Mortal Kombat continues to be one of the most popular and acclaimed fighting video games on the market, but throughout the years the series has let in a number of guest characters from horror series, to mixed results.
Ever since Mortal Kombat’s debut in the 16-bit era of video games it’s been a series that’s caused a stir. Whether it’s because it was redefining the fighting genre for both arcades and platformers or frightening the Senate, over time Mortal Kombat has proven that it’s got lasting power as a franchise. As many imitators have come and gone over the years, Mortal Kombat remains and is still going strong.
The Mortal Kombat series has gained enough momentum to see feature film adaptations, an animated series, and a new reboot on the way. As the Mortal Kombat games have gone on, they’ve let in an increasing amount of guest characters from other series. This is a growing trend in fighting games, but Mortal Kombat has set itself apart by primarily pulling from popular horror franchises. There may not be an official horror fighting game on consoles, but Mortal Kombat has offered the next best thing. With more characters on the way, now seems like a suitable time to assess the current horror guest characters that have been included in the Mortal Kombat games.
7. Terminator T-800
After some of the more obvious horror icons were added to Mortal Kombat’s roster, Terminator’s T-800 was a somewhat surprising addition, even if it is nice to have the Arnold Schwarzenegger surrogate in the fighter. The T-800 is a pristine, effective fighter and the game makes the most out of the character’s robotic abilities and the character’s resilience. The game also offers the luxury of playing both as the Arnold skin or the creepier exoskeleton and really takes advantage of the character's history and skills. Terminator’s T-800 is a very fun inclusion, but there are enough robot and gun-wielding characters that he does feel redundant in some senses.
6. Xenomorph
Many fans freaked out when Alien’s Xenomorph was announced for the Mortal Kombat series. Xenomorph is a massive character in the films who understandably gets scaled down a little for the fighter. The creature’s etymology leads to some entertaining moves that make good use of his tail, but as vicious as the character is it still feels like more could have been done with him. With how much there is to Alien's lore, this could have been the most unique character. In the end, the Xenomorph's Fatalities all feel rather predictable.
5. Jason Voorhees
If any slasher from a horror film is going to get tossed into a fighting game then it deserves to be Jason Voorhees. The masked killer from the Friday the 13th series just naturally fits into this world and so it’s satisfying to see the series make use of the machete master. Jason is a bulky force of nature that packs a real punch and actually manages to be intimidating. His Fatalities also showcase some real love for the character, so he’s a worthy addition here.
4. Leatherface
Much like in the case of Jason Voorhees, Leatherface from the Texas Chain Saw Massacre films is another wildly popular horror icon that already comes with a creative weapon as part of the deal. Leatherface plays how one might imagine, but he’s a lumbering, terrifying presence that can really lord over a character. He comes with some frightening alternatives to his classic chainsaw and his Fatalities, while not overtly creative, are all as brutal and over the top as the deaths in the feature films. The character is a fitting take on the villain, and it's comforting to see the Mortal Kombat games really embrace the more disturbing aspect of Leatherface, both in his character's story in the game as well as his alternate skins. They make the deranged lunatic even more extreme whereas other games would likely tone those aspects down.
3. Freddy Krueger
The inclusion of Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street doesn’t just mean that Mortal Kombat allows its players to create its own version of Freddy vs. Jason, but rather they can experiment with even more creative horror showdowns. Freddy Krueger kind of operates like a better version of the blade-wielding Baraka. His signature claws go far and the character's hellish supernatural abilities are also put to good use. His Fatalities are perhaps more bleak than comical, which also harkens back to the more traditional version of the character rather than the Freddy from the later sequels. Mortal Kombat succeeds in making Freddy frightening again.
2. Spawn
Todd MacFarlane’s Spawn is the most recent addition to Mortal Kombat 11 and the character is a surprisingly powerful combatant. The Spawn series has set records in the comics world and is trying to make a feature film comeback, but in the meantime, this video game take on the character is extremely compelling. The character also operates like how Pinhead from Hellraiser would probably operate. Spawn uses his chains in disturbing ways and more of his fantastical moves involve the horrors of hell. His Fatalities are also some of the best of the lot and some truly violent displays that should make many players want to learn more about the character. Maybe they felt that needed to prove more with a character like Spawn, but he's got a little bit of what makes many different characters great.
1. Predator
The Predator from the titular horror-action franchise of the same name turns out to be on a triumph on every level. Just like in the films, the character is extremely adept for hunting with a wide arsenal that gives the character varied advantages. Not only does the Predator operate like a dream, but Mortal Kombat actually makes him scary and his Fatalities feature better deaths than what have been done in the films. It’s a glowing version of a character that often doesn’t get its due.
