Summary
Starting with the ninth mainline game in the series,Mortal Kombathas featured DLC characters to expand on the roster. Some of the biggest sellers have been the guest characters, who are fighters borrowed from other franchises, which include movies, television shows, and comic book universes.
Not only do the guest characters enhance appeal and drive more sales, but they also add variety to their respective Mortal Kombat games. They often showcase iconic skills and powers, combined with signature visuals and voices, which has become the definitive reason for some players to purchase DLC expansions.
After Freddy Krueger was a hit in the previous game,Mortal Kombat Xwent all out withthe gimmick of horror movie characters. Leatherface fromThe Texas Chainsaw Massacreseems like an odd choice since he’s just a madman flailing a chainsaw around, but somehow the developers at Netherrealm Studios used that concept to the fullest extent.
In the Butcher variation, Leatherface gains access to combo strings that make him a formidable opponent at close range. He effectively uses his chainsaw and meat mallet to deliver devastating blows. Additionally, with the inclusion of fatalities inspired by the movies, Leatherface exemplifies the potential that NetherRealm Studios could explore in a horror-themed fighting game.
Dating back to theMortal Kombat 9days, one of the most requested characters by fans has beenSpawn. His comics by Todd McFarlane mix intense violence with Hellish superpowers to create a character that would fit right alongside characters like Scorpion and Shinnok. It took years of pleading, but fans finally got their wishes granted with Spawn dropping as part of Kombat Pack 1 inMortal Kombat 11.
Fans of the Spawn comics can rejoice with plenty of references in the form of his attacks, special moves, cosmetics, and even his banter. He has his signature chains, firearms, and various Hellspawn abilities that allow him to be most effective at nearly any range. On top of all that, Spawn is voiced by Keith David, who has been the definitive voice actor for Spawn since the 90s.
Omni-Manwas the first DLC character added toMortal Kombat 1, and he is exactly what many might expect. Just like in the comics and the show, he has incredible strength and speed, allowing him to zip across the screen and overpower the opponent, especially by utilizing his ability to fly to ambush and essentially teleport. Many have noted that his kit feels like a fusion ofSuperman and Supergirl fromInjustice 2.
On its own, Omni-Man is simply a blast to play for those who love to overpower their opponents, whether it’s offline CPU characters or fellow players online. However, fans of theInvincibleseries can enjoy the character featuring fatalities and animations straight out of the show, with J.K. Simmons still providing the voice for him.
7The Terminator
SkyNet’s Most Iconic Time Traveler
Despite initial skepticism at the idea ofThe Terminatorbeing added toMortal Kombat 11due to being a slower character, the iconic cybernetic organism impressed many on release with his versatility. While he is naturally slow-paced, the T-800 makes up for it by living up to his title, mixing powerful melee attacks with a collection of shotgun attacks.
When mastered, The Terminator also features a damage output that can come off as overpowering at times but makes the player feel more like the T-800than most officialTerminatorgames. The likeness of Arnold Schwarzenegger that can be customized is also a highlight, with plenty of Easter Eggs for the Terminator franchise.
6The Joker
The Mature Rating Resulted In The Best Version
Initially,Mortal Kombat 11was going to feature Ash Williams from theEvil Deadfranchise,but when that character was canceled, he was replaced withThe Joker. It could have been a disappointment, but, fortunately, The Joker was given a welcome upgrade from theInjusticegames thanks to the bloody and gory style ofMortal Kombat.
With Richard Epcar giving a strong and charismatic performance as The Joker, the combat is fittingly chaotic. He wields a cane as his main melee weapon, his trusty knives, Jack-In-The-Boxes, and even a Batman puppet to use for defense and offense. It proved to be a worthwhile replacement for Ash while also setting up the potential for whatInjustice 3or a future crossover could be like.
5RoboCop
80s Sci-Fi Fans Relished The Return Of Peter Weller
Like The Terminator,RoboCopwas not only a faithful recreation of the character, but Peter Weller also reprised the role that he had made iconic back in 1987. He joinedMortal Kombat 11with theAftermathexpansion, and almost immediately, fans doubted how theslower but beloved cyborg charactercould be effective against Raiden and Baraka.
Fortunately, all doubts were swept away as RoboCop proved to be an effective character at any range thanks to his different guns, riot shield, and powerful robotic body that turned him into a tank inMortal Kombat 11. As a bonus, fans can now live out the closest thing to aRoboCop Versus Terminatormovie with the addition of the character.
4Jason Voorhees
Slasher Villains Fit At Home In Mortal Kombat
Jason Voorheesis a continuation of the horror movie gimmick inMortal Kombat X. Likein theFriday The 13thfilms, he is a nearly unstoppable brute who wields his machete with precision and ferocity. Thanks to the variation system, there are three versions of Jason to enjoy, with one focusing on his machete combat while another is more about his fists and a third allows him to resurrect from the dead.
For many, it remains the closest thing to a genuine Jason Voorhees experience outside the discontinuedFriday The 13th The Game. Part of Jason Voorhees' appeal is that he is not a complex character, no matter what variation he has. Anyone can pick up the character and, at the very least, deal damage, but there are still plenty of extra layers to master to create a character who is more than a savage killer.
3Peacemaker
From Imperfect Superhero To Powerful Kombatant
Continuing the theme of dark superheroes inMortal Kombat 1, John Cena reprises his role asPeacemaker,who had become a standout characterin the DC Extended Universe. Since Peacemaker is directly based on the series, he possesses John Cena’s likeness, carries his excessively long Desert Eagle pistol, has his pet Eagly, and wields all the other weapons that make him an effective super soldier.
Instead of swapping helmets for different abilities, Peacemaker’s helmet inMortal Kombat 1serves as an all-in-one solution. He can unleash a sonic boom and soar into the air with antigravity, which, combined with some of the most effective zoning attacks, transforms what could have been a brute character into a versatile all-rounder that anyone can enjoy.
2T-1000
Liquid Metal Makes Him The Deadliest Terminator
After the T-800 made waves, theT-1000fromTerminator 2: Judgment Daywas the ideal next step. He is the final character added toMortal Kombat 1duringthe second year of content, and much like in the movie, he is an improvement over the T-800 in nearly every way, from being portrayed by his respective actor to featuring even more fantastical abilities.
Every attack seen in the movie is effectively replicated or improved, resulting in smooth gameplay. The T-1000 uses liquid metal attacks, excelling at close range while remaining effective from a distance.Mortal Kombatfans get a compelling character, and Terminator fans enjoy the iconic villain’s return from a visual, audio, and gameplay standpoint.
1Alien
A Perfect Organism Even In Outworld
Netherrealm Studios could havesimply adapted the deadly XenomorphintoMortal Kombatand fans would have been happy. TheAlieninMortal Kombat Xshowcases what would happen if a facehugger forced itself onto a Tarkatan warrior as its host to create a new breed of Xenomorph exclusive to theMortal Kombatuniverse.
The Alien features classic traits from the movies, such as a spear-like tail, inner mouth, and acid blood. Its Tarkatan biology includes arm blades for slicing, while the Konjurer variation can summon facehuggers. The Acidic variant allows players to spray acid, combining fan service with strong gameplay. As in the films, the Xenomorph is a perfect organism that attacks swiftly, overwhelming unsuspecting players.
