Mortal Kombat 11
A 2019 fighting game with time-altering story and customizable combat.
Mortal Kombat 11, a fighting game from NetherRealm Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, hit shelves in 2019. It’s the eleventh main chapter in the Mortal Kombat series and picks up after Mortal Kombat X (2015). The game got its first reveal at The Game Awards 2018 and launched on April 23, 2019, in North America and Europe for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. A Stadia version followed on November 19, 2019.
Critics generally liked the console versions, praising the gameplay, story, graphics, and better netcode, but they knocked the microtransactions and heavy grinding. An expansion called Aftermath dropped on May 26, 2020, adding a new story mode, three fresh characters, new stages, and bringing back stage fatalities and friendship finishers. A bundled version with all DLC up to that point, Mortal Kombat 11: Ultimate, came out on November 17, 2020, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. The series reboot and sequel, Mortal Kombat 1, launched on September 19, 2023.
**Gameplay**
Like the three prior games in the series (including Mortal Kombat Mobile), Mortal Kombat 11 is a 2.5D fighter. Alongside returning moves like Fatalities, Brutalities, Stage Fatalities, Friendships, and Quitalities, it introduces Fatal Blows and Krushing Blows. Fatal Blows are special attacks similar to the X-ray moves from the 2011 reboot and Mortal Kombat X. They deal heavy damage but only become usable when a player’s health drops below 30%, and you can only pull one off per match. Unlike Mortal Kombat X and its Komplete edition, Fatal Blows don’t show bones or other body parts, which some see as a downgrade. Krushing Blows are critical-hit versions of special moves or combos, triggered by specific conditions, causing graphic injuries and often draining about 30% health in one hit. A new Flawless Block mechanic gives players a comeback window after blocking an attack with perfect timing. Mercy also returns (last seen in Mortal Kombat Trilogy), letting the winner revive their opponent after the “Finish Him/Her” prompt, giving the loser a sliver of health.
The Kustom Variation system lets players customize characters similar to the Gear system in NetherRealm’s Injustice 2, improving on Mortal Kombat X’s Variation system.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Mortal Kombat 11
- Developer
- NetherRealm StudiosWindows version ported by QLOC. Nintendo Switch version ported by Shiver Entertainment.
- Publisher
- Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
- Director
- Ed Boon
- Producer
- Graeme Bayless
- Designer
- John Edwards
- Programmer
- Gavin Freyberg
- Artist
- Steve Beran
- Writer
- Dominic Cianciolo · Shawn Kittelsen
- Composer
- Wilbert Roget IIGameplay music composed by Dan Forden, Nathan Grigg, Rich Carle, Matthias Wolf, and Armin Haas.
- Series
- Mortal Kombat
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 3
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The plot follows Dark Raiden's decapitation of Shinnok, which inspires Kronika, the keeper of time, to rewrite history. Two years later, a Special Forces strike team attacks the Netherrealm, resulting in Sonya Blade's death. Kronika forms an alliance with revenants and Netherrealm's rulers, Liu Kang and Kitana, while a time storm brings past versions of characters like Shao Kahn, Skarlet, and Baraka into the present. Dark Raiden is erased by Kronika's time manipulation. A battle erupts in Kotal Kahn's Koliseum, with D'Vorah recruiting several past characters into Kronika's fold.
Reader's Guide
Mortal Kombat 11 introduced new gameplay features such as Fatal Blows, which become available when a player's health drops below 30% and can be performed once per match, and Krushing Blows, critical hit variations triggered by specific requirements. The game also added a Flawless Block mechanic and the return of Mercy from Mortal Kombat Trilogy. The Kustom Variation system allowed character customization independent of appearance, and online cross-play was introduced in beta form, excluding Nintendo Switch, PC, and Stadia. The console versions received generally favorable reviews for gameplay, story, graphics, and netcode, but faced criticism for microtransactions and grinding. The Aftermath expansion added a new story mode, three characters, stages, and the return of stage fatalities and friendships. Mortal Kombat 11: Ultimate, released in November 2020, included all downloadable content. A sequel and series reboot, Mortal Kombat 1, was released on September 19, 2023.
Did You Know?
- Mortal Kombat 11 was announced at The Game Awards 2018.
- The game introduced Fatal Blows, which are only available when a player's health drops below 30%.
- An expansion titled Aftermath was released on May 26, 2020, adding a new story mode and three characters.
- The enhanced version Mortal Kombat 11: Ultimate was released on November 17, 2020, for multiple platforms including PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
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