The return of Mortal Kombat is finally here, and with it brings us the fullMortal Kombat 1 characterslist for the 2023 game. A mix of new and returning fighters make up the roster, so before you start practicing any combos for your main character, it s worth knowing who you can choose.
We can t wait to play the latest game in the series when theMortal Kombat 1 release datefinally arrives. And, we re sure thatMortal Kombat 1will fight its way onto ourbest fighting gameslist. But what fighters will be helping the game reach the top spot on our list?
Mortal Kombat 1 characters
Here are the Mortal Kombat 1 characters and fighters which form the full roster of the 2023 game:
- Scorpion
- Sub-Zero
- Liu Kang
- Raiden
- Kung Lao
- Kitana
- Mileena
- Shang Tsung
- Johnny Cage
These are the characters we currently know about, thanks to the official announcement trailer for the game andthe game s FAQ. However, NetherRealm promises to deliver show more characters, including some re-imagined fan favorites in the future.
Scorpion
The most iconic character in the Mortal Kombat franchise, Scorpion (also known by his human name, Hanzo Hasashi) is a resurrected ninja who is strong, fast, and capable of performing amazing feats while using Hellfire, an element found in abundance in the Netherrealm.
He has appeared in every Mortal Kombat game since the series started, but we re still happy he returns here.
Sub-Zero
One of the most iconic characters in the Mortal Kombat franchise, Kuai Liang, better known as Sub-Zero, is a dangerous cryomancer that is a deadly as he is fast. He can create various weapons out of pure ice, landing devastating blows on anyone in his way.
This version of Sub-Zero is also the one to end the rivalry between the Lin Kuei and Shirai Ryu, working with his long-standing enemy Scorpion.
Liu Kang
Liu Kang is one of the few characters to have made an appearance in every single Mortal Kombat game, but for those unaware of him, Liu Kang has been seen as the protagonist of the series numerous times, usually being seen as a threat by Shang Tsung and his master, Shao Khan.
In this timeline, Fire God Liu Kang is the main character, after successfully resetting the universe in the Mortal Kombat 11 expansion, Aftermath.
Raiden
The eternal God of Thunder and protector of Earthrealm, Raiden should be familiar to anyone who has played Mortal Kombat before, being one of the characters seen in every game in the series. He s seen as a father figure by Liu Kang and Kung Lao, however, in Mortal Kombat 11 he is corrupted.
However, this version of Raiden is seemingly hoping to avoid the mistakes of his future self, after Kronika removed the old version of Raiden from the original timeline. It s a bit confusing, but we hope normal Raiden is back.
Kung Lao
Instantly recognizable by his razor-sharp hat, Kung Lao is one of Earthrealm s champions, similar to Liu Kang, however, he d much rather live a life of peace. Unfortunately, things aren t as simple as that in the Mortal Kombat universe, and he is on a constant path to prove he is equally as strong as his friend Liu Kang.
Kitana
Back from the dead, Princess Kitana was originally murdered after betraying Shao Khan and siding with the Earthrealmers. However, in Mortal Kombat 11, she was brought back thanks to some time-jumping shenanigans and helped Raiden and his friends defeat Kronika.
In the end, she worked with Liu Kang to mold a new future, but the Aftermath expansion changed those plans.
Mileena
A genetic experiment created by Shang Tsung, Mileena was adopted by Shao Khan and became a ruthless assassin. She has been an antagonist for most of the series, constantly jealous of her sister Kitana, typically showing a sadistic side of herself.
While she was somewhat missing in Mortal Kombat 11, aside from being a DLC character post-launch, she is seemingly back in the story for Mortal Kombat 1.
Shang Tsung
An Earthrealm soul-stealing sorcerer, Shang Tsung is a major antagonist for the series, his abilities are almost unmatched. His allegiance with Shao Khan allows him to move between the realms unnoticed by the Elder Gods.
In the Aftermath expansion for Mortal Kombat 11, Shang Tsung was unvictorious in beating Liu Kang to create his own timeline, which would ve been a lot more apocalyptic than the one we see in the Mortal Kombat 1 trailer. However, he is seemingly back with another plan in motion.
Johnny Cage
Action movie star Johnny Cage returns in Mortal Kombat 1. Despite his silly nature, immature behavior, and overall ego, Johnny Cage has become one of Earthrealm s greatest defenders alongside the likes of Raiden and Liu Kang as the series went on.
However, it remains to be seen whether the new version of Johnny Cage matches that of his old self in the original timeline, as a younger Johnny was much more cocky and brash than his older self.
It s also worth noting that five Kameo characters will appear post-launch. These are DLC fighters, usually from different universes. There have been two leaks so far, stating that Peacemaker from DC and Homelander from The Boys will appear as Kameo characters.
That s everything we know about the Mortal Kombat 1 characters so far. We re just excited to get back into the tournament, take on some of our favorite returning fighters, and perform some fatalities too, but you should find out ifMortal Kombat 1 features rollback netcodeand if there sMortal Kombat 1 crossplaytoo.