In the same fashion as the previous games, Mortal Kombat 11 allows players to test their might with a list of additional characters available through a so-called Kombat Pack DLC. It's fairly obvious that the fans of the franchise always want to see more fighters to choose from, and if you are willing to enrich your usual roster of playable characters, then purchasing the DLC is a way to go.
The current Kombat Pack adds six new heroes. They are either well-known veterans from the Mortal Kombat universe or guest stars from other established IPs. In this article, the fighters are ranked from the least exciting ones to the most intriguing.
6 Nightwolf
Nightwolf has always been one of the coolest warriors in the series, although his obvious (and a bit excessive) resemblance to a Native American person has caused controversies and criticism. