers in a New Era. Things got a little heated between the warring factions in Mortal Kombat 11, with Shinnok's mother Kronika taking on the role of the main antagonist and trying to rewrite history to suit her whims. With a few possible endings in both Mortal Kombat 11 and the 2020 expansion Aftermath, there are some interesting directions that NetherRealm could take the story. The Mortal Kombat games are anticipated as much for their B-movie adjacent plots as they are for fighting mechanics, and Mortal Kombat 12 is no different. Mortal Kombat 11's many betrayals, time-bending antics, and lore-rich escapades are the perfect amalgam of what a Mortal Kombat story has come to represent, and they set a successful template for what Mortal Kombat 12 could look like too. Where the majority of earlier games were much more linear, later titles have taken their storytelling to new heights with a healthy dose of ridiculousness thrown in. Mortal Kombat 11 followed in the footsteps of some of its predecessors, with time travel, alternate universes, and vengeful deities featuring prominently in the story. The Mortal Kombat multiverse has many realms, alternate timelines, and more than a few meddling gods, which makes for some pretty crazy plot threads. As with any property that has multiple dimensions, things can get a little complicated. Now, the story mode is among the best features in Mortal Kombat, with engaging and energetic plots that let players control a variety of characters and face up to a mixture of different threats. As the games evolved, so did the narratives, with full-blown cinematics entering the mix. Mortal Kombat's story have started off as fairly simplistic, with in-game text and a few illustrative images.
RELATED: Mortal Kombat Characters Who Skipped MK11 But Should Be in MK12 Mortal Kombat's Storytelling Nevertheless, Mortal Kombat 12 remains as elusive as ever, but this hasn't stopped fans from speculating what the game might look like. Mortal Kombat 12 was among the titles mentioned in the massive Nvidia leak back in 2021, and while some titles on the list seem unrealistic, others have already been revealed as legit which has given the leak more credibility. While it's been assumed that NetherRealm Studios has been working on Mortal Kombat 12, it has yet to be confirmed and players have been left to wonder when they might be able to see the next game. As the series wore on, the mechanics became slicker, and animations more impressive, the cast of characters more varied, and a more complex story was interwoven among the multitude of fights and combative showdowns.Īfter Mortal Kombat 11's release in 2019, fans have been waiting for news of the inevitable sequel. The Mortal Kombatseries has spawned multiple installments, comics, and even films, and remains one of the best-selling fighting game franchises. Its characters are legendary, its catchphrases are ubiquitous, and its fatalities are as brutal as they are impressive. P>Along with other franchises like Tekken and Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat is up there as one of the most iconic and long-running fighting game series of all time.