The Complete MORTAL KOMBAT Timeline Explained!

The Mortal Kombat franchise features one of the most dense and elaborate timelines in video game history. The epic fighting game series unfurls its melodramatic narrative across 13 games with a timeline that reboots itself not once, but twice.
With Mortal Kombat 1 further expanding - or resetting - the timeline, what better time to dive back into the Karnage of this iconic fighting game franchise.
This is the Mortal Kombat timeline fully explained.
00:00 - INTRO
00:40 - THE ORIGINS
02:41 - MORTAL KOMBAT: SPECIAL FORCES
03:34 - MORTAL KOMBAT MYTHOLOGIES: SUB-ZERO
05:16 - MORTAL KOMBAT
06:34 - MORTAL KOMBAT 2
08:07 - MORTAL KOMBAT: SHAOLIN MONKS
08:41 - MORTAL KOMBAT 3
11:16 - MORTAL KOMBAT 4
13:17 - MORTAL KOMBAT: DEADLY ALLIANCE
15:12 - MORTAL KOMBAT DECEPTION
18:31 - MORTAL KOMBAT: ARMAGEDDON
20:45 - MORTAL KOMBAT VS. DC UNIVERSE
22:00 - MORTAL KOMBAT 9
25:58 - MORTAL KOMBAT X
29:01 - MORTAL KOMBAT 11
32:42 - AFTERMATH
35:06 - MORTAL KOMBAT 1
From the origins of the Elder Gods and the Mortal Kombat tournament through to the Fire God Liu Kang’s New Era timeline reset, via the timeline-altering antics of Kronika in Mortal Kombat 11, this video breaks down the long and confusing timeline of the Mortal Kombat franchise.
#TimelineExplained #MortalKombat #GameSpot
Timeline Playlist - • The Complete THE LAST ...

[@DWTalentsProduction]

Waited 30 years for the entire story to unfold, then retold. Thank you

[@Jeffersonyuvens]

and retold, and retold

[@CAP198462]

Missed a trick not calling the video The Komplete Mortal Kombat timeline explained.

[@CturiX.IREALLY]

quite true, KAP198462

[@karnerblue7658]

@CturiX.IREALLY lol Good one.

[@JonathanPardillo-et8vu]

Seo

[@TheThingThatYouNotice]

U have a good eye, hoping he changes the title

[@fujin_994]

Bro called bi han by ham

[@traviserrthum2826]

For a franchise that relies on any given character having some sort of conflict with any other, the "multiple timeline" approach makes sense. If you buy into the camp, it's really impressive how entertaining and complex some of the most recent campaigns have been.

[@shawziiz5031]

MK - Liu Kang beat Shang Tsung MK2 - Liu Kang beat Shao Kahn MK3 - Liu Kang beat Shao Kahn MK4 - Liu Kang beat Shinnok MKDA - Quan Chi beat Shang Tsung (Liu Kang's dead, all heroes lost including Raiden) MKD - Shujinko beat Onaga MKA - Shao Kahn beat Blaze (supposed to be Taven but NRS just retcon it for the sake of reboot. Poor Taven) MKvsDC - Raiden & Superman beat Dark Kahn MK9 - Raiden beat Shao Kahn MKX - Cassie beat Corrupted Shinnok MK11 - Liu Kang beat Kronika & Shang Tsung MK1 - Liu Kang & (whoever we choose) beat Shang Tsung & Quan Chi

[@chimpo961]

MK1 - Liu Kang or mortal Raiden beat unknown

[@TanTran-ho8ii]

@@chimpo961 presumably Onaga cause Liu Kang ask his mirror counterpart if Onaga exist in his world during an intro match dialogue

[@chimpo961]

@@TanTran-ho8ii It is possible and honestly it's what I'm thinking that Onaga will be the final antagonist in MK1

[@devindietz7798]

@@chimpo961Fire god Liu Kang might beat Shang Tsung in MK1

[@TanTran-ho8ii]

@@devindietz7798 kinda make sense cause Shang tsung is the first villain in Mortal Kombat

[@itsDrakoRP]

I respect that, through all of it's convolution, they do a pretty good job at explaining it all unlike some major cinematic universe I know of.

[@jesuslovesyou1]

exactly have a great day special person

[@zidniafifamani2378]

FATE Series by Kinoko Nasu. "Nothing is false, everything is canon".

[@jasonsmith530]

Series needed a hard reboot

[@Arnell_Long]

Lui Kang has done that lol. But seriously I understand what you mean...

[@chimpo961]

It's already been rebooted

[@Muteyoshi260]

fr when you look at the series as a whole. You realize it hasn’t really moved anywhere because of mk9. I understand things happened differently but major plot points that raiden tried preventing still happened.

[@DJPurpleOne17]

This is the true reboot... the 2011 reboot was more of a retcon than a actual reboot I can't wait for next Thursday 🤩

[@devindietz7798]

@@DJPurpleOne17because Raiden altered the past

[@FragmentJack]

25:07, just a correction. Invading realms aren’t against the rules of the Elder Gods. It’s the merger of realms that is forbidden without winning 10 consecutive tournaments.

[@SebasTian58323]

Yeah, they make that distinction themselves when Raiden is discussing it with them. He says it's a distinction without meaning or whatever

[@OdinSmilesRavensLaugh72051]

So... basically shao Kahn COULD have just invaded and conquered rather than merged and be still would be in charge of a different dimension, sounds like a better idea than merging them together really 🤷

[@FragmentJack]

@@OdinSmilesRavensLaugh72051, from what I’ve gathered, invasion is one thing, but conquering and the merger of realms are acts that are one in the same to the Elder God’s. This is why “He must win” was a premonition Raiden saw of himself in the Armageddon war. Shao Khan won by defeating Blaze, but that war was still considered a Mortal Kombat tournament. The conquest was completed, but Shao Khan broke the Mortal Kombat code. With his ego, and Quan Chi providing a way for him to access Earthrealm, Shao Khan basically felt unstoppable at that point. Edit: I think Shao Khan’s intent to merge the realms after defeating Raiden was what led the Elder God’s to intervene or it may have been the conquest beforehand and then the further corruption of the MK tournament that led them to intervene. Perhaps, it was both. I can’t recall if it was ever said out loud by Shao Khan himself that he was going to merge the realms. And I mean, technically, Shao Khan did win the war/tournament, but it seems that there had to be a reason why the Elder God’s intervened such as an intent to merge and/or the conquest and further corruption of the tournament.

[@fidelj3025]

OG Sub-Zero name is pronounced as Bee Han, not Buy/Bye/By Han

[@lossibinks]

It was grating my ears every time

[@user-hk7zt1lo2l]

Thank you for pointing that out!

[@CullObsidianPlays626]

Gamers: tell us your channel has no real gamers without telling us? Gamespot: *BYE HAN* 😂😂😂

[@Tronx431]

Nah he said right its kitanu not kitana hehe

[@greenth-mac2550]

I've never been a fan of MK series, only played the 4th game many years when I was a child (Yup, with all these brutal fatalities). After watching the first MK1 trailer few months ago, I start to get into the series and watch some of the plot. This video helped me now understand the series before jumping into MK1, it really has a cool story and curious to look where the new timeline will take up the plot.

[@seymourlove4788]

❤

[@syklone_]

The bracketed information is less impactful than you probably know. I think literally everyone played these games as kids and it was most of our introductions to brutal violence

[@greenth-mac2550]

​@@syklone_ I only played MK4 because my mom's brother happened to have it on his PC back then. Also, what do you mean abut the bracketed? What even is that?

[@syklone_]

@@greenth-mac2550 I mean like; we all played this stuff and the stuff you had in parenthesis doesn’t really carry any weight considering most of us played MK with all the gore as kids idk

[@greenth-mac2550]

​@@syklone_ I'm not sure if this can be applied giving that I was probably under 7 at the time. But either way it does not hurt to mention it. This also shows more the differences in experiencing video games between and old and current generation of kids.

[@excaliburkaizuhan1734]

So for MK vs DC, I bet Kronika will be like: “wait a minute… I did not create that timeline, like at all.”

[@deebrown5744]

And what makes mortal Kombat so beautiful over other fighting games you can really literally see the change of graphics there's always something new that they bring to the table and personal acme I've been playing since we're putting quarters waiting for your turn and arcades and my local mall man those were the days

[@civilwarfare101]

No wonder why MK had a crossover with DC both are as convoluted timeline wise as each other.

[@e.m.2850]

In my honest opinion, it was a borderline cash grab plus they wanted to collaborate with Warner brothers. But look on the bright side because that game we got the Injustice games.

[@civilwarfare101]

@@e.m.2850 The Injustice games are just okay. I like 2's story but the first game was laugably written.

[@OMGLX]

Aw mate, brilliant recap through and through, but you left out one of my absolute favorite bits of time fuckery from MK11-- Before Raiden merges himself with Liu Kang to create Fire God Liu Kang, it is revealed that throughout many many MANY timelines, due to Kronika's unknown machinations, Raiden and Liu Kang will always, at some point, become adversaries, resulting in the death of Liu Kang. Kronika enacts this in each timeline as a sort of failsafe to ensure they cannot combine their powers to thwart her plans. This is what causes Raiden to TRULY combine their powers to create Fire God Liu Kang. Pretty cool reveal, and a great cutscene as it shows various incarnations of Raiden and Liu Kang fighting one another throughout time. Like I said though, tremendous recap and a great lead-in to MK1 even though MK's insane lore is one of my favorite rabbit holes that I already know too much about. :p

[@CactusJuiceTrip]

But Raiden had nothing to do with Liu Kangs death in MK:DA

[@SultanSamet]

That scene was AMAZING - i loved seeing all those variations and that "Subway" Level having a cameo basically, those oldschool variations and all... MK 11 was a firework: Story, score, gameplay. Perfect. I just missed the other youngsters from MKX, but its fine.

[@OMGLX]

@@SultanSamet Right?? I thought it was a super clever way to leverage MK11s gear system to generate some pretty divergent looks for both Raiden & Liu. Very cool.

[@angelfpv8275]

thank you for the video, mk1 is my first since mk vs dc and you have done a great job in catching me up. im so surprised to see the difference in graphics between the games over the years,

[@bradleydewitt8454]

Bro you did a great job at this, I thoroughly enjoyed watching this video!

[@Terminator-fy7oj]

it's Komplete actually🤓🤓

[@Tronx431]

I understood the whole thing perfectly, u nailed it with the explanation imo.

[@SupportGamin2024]

16:25 you should've put Shujinko quest at the beginning took place years before the main game

[@barbarosa220]

You did great Adam!

[@ShadyLizack]

this video was so well done thanks

[@jamescooper2932]

1:36 titular.. perfect timing 😉😂

[@karnerblue7658]

Hahahaha!

[@PfizZz]

Great work!

[@sharkyslegoandotherstuff]

great video! im glad i understand everything now

[@YazTeondra-]

Been playing this game since I was a kid and I still don’t know the FULL timeline 💀

[@theokeithjones318]

Great job on the mk timeline!

[@TheThingThatYouNotice]

Definitely

[@Grumblik]

Scorpion was the one who was tricked into thinking Sub Zero killed his family.

[@briangreco8142]

Great review!

[@SultanSamet]

There must be some sort of psychology thing going on with people basically falling for soap operas. (Even if you hate that, as soon as you´re in, you´re hooked). Because MK became the most amazing soap opera in video game history. i just love all that drama, backstabbing and all. During MK11 i figured, that MK scratches that specific "X-Men movies" / "Spanish soaps" itch. And i replayed the reboot trilogy all over haha... and thx for mentioning MK vs DC which was a blast to play. (Would love to have a part 2 that connects to the Injustice 2 state of the DC verse with Supergirl and Batman having the new JL)

[@karnerblue7658]

Yep, me too. Love it!

[@D3sdinova]

Kinda yeah, a serial made with the same standards as MK 1 would be so good though! I just love the worlds, the characters and the violence. Somehow MK is still one of a kind.

[@bryanrivera4654]

Great video!

[@OrganizationXIII]

Brilliant! Can you do a timeline video on Tekken and Street Fighter? Can you make a video on final fantasy versus 13 and Verum Rex?

[@FNmith]

Thx man needed this

[@jssberry]

I had to restart this 3 times because I got confused...and also ADHD... 😆😆😭😭😭 But now I'm all caught up! Thanks!

[@Geezusmusic]

Good work!

