Release OrderRecommended
0 / 20 playedEvery game in the order it came out, and the recommended play order. Later reboots assume you know the earlier rivalries.
Original Midway run
- 1 Mortal Kombat The arcade original.
- 2 Mortal Kombat II Bigger roster and stage fatalities.
- 3 Mortal Kombat 3 Combo system and animalities.
- 4 Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 Expanded version of MK3.
- 5 Mortal Kombat Trilogy Compilation of the first three games.
- 6 Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero Action adventure prequel starring Sub-Zero.
- 7 Mortal Kombat 4 First 3D entry.
- 8 Mortal Kombat Gold Dreamcast version of MK4 with extra fighters.
- 9 Mortal Kombat: Special Forces Action prequel starring Jax.
- 10 Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance Fifth main game. Introduces fighting styles.
- 11 Mortal Kombat: Deception Adds the Konquest adventure mode.
- 12 Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks Co-op action retelling of the MKII era.
- 13 Mortal Kombat: Armageddon Every fighter returns. Ends the original saga.
Crossover
- 14 Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Non-canon crossover with DC heroes.
NetherRealm reboot
- 15 Mortal Kombat Reboot retelling the first three games.
- 16 Mortal Kombat X Generational sequel. XL is the complete bundle.
- 17 Mortal Kombat 11 Time bending sequel. Aftermath continues the story.
New era
- 18 Mortal Kombat 1 Second reboot opening a new era.
- 19 Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns Story expansion for MK1.
- 20 Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection Arcade era compilation, released October 30, 2025.
Story Order
0 / 16 playedThe same games rearranged into story order, grouped by continuity. The reboots retell the originals, so this works as a second pass.
Original continuity
- 1 Mortal Kombat: Special Forces Earliest in the original timeline.
- 2 Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero Sub-Zero prequel.
- 3 Mortal Kombat The first tournament.
- 4 Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks Alternate retelling of the MKII era.
- 5 Mortal Kombat II Outworld tournament.
- 6 Mortal Kombat 3 Earthrealm invasion.
- 7 Mortal Kombat 4 Shinnok threatens the realms.
- 8 Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance Quan Chi and Shang Tsung unite.
- 9 Mortal Kombat: Deception Onaga returns.
- 10 Mortal Kombat: Armageddon The realms face destruction.
Crossover
- 11 Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Non-canon clash outside continuity.
Reboot continuity
- 12 Mortal Kombat Raiden resets the timeline.
- 13 Mortal Kombat X A new generation fights, 25 years later.
- 14 Mortal Kombat 11 Kronika rewrites time. Aftermath decides the keeper.
New era
- 15 Mortal Kombat 1 Liu Kang builds a new era.
- 16 Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns Titan Havik threatens the timelines.
About Mortal Kombat games
Mortal Kombat has restarted its story twice, so release order and story order genuinely differ and both are listed below. Start with release order, since each reboot assumes you know the characters and rivalries the earlier games built.
Good to know
Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath and the XL and Ultimate bundles are the complete versions of their games, and Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns (2024) continues the new era story. NetherRealm has not announced its next game, though September 2026 reports describe playtesting for an unannounced AAA 2D fighter that many expect to be Injustice 3.
