WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS for Mortal Kombat 1 ahead. Proceed at your own risk.Mortal Kombat 1 was released earlier this month and ushered in a new age for the legendary fighting franchise. Following the conclusion of Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath, Liu Kang, now the God of Fire and Keeper of Time, created a new timeline in which peace and prosperity were expected to flow. However, Mortal Kombat 1's story saw that peace come to a rapid end, as a mysterious figure sowed seeds of doubt and conflict between Earthrealm and Outrealm. Across its many hours of narrative conflict, the title revealed a complicated, and compelling, new universe, in which hundreds of fighters could partake in a single battle or tournament. In doing so, Mortal Kombat 1's story has left its future wide-open, though crucial final moments may give a hint as to what the next game could entail.
Mortal Kombat 1's story follows a similar format to those that came before it, giving fans control of one character per chapter, as they contribute to the overall narrative. The title's new timeline and original origins are quite compelling, catering to veteran fans while offering a jumping-on point for new players. However, it is eventually revealed that Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath's Shang Tsung, from its second possible ending, is the title's main villain, after which the story devolves into a more direct sequel. While the reveal this reveal is enough to rattle Mortal Kombat's new timeline, few fans could have predicted just how significant Aftermath would prove to the title's final events.
Mortal Kombat 1 Revealed an Extensive Multiverse
Mortal Kombat 1 revealed that Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath's Liu Kang and Shang Tsung weren't the only rulers of their own timelines. In fact, every single fighter from Aftermath's roster was revealed to rule an alternate reality in which they became the Keeper of the Hourglass, all of which exist in parallel with each other. Before Mortal Kombat 1's final battle, Liu Kang recruits the other heroes from Aftermath's roster, allying their timelines in an all-out war against Shang Tsung. What follows is a single battle between thousands of Kombatants for control of Shang Tsung's timeline.
Following a gauntlet of battles against unique variations of classic fighters, Mortal Kombat 1's Titan Shang Tsung is defeated, and his timeline seemingly begins to crumble. Fighters are sent back to their respective timelines and peace is restored. The title's final scenes pick up with Liu Kang and the Kombatants of his timeline recovering at home and pledging to defend Earthrealm in future conflicts. However, a mid-credit cutscene reveals Lord Havik, who seems unsatisfied with the brevity of the final battle. Before the screen fades to black, Havik pledges to ensure that the next battle between timelines will last much longer.
How Mortal Kombat 1 Opens the Door to a Unique Future
Mortal Kombat 1 has opened the door to upwards of 20 potential timelines, leaving the future of the series with an abundance of possibilities. Even Shang Tsung's timeline, despite his death, appears perfectly intact when Lord Havik's mid-credit scene occurs. The next Mortal Kombat game could therefore explore a seemingly endless amount of realms, each with unique twists aligned with their given timeline. While Titan Liu Kang's universe appears to be the series' central focus, the re-introduction of Mortal Kombat 11's entire roster, and the relationships therein, could provide the core narrative moving forward.
It remains to be seen what the next Mortal Kombat game could entail. The title could follow up on Lord Havik's promise of a future, and more extensive, conflict between the timelines. However, it's just as likely that a future Mortal Kombat 1 DLC explores this rather limited narrative. Fans interested in the future of Mortal Kombat 1 should stay tuned, as the next big announcement could arrive as soon as New York Comic Con.
Mortal Kombat 1 is available now on PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X.