[@jamessutton8756]

Wait. How is special forces first but Jax already has metal arms? 🤔

[@amonbrown3081]

bc that games bad. also i dont think jax loses his arms to ermac in the original timeline bc in og mk2 he has metal ones from the start

[@MK-vi2cm]

@@amonbrown3081 no he has metal arms starting in MK3

[@JoeCarter8]

he gets metal arms by choice in original timeline to have a chance in the tournament

[@electricjetstream5370]

Wasn't he able to take off his metal arms in the original timeline since they didn't actually replace his arms?

[@MK-vi2cm]

@@electricjetstream5370 No where did you hear that from?

[@steveo0127]

Can’t wait early access baby ❤

[@sebvz89]

thanks for this!

[@tainahautamaki5726]

I found the game section in Mortal Kombat where Kuai Liang discovers that Bi Han is a traitor, i knew that at some point Bi Han will show his true self and betray Kuai liyang and Smoke. Kuai Liang has to face Bi Han in a battle where Bi Han gives Kuai Liang his mark in the corner of his eye and Kuai Liang escapes from the Ling Kuei clan and Bi Han!

[@amitagarwalpianocovers]

very nice Thanks

[@GHMYahooka]

it was a definite expansion and not just a reset. if you watch the ending of all the characters they have a multiverse now where everyone who won has their own timeline and some of them invaded.

[@jesuslovesyou1]

Thanks for explaining

[@cheeseNrice69]

Wow, I totally forgot about that sub zero game. I remember playing that, But I thought it was cool at the time. Seeing the live action mixed with it.

[@thespade3577]

You guys gotta make another one right after this as everything is changed.

[@shanestephens4728]

1:36 A cheeky “Titular” 😂😂

[@GodLovesYou_21]

We can all agree that Gamespot never disappoints us with this content

[@A_mir0_0]

Bot

[@motivusthesage]

Stop the cap. Gamespot reviews are just awful

[@usamazahid3882]

@@motivusthesage Not only that, but his pronunciations are awful as well.

[@Andymukhwa]

who is Bai Hen?

[@jp3813]

That just invites people to disagree.

[@VinMiester]

The cut scenes in that Sub-Zero spin off game were crazy good whaaaat

[@philly-ndl2]

This was nice...

[@RazKob33]

This has made ir all worth it

[@kinzoadolpha9195]

Ironically I just went through the story of mortal kombat 1 and both endings of aftermath are cannon

[@_this_is_LEO]

thank you

[@nuhashahmed6274]

Impressed

[@3boys2girls48]

Thank u

[@eethr6306]

i literally JUST finished the last MK timeline video

[@Johnn7Cag3FN]

Ty

[@Grumblik]

I think it should be mentioned that Scorpion is the champion of the Elder Gods in Deception.

[@D3sdinova]

Its also important to note that if the second tournament was won, outworld would forfeit thier conquest of earth entirely... which they didnt.

[@cody_calhoun]

Great video! Hearing the classic music gave me chills. Tanya looked much better in MK4 imo

[@yahiko7701]

34:32 And then MK1 happened and made them both canon 😂

[@altounedited3]

Not mentioning Mileena’s rebellion was a sin but at least I understand the timeline 🤷🏾

[@Sitharii]

i think that my brain has ... 💀🤪melted after watching this timeline !! ( and this comes from someone who used to love MK / MK II / MK Trilogy !! )

[@user-qz6zu2pf1z]

What music did you use in this video?

[@juanrodriguez1759]

What's the little song at the end????

[@nossiro]

Well, turns out both Aftermath's ending are canon

[@cliburnhernandez8444]

Isn't there a version where Tsang Sung was trained by Boraicho to battle against Liu Kang(Tyrant fire god version)? I remembered i finishing as a game as Tsang Sung but forgot what MK it was from.. was a kid back then 😅

[@isaias_rodz]

Wow bro that’s the him performance of explaining

[@marcellousnguyen187]

The shenanigans has began

[@Astro-static18]

I've only few of the mortal Kombat tiles and this video does help but is confusing as well

[@tyshawndubois1245]

Pretty much MK is the Star Wars of fighting games….Releasing games not in chronological order but in different timelines…nice

[@Googaliemoogalie]

You forgot the Mortal Kombat Legends movies, which are actually pretty good. Snow Blind explains MK1's (2023) timeline scenarios.

