The realms ofMortal Kombatare filled with all kinds of fighters striving to defend their world or conquer others. Since the franchise’s inception as an arcade fighting game,Mortal Kombat’s roster was made up of a variety of unique fighters, from the comedic actor Johnny Cage to the Thunder God Raiden. Over the years, many new fighters were added to the game’s ever expansive roster, with some becoming recurring fan favorites and others being left behind on the consoles where they first appeared. Despite all these new additions,Mortal Kombat’s developer NetherRealm Studios has also long sought to include some of pop culture’s most brutal icons to have them face off against the series’ deadliest combatants.
While this concept was initially seen withMidway Games’Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, it was further expanded upon with the introduction of DLC crossover fighters in 2011’sMortal Kombat, starting withGod of War’s Kratos exclusively for the PlayStation 3. This concept turned into tradition with some of pop culture’s most iconic heroes and villains appearing as DLC fighters from 2011’sMortal KombattoMortal Kombat 1. WithMortal Kombat 1Khaos Reigns set to introduce Ghost Face, Conan the Barbarian, and the T-1000 as the latest crossover fighters, here’s a ranking of all the previous crossover fighters based on their appearance, gameplay, and seamless immersion toMortal Kombat’s universe and fighting systems.
S-Tier Mortal Kombat Crossover Fighters
NetherRealm Studios knocked it out of the park with itsfirst crossover fighter in Kratos fromGod of War. Based primarily on his appearance inGod of War 3, Kratos was a perfect fit forMortal Kombat’s sense of brutality, with the Ghost of Sparta having slain numerous gods and mortals in particularly gory fashion. Kratos' gameplay blended seamlessly withMortal Kombat’s 2D style, with Kratos still able to wield the Blades of Exile, Nemean Cestus gauntlets, Bow of Apollo, Head of Helios, Boots of Hermes, Golden Fleece, and Blade of Olympus in combat.
Mortal Kombat Xfeatured several guest fighters that fit perfectly with that game’s darker aesthetics and gameplay, especially the greater emphasis on x-ray attacks and gory brutalities. These fighters were best exemplified byJason Voorhees, the Predator, and the Alien. All three have been shown to commit exceptionally grotesque killing moves in their respective film series’ and all three had most of those moves recreated inMKX. Some of these include Voorhees’ machete strikes, the Predator’s laser blast, and the Alien’s tail stab.Mortal Kombat’s own Cyber Lin Kuei are visually based on the Predator, so it only made sense for the Yautja to come face to face with Earthrealm’s defenders one day.
Mortal Kombat’s Comic Book Anti-Heroes
Some ofMortal Kombat’s best crossover fighters didn’t come from games or movies, but rather comic books, especially those published by Image Comics.InMortal Kombat 11, Todd’s McFarlane’s Spawnwas introduced nearly 18 years after his first appearance in a fighting game in the Xbox version ofSoulcalibur 2. With his hell-based powers and fondness for using guns, Spawn was a perfect fit for theMortal Kombatuniverse. Likewise, Omni-Man joined the roster inMortal Kombat 1right after his popular appearance in Amazon Prime’sInvincibleanimated series. Omni-Man’s blunt brutality and emphasis on melee combat made him a powerful force against Earthrealm’s defenders.
Spawn was reprised by Keith David, who previously voiced the character in HBO’sSpawnanimated series, while Omni-Man was reprised by J.K. Simmons, who voiced the character in Amazon Prime’sInvincibleanimated series.
A-Tier Mortal Kombat Crossover Fighters
InMK11, many guest fighters hailed from classic 1980s films, including bothThe Terminator and Robocop. These seemingly unstoppable cyborgs mirrored the developments of the Cyber Lin Kuei, so their appearance inMortal Kombatmade sense. However, due to their mechanical nature, both The Terminator and Robocop play a bit stiff or slow compared to the rest ofMK11’s fighters. Additionally, The Terminator’s appearance inMK11left many fans disappointed as he was not voiced by Arnold Schwarzenegger and his looks were inspired by Carl fromTerminator: Dark Faterather than the T-800s ofTerminator 1orTerminator 2: Judgment Day.
InMK1, Omni-Man was joined by two other comic book guest fighters: Peacemaker and Homelander. Based primarily on his appearance inThe Suicide Squadand thePeacemakerTV show, Peacemaker inMK1is able to show off more of his helmet’s abilities while still emitting his witty charm only John Cena can produce. WhileAntony Starr didn’t reprise Homelander, the Vought mascot is still able to be a threatening and powerful presence in combat scenarios. However, possibly to better differentiate his moves from Omni-Man, Homelander relies too much on laser blasts, making him effectively a copy ofInjustice 2’s Superman in terms of basic abilities.
B-Tier Mortal Kombat Crossover Fighters
Some ofMortal Kombat’s more outlandish crossover characters are the weakest compared to the series' typical cast of characters. NetherRealm’s second crossover fighter wastheNightmare on Elm Streethimself, Freddy Krueger, but not in his usual form. While franchise mainstay Robert England returned to voice Krueger in 2011’sMortal Kombat, his game appearance was based on the poorly received 2010 remake of Nightmare, making his overall appearance in this game feel odd to horror fans. NeatherRealm additionally missed out on pairing Krueger with Voorhees inMKX, which could have let the two slashers fight in a rematch ofFreddy vs. Jason.
Several horror icons joinedMortal Kombatrosters over the years, and whileLeatherface ofThe Texas Chain Saw Massacreis terrifying, he’s never been shown to be a great fighter. In several films, Leatherface even ends up hurting himself on multiple occasions. This lack of skill made Leatherface a fun but dull guest fighter. The same could be said for Rambo inMK11. While Rambo is shown to be an elite soldier and expert stealth combatant, his hand-to-hand combat never reached the lengths ofMortal Kombat’s complex moves. Lastly, the Joker seemed more like a simple port of his character inInjustice 2and didn’t really add much toMortal Kombat’s roster save for some fun references toMortal Kombat vs. DC Universe.
Mortal Kombat 1
WHERE TO PLAY
Welcome to a new era of Kombat. NetherRealm Studios ushers in a new era of the iconic fighting franchise with a total reset that changes the entire world as we know it. Following the thrilling climax of Mortal Kombat 11, the all-powerful Fire God Liu Kang has created a New Era in the hope of bringing peace to Earthrealm and beyond. Through the series' most cinematic story mode yet, you’ll be reintroduced to a cast of legendary warriors as you’ve never seen them before. Expect twists on classic friendships and rivalries, as well as new backstories that will change everything you think you know about your favorite Kombatants. Discover a host of new offline and online game modes as you master a revitalized fighting system that boasts bone-crunching Fatal Blows, defensive Breakers and the most creatively vicious Fatalities yet.
