Where to Start With Mortal Kombat: Story & Game Order
To get the full Mortal Kombat story, start with Mortal Kombat 9 (2011), then play Mortal Kombat X and Mortal Kombat 11 in release order. For gameplay, the best entry point is Mortal Kombat 11 (or the newer Mortal Kombat 1 from 2023) because they have the largest active player bases and the most refined mechanics.
The Reboot That Made Story Mode Matter
Mortal Kombat’s lore was always present, but it was often buried in arcade endings and instruction manuals. That changed in 2011 with the release of Mortal Kombat (often called MK9 or MK2011). The game featured a fully voiced, cinematic story mode that retold the events of the first three arcade games. It begins with Shao Kahn on the verge of victory, and Raiden sends a message back in time to his past self to prevent the disaster. This reboot effectively created a new timeline, and every mainline game since has continued from that point.
For a new player, this is the cleanest starting point. You do not need to play the 1992–1995 arcade originals to understand the story, because MK9 covers those events with modern presentation. The game is available on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation Vita, and PC, though the PC port was later delisted. You can still find physical copies or play it via backward compatibility on Xbox consoles.
The Core Story Order: MK9 → MKX → MK11
The modern story arc is a trilogy. Here is the order and what each game covers:
- Mortal Kombat 9 (2011) – Retells MK1–MK3 with a time-travel twist. Raiden’s visions drive the plot, and several key characters die or are corrupted. It ends with a cliffhanger that leads directly into the next game.
- Mortal Kombat X (2015) – Set 25 years after MK9. The new generation of fighters (Cassie Cage, Jacqui Briggs, Takeda, Kung Jin) takes center stage, while older characters like Scorpion and Sub-Zero deal with the fallout of the previous war. It introduces the insectoid D’Vorah and the villainous Kotal Kahn.
- Mortal Kombat 11 (2019) – The direct sequel to MKX. Kronika, the Keeper of Time, attempts to reboot the timeline because she is unhappy with Raiden’s interference. The story features two versions of several characters (past and present) and ends with a new timeline being created.
After MK11, the 2023 game Mortal Kombat 1 is a soft reboot set in the new timeline created by Liu Kang. It is a good starting point for newcomers who do not want to play three older games, but it assumes you know the basic relationships between characters.
What About the Older Games and Spin-Offs?
If you want the complete history, you can play the original arcade games (MK1, MK2, MK3, and Ultimate MK3) through compilations like Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection or via emulation. However, the story told in those games is minimal – each character had a few lines of ending text. The 3D era (Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, Deception, Armageddon) is a separate timeline that is not necessary for the modern story. MK9 explicitly reboots that timeline, so you can skip those games entirely without missing anything relevant to the current canon.
Spin-offs like Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero and Mortal Kombat: Special Forces are largely non-canon or have been retconned. The only spin-off worth playing for story is Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, which retells MK2 with a co-op focus, but it is not essential.
Best Gameplay Entry Point for New Players
If you care more about fighting mechanics than lore, start with Mortal Kombat 11. It has a tutorial that explains the basics (blocking, punishing, combo strings) and a robust single-player mode called Towers of Time. The game also has a story recap video that summarizes the previous games, so you can jump in without playing MK9 or MKX. The online player base is still active, and the game is available on all modern platforms.
Alternatively, Mortal Kombat 1 (2023) is the newest entry. It introduces a Kameo fighter system (you call in a second character for assists) and has a more grounded, slower pace than MK11. If you buy a new console or PC in 2024, this is the game you will find in stores. However, its story is a direct sequel to MK11, so you will miss some context if you skip the earlier games.
How to Experience the Story Without Playing Every Game
If you do not want to play three full games, you can watch the story modes on YouTube. Each game’s story mode is essentially a movie, and the full playlists are freely available. The total runtime is roughly 8–10 hours for all three games combined. Alternatively, the Mortal Kombat films (1995 and 2021) are loose adaptations and do not follow the game canon, so they are not a substitute for the games.
For a quick recap, the official Mortal Kombat YouTube channel has a “Story So Far� video for MK11 that covers MK9 and MKX in about 5 minutes. It is a good primer if you want to start with MK11 directly.
Common Mistakes and Misconceptions
One common mistake is assuming that Mortal Kombat 1 (2023) is a remake of the original 1992 game. It is not – it is a new story set in a timeline created by Liu Kang, and it reimagines character origins. Another misconception is that you need to play the 3D-era games to understand the modern story. You do not, because MK9 wiped that timeline clean. Finally, some players think that the story order is the same as the release order for the entire series. That is true only for the modern trilogy (MK9, MKX, MK11). The original arcade games are part of the same timeline, but they are fully retold in MK9, so playing them is optional.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to play the original arcade games first?
No. MK9 (2011) retells the events of MK1–MK3 with a modern story mode. You can skip the originals entirely and still understand the plot.
Is Mortal Kombat 1 (2023) a good starting point?
Yes, but with a caveat. It is a soft reboot, so you can follow the story without prior knowledge, but you will miss references to MK11. If you want the full context, play MK9, MKX, and MK11 first.
Which Mortal Kombat game has the best story mode?
Most fans consider MK11’s story mode the strongest, because it balances a large cast and time-travel twists with emotional character moments. MK9 is a close second for its tight pacing.
Can I play Mortal Kombat 11 without playing MKX?
Yes. MK11 includes a “Previously On� recap that summarizes MK9 and MKX. You will miss some character development, but the main plot is self-contained.
Are the 3D-era games (Deadly Alliance, Deception, Armageddon) canon?
They were canon in the old timeline, but MK9 rebooted the story, so they are no longer relevant. You can skip them without losing any story continuity.
What is the best way to play MK9 in 2024?
The PC version was delisted from Steam, but you can find physical copies or use backward compatibility on Xbox Series X/S. The PlayStation 3 version is also playable on PS Now (now part of PlayStation Plus Premium).
Related
Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.