Top 10 Best Mortal Kombat Character Crossovers
Top 10 Mortal Kombat Krossovers
Fatalities for everyone. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Mortal Kombat Krossovers. For this list, we’ll be looking at the best “Mortal Kombat” crossovers, be it as DLC characters in NetherRealm Studios’ series, or when the characters from the blood soaked franchise appeared in other properties.
#10: “Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe” (2008)
Observed in a vacuum, "Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe" is an above-average fighter centering around a crossover that came out of nowhere. As one of Midway's final releases before filing for bankruptcy, it is difficult to see "Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe" as anything but a failure. "Mortal Kombat's" iconic gore had to be toned down to accommodate DC's brand, resulting in a game that did little to satisfy long-time fans or attract newcomers. In the long run, "Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe" was a stepping stone to NetherRealm Studios' "Mortal Kombat" reboot and "Injustice" series.
#9: Johnny Cage
“WWE Immortals” (2015)
In 2015, NetherRealm Studios teamed up with Phosphor Game Studios to create "WWE Immortals," a mobile fighting game that mixed wrestling with superheroes. As "WWE Immortals" borrowed elements from NetherRealm's fighting games, it was only fitting that a "Mortal Kombat" character made an appearance, and Johnny Cage was the perfect fighter for the job. This crossover was worthed solely for the trailer, as Cage delivers a splendid heel promo calling out John Cena, Kane, and The Rock. While "WWE Immortals" was shut down in 2019, the memory of the Devil's Favorite Demon chokeslamming Cage will live on forever.
#8: Kratos
“Mortal Kombat” (2011)
Following the closure of Midway Games and the creation of NetherRealm Studios, 2011's "Mortal Kombat" reboot represented a new beginning for the franchise. It also marked the first time guest characters would appear in the series, with "God of War's" Kratos being playable in "Mortal Kombat 9's" PS Vita and PlayStation 3 versions. The Greek demigod proved to be an excellent fit for a gory fighting game like "Mortal Kombat," even if some of the Fatalities had to be altered to suit Kratos's character. More than anything, Kratos opened the floodgates for other guest characters to face off against the likes of Scorpion and Sub-Zero.
#7: Scorpion
“Drawn Together” (2004-07)
Be it Disney Cartoons or "Pokémon, "Comedy Central's "Drawn Together" parodied everything and anything under the sun. Among those subjected to the occasional punchline were video games, and "Mortal Kombat" even got a special cameo when Scorpion applied to be Xandir's roommate. For a scene that doesn't even last 20 seconds, "Drawn Together" accomplishes quite a lot. This crossover is presumably the closest Scorpion will ever get to executing a Fatality on Link from "The Legend of Zelda."
#6: Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Reptile & Raiden
“NBA Jam: Tournament Edition” (1994)
In the mid-90s these two Midway titles were absolute hits in the arcades, so the opportunity for them to crossover was something Midway could not let up. Of course the idea of basketball players travelling to another realm to take place in a fighting tournament; is a terrible TERRIBLE idea, as Shaq can attest to. The other way does work, as we get to see the 3 multi-colored ninjas, plus Raiden slams some high flying dunks. These characters can be unlocked by inputting specific initials and birthdates at the opening screen. Oh as an added bonus, Mortal Kombat’s co-creator Ed Boon is also an unlockable character.
#5: Raiden
“Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict” (2005)
As the first entry in the "Unreal" series to be published by Midway Games, "Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict" is chock-full with references to "Mortal Kombat." The game's announcer can be replaced by the one used in "Mortal Kombat's" sixth-generation titles, while "The Liandri Conflict" focuses predominantly on melee combat, even going as far as to have brutal moves akin to Fatalities. Last but not least, "Mortal Kombat's" Raiden can not only be faced as an NPC but is an unlockable character. The electrifying crossover made an already awesome game all that more incredible.
#4: Scorpion
“Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy” (2004)
Considering "Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy" is a single-player shooter with a heavy focus on psychic powers, Scorpion might not seem like the most obvious candidate for a crossover. Midway Games got around this issue by including Scorpion as a character skin for "Psi-Ops's" protagonist, basically turning the "Mortal Kombat" fighter into a fashion statement. While not the most ambitious of crossovers, "Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy" makes up for it by being a highly entertaining third-person shooter with an awesome overpowered main character. There is just something amusing about raining havoc on hapless enemies while cosplaying as Scorpion.
#3: Raiden & Sub-Zero
“Injustice 2” (2017)
Around a decade after Midway Games closed shop, "Injustice 2" released to a standing ovation and - alongside "Mortal Kombat X" - reaffirmed that NetherRealm Studios was in top form. Building on the precedent set by its predecessor, "Injustice 2" welcomed Raiden and Sub-Zero as DLC characters, who slot in seamlessly alongside Batman and dictator Superman. "Injustice 2" even references the events of “Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe” through character banter, and Raiden and Sub-Zero reminiscence about an unjust world in “Mortal Kombat 11,” creating a link between the two franchises that goes beyond just cool crossovers.
#2: The Terminator
“Mortal Kombat 11” (2019)
Since the reboot, all of the Mortal Kombat entries have featured a plethora of cameo’s and crossovers from other notable franchises. Including Freddy Kruger, Jason Vorhees, and both Alien & Predator. Yet out of all the iconic movie crossovers, there is one that stands tall above the rest, and it’s not just for Arnie’s iconic status as the killing machine. The opening banter sequences before the Terminator fights most of the Mortal Kombat characters, are filled with hilarious references to multiple Arnold Schwarzenegger movies. For example...And… Hell even “Jingle All The Way” gets a nod of all films.
#1: Scorpion
“Injustice: Gods Among Us” (2013)
In 2013, NetherRealm Studios released "Injustice: Gods Among Us," a "Mortal Kombat" game that just happened to feature only DC characters. To fix that, Scorpion was announced as a DLC. As "Injustice" takes place in quite a grim DC timeline, the "Mortal Kombat" ninja does not feel out of place, especially once Scorpion got a makeover from Jim Lee, a comic book artist with an incredible resume. Even if "Injustice 2" was probably the better game, "Gods Among Us" represented how far "Mortal Kombat" had come since the final days of Midway Games, and the addition of Scorpion brought full-circle what "Mortal Kombat Vs DC Universe" had begun.