If you’re a fan of the recent MK games then you probably already know this, but Mortal Kombat 11 is anticipated just as much for its story, as it is its gameplay. In particular, Mortal Kombat 11 ties together the recent events of the last few games with the events of the classic Genesis/Arcade games that first launched the series into the stratosphere. If you’re here you’re probably looking for a story summary of Mortal Kombat 11.
Let us warn you that obviously, this post is going to contain spoilers. If you’re here and reading this, you should fall into one of two camps, 1: You already beat the game and are looking for some additional detail or clarity on things you didn’t understand or 2: you don’t care about being spoiled and just want to know what happens.
Either way is fine but be warned that from here on out, we’re going to be running through all 12 chapters of Mortal Kombat 11 in detail, so do something else, like read our review, if that isn’t what you’re looking for.
*Mortal Kombat 11 Story Spoilers Ahead*
Mortal Kombat 11 Story Summary
Chapter 1: Next of Kin
The story picks up not terribly long after the events of the last game. Raiden has defeated Shinnok and taken hold of his amulet. Raiden can’t kill Shinnok permanently, but he does visit his old pal to behead him to keep him completely incapacitated.
The amulet has corrupted Raiden, turning him into a homicidal fanatic of Earthrealm. No longer content with just defending Earthrealm, Raiden wants to go on the offense and defeat any potential threats.
The story picks up with Raiden and the Special Forces planning an attack on Netherrealm. Cassie Cage, Sonya Blade and Johnny Cage are all kind of freaked out by Raiden’s new murdery tendencies, but at least he’s on their side so they put up with it.
To be fair to Raiden, though, Netherrealm led by Revenant versions of Liu Kang, Kung Lao, Kitana, and Jade totally do want revenge, and are 100% definitely raising an army to attack Earthrealm. So Raiden might be a little wacky right now, but he’s not totally off base.
Special Forces and Raiden launch an attack on Netherrealm. Raiden with the power of the amulet, holds off the undead army while Special Forces (Cassie, Jacqui, and Sonya) infiltrate the stronghold to bring it down once and for all.
The plan… works! Except for one major sacrifice: Sonya. She was pinned in an explosion and ordered everyone else to escape and not waste time trying to rescue her as it would have led to everyone dying. Her death leaves recently promoted Cassie Cage, as the new commander of Special Forces.
While the good guys won, the cost was high for both sides. Cassie isn’t thrilled with Raiden for pushing for such a risky op on everyone, and now the balance between light and dark is too tilted towards light, which has gotten the attention of the new major villain: Kronika.
Kronika reveals herself to be the true architect of pretty much anything that has ever happened in Mortal Kombat. She’s the mother of Shinnok and his more angelic counterpart, Cetrion (a new character for Mortal Kombat 11).
She has tweaked the timeline, replaying certain outcomes many times in order to get it just the way she likes it, but she did not account for Shinnok’s defeat, and Raiden becoming as powerful as he has.
Now Kronika seeks to start over from scratch, this time, without Raiden. Current timeline Raiden is erased, but in order to fully realize her plan, she’ll set things back to around the time of Mortal Kombat 2.
