Mortal Kombat

Mortal Kombat is an American media franchise centred on a fighting video game series that began in 1992 with an arcade game developed by Midway Games.

Mortal Kombat is an American media franchise centred on a fighting video game series that began in 1992 with an arcade game developed by Midway Games. It became known for its graphic violence, especially its finishing moves called Fatalities, and expanded into films, comics, television, and other media. The franchise is one of the best-selling fighting game series worldwide, with over 100 million copies sold.

History

Mortal Kombat debuted in 1992 as an arcade fighting game developed by Midway Games. It later grew into a long-running franchise and, after Midway's bankruptcy, the series' production was acquired by Warner Bros.

Gameplay and themes

The series centres on one-on-one fighting games and a fictional universe with multiple realms. It is especially known for violent finishing moves and a stylised use of the letter K in place of C in some words.

Media franchise

Beyond video games, Mortal Kombat has inspired comic books, films, an animated television series, a card game, and a live-action tour. Its film series began with Mortal Kombat in 1995 and Mortal Kombat Annihilation in 1997.

Reception and legacy

The franchise became highly influential and commercially successful, with more than 100 million copies sold. Its extreme violence also made it a frequent subject of public debate and helped shape industry ratings discussions.