[@jackjax7921]

Gamespot already had those review copies. 😂😂

[@noahdean9685]

Don't get me started on the guest stars and how they are involved with the series!

[@penguingamer1705]

Bee-hahn not bye-hAn (Bi-han pronunciation) no worries, just letting yk

[@usamazahid3882]

Well said, as I mentioned, his pronunciations are awful.

[@Aragorn7884]

MK4 FMVs are not as unintentionally funny as Tekken 1

[@MarthSR]

Also actually, BOTH Aftermath endings ARE canon. Along with a whole bunch of other endings. And then MK1 just goes completely bonkers on that! But I mean, COMPLETELY BONKERS.

[@kayvonclark5900]

Everyone doesn’t know the mk games rosters?🎮😁

[@Briefcasedarttv4053]

Fire breakdown

[@Imatallguy1]

I'd like to play a d&d campaign in the MK universe

[@glaman93]

"one of which is cannonical" if u say so...

[@LJEscobar-pu9ns]

Mk1 ending basically said every time you died to a boss it was a canon event

[@trapcapp09]

Sweet video. lol still confused

[@spoontheguy5397]

I’m kinda curious why Gamespot refused to even acknowledge Kenshi and Takeda. Not that I’m angry, I just noticed it and thought it was hilarious

[@fiqipraramadhan]

MK1 is such an overkill of a story with tons of timelines, knowing also all the comic books and motion pictures beside the video games, i think i've had enough of MK for a long while.

[@JaksonStewart]

can anyone tell me if in the midway timeline did jax arms get rip off or did he just wear mech arms over his real arms

[@glggetv]

Still, im literally Johnny Cage

[@ZzigZaG00NIN]

Game order can be pretty interesting in story videos lol

[@leoncoy1264]

They meed to re make shaplin monks, game was sick

[@Cannibal666Corpse]

I am a simple man, and now my head hurts.

[@CerberusCo]

"Aww shit, here we go again!"

[@ginogarcia8730]

35:17 - where is this from??

[@Nikolai1939]

Mk9 was the last good one, atleast in terms of story, plays very well too

[@greenth-mac2550]

Personally, I liked MW X's, it focused more on the newest generation which I liked. Despite it was bad with the power level of Cassey's team, like you play as one of them who is able to finish off the enemies while the other 3 members get beaten up (especially Cassey), then you play as another who surprisingly ALSO finish the enemies alone while the other 3 gets beaten up (again, especially Cassey). Until finally Cassey somehow take on the final boss by herself. Other than that bad writing, I enjoyed watching MK X.

[@naranjanarancia9389]

IM SO CONFUSED 😭😭

[@Kolbjorn24]

What about the one being In the beginning and Sereena in mythologies?

[@drahunter213]

So shinok was sealed or killed by raiden before the events of the first game? And then he’s revived in the 4th game?

[@spectroke]

6:34 to 36:07 hooooly i think we’ve come a little far in the gaming industry

[@WickedlNl]

Where/How can I play crisp arcade perfect visuals of the older MKs like at the 6 minute mark? I have GOG versions and even on past generation consoles, they all look pixelated, never this clean and pretty much 1:1 with the arcade footage.

[@Ash0512]

Probably MAME

[@MK-vi2cm]

Steam Deck

[@WickedlNl]

@@MK-vi2cm it has nothing to do with where you play but what version they are playing.

[@MK-vi2cm]

@@WickedlNl STEAM DECK

[@TheDundeal]

I played mythologies a grip back in the day😂

[@macentallungan6178]

My uncle is John Parrish the original actor for Jax.

[@jordanpc1489]

I haven't played Special Forces so i dont know if the following question was answered in game. How is Special Forces 1st when Jax has his metal arms? He didnt get them until after MKII.

[@eerieolie7204]

What would happen if they add Chuck Norris as earth warrior

[@itscomplicatedwatches]

You had a game where Jax had his arms ripped off as number 1? Jax first appeared in MK2. It’s a nice attempt at a timeline but it’s pretty broken.

[@nftripper8901]

It would have been better to include text indicating year, name of game, and console that it was released on.