Mortal Kombat is a popular arcade fighting video game which developed in 1992. This next-generation game is available on the latest mobile devices and tablets. Midway Games, the developer, has released numerous Mortal Kombat series for online players. With each series, new characters, weapons and storylines were introduced.
More than 1000+ professional gamers stream Mortal Kombat on online platforms like Stream. Over the years, this action-adventure game became popular for offering different sequels. Besides, Mortal Kombat has a comic book series and a card game.
This game is inspired by the movie “Mortal Kombat”. The movie producer Larry Kasanoff licensed the rights to the game in the early 1990s. After that, the Midway Games, Avalanche Software and Eurocom started designing the game.
This game was released simultaneously on Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis consoles. Additionally, developers added Mortal Kombat on Gameboy and Game Gear platforms. Currently, this multiplayer game is available in 3 different formats – MS-DOS, Amiga and Sega CD.
Now, let’s see the series of Mortal Kombat release date from the 1990s to 2000s:
1. Mortal Kombat (1992)
This is the first series of Mortal Kombat, which sets an example of how to start a video game correctly. This online game focuses on several characters of different intentions who enter a martial art tournament. Developers introduced the key aspects of Mortal Kombat, including “Fatalities”, in this series.
Midway Games added 7 characters who have their unique Fatality in this game. Players can choose from characters like Kano, Liu Kang and Raiden for the tournament. Besides, the developers reportedly developed this game in 10 months, from 1991 to 1992. This game’s demo version featured 6 characters and became popular within Midway offices.
2. Mortal Kombat II (1993)
Soon came a sequel of Mortal Combat, where the “palette swap: lady edition” technique was introduced. Besides, developers included the “final boss of your worst nightmare” battle in the game. Mortal Kombat 11 came with 12 characters instead of 7. Players get new female characters Scorpion, Kitana, Mileena and Jade in this sequel.
Midway Games also added Noob Saibot, a prime character in the Mortal Kombat franchise. Additionally, console gamers get a “Friendship” fatality in the 2nd sequel. It works like the other fatalities in Mortal Kombat. Once you defeat the opponent, a “Finish Them” window will appear. Enter the button inputs at a certain distance to activate the finisher.
3. Mortal Kombat 3 (1995)
This game sequel doesn’t have characters like Scorpion, Kitana, Mileena and Reptile. However, Midway Games added new cyborg characters in Mortal Kombat 3. Players also got Sheeva, a Shokan warrior like Goro and Kintaro, in the game.
Additionally, developers debuted Sindel in MK3 tournaments. You will also see warriors like Sonya Blade, Sub-Zero and Stryker in this game sequel. The addition of combos and dashing made Mortal Kombat 3 a best-selling video game. Developers released this game on SNES, Genesis, Game Gear and Gameboy.
4. Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (1995)
Midway Games added all the characters that were missing on MK3. Players get a fictional character like Scoptio in the Ultimate MK3 franchise. Additionally, developers improve the gaming experience by including Rain.
He is the God Argus’s Demi-God son and half-brother to Taven and Daegon. Online gamers also got the chance to use “Brutalities” for the first time in this sequel.
5. Mortal Kombat Trilogy (1996)
There is no such difference between “Ultimate Mortal Kombat” and “Mortal Kombat Trilogy”. However, the Trilogy has “Johnny Cage” who can be used to battle against Shao Kahn.
Additionally, developers included new in-game characters like Raiden and Barkha in “Trilogy”. There is also a new gameplay element like the Aggressor bar in this franchise. The Brutality feature got an upgraded 11-input finisher for the fighters.
Here is the list of platforms where Midway Games released the Mortal Kombat Trilogy:
- The PlayStation
- Nintendo 64
- Sega Saturn
- PC
6. Mortal Kombat 4 (1997)
Midway Games tried to move the Mortal Combat series into the modern era in this series. Additionally, they included Mortal Kombat’s basic storyline in the game. It has 3D graphics and allows the players to use weapons and objects.
Developers removed finishers like Babalities and Animalities from the game.
Additionally, you won’t see popular characters like Quan Cho and Fujin in MK4. Players can’t also cause an infinite amount of damage with a single combo. Players accessed this game from Nintendo 64, Windows PCs and Sony PlayStation.
7. Mortal Kombat Gold (1999)
Mortal Kombat Gold was specifically designed for gaming console users. Developers released this game first on Sega’s Dreamcast. This sixth-generation Mortal Kombat game has six new characters. Additionally, you get new weapons and new in-game stages in Mortal Kombat Gold.
8. Mortal Kombat Advance (2001)
This Mortal Kombat sequel was based on the SNES version of MK3. It features a few unlockable characters which previously weren’t introduced in any series. Developers reduced the violence and changed the combo patterns. Mortal
Kombat Advance was designed for younger players.
9. Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance (2002)
You can find a new set of fighting styles in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance. Players can switch between 3 different styles for each character in this combo-based game. Developers reduced the number of Fatalities for each character in this sequel. Besides, they made significant graphics improvements in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance.
Midway games released this Mortal Kombat series on these platforms:
- Xbox
- Nintendo Gamecube
- PlayStation 2
- Gameboy Advance
10. Mortal Kombat: Tournament Edition (2003)
Mortal Kombat: Tournament Edition has a special Gameboy Advanced edition. In this upgraded version, you will see new characters. It has better reception than the Mortal Kombat Advanced game.
11. Mortal Kombat: Deception (2004)
Developers brought back more Fatalities in the Mortal Kombat: Deception game. Additionally, there are new effective ways to defeat opponents in this series. Mortal Kombat: Deception is considered to be the best fighting game of the 2000s. Players also liked the unique ARPG “Konquest” mode of this game. However, it is only available on the PS2 and the Xbox.
12. Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks (2005)
This fighting game was held on Shang Tsung’s Island. There is an additional co-op versus mode where online players can unlock new characters. Developers included Liu Kang and Kung Lao in the Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks series. Multi-Direction FightingEngine is the most notable gameplay of this sequel.
Other Mortal Kombat Release Year
The seventh game is Mortal Kombat: Armageddon (2006), where the original Mortal Kombat story ends. This game has a Kreate-A-Fighter feature which allows players to customise their fighter. In the same year, developers released the “Mortal Kombat: Unchained” series with a robust multiplayer mode.
Additionally, Midway Games released Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe in 2008. They launched the ninth series of Mortal Kombat in 2011. After 20 years, developers introduced Mortal Kombat’s “Arcade” Kollection.
Console players can also play Mortal Kombat X (2015) and Mortal Kombat 11 (2019). The last series is Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath and Ultimate, which was released in 2020.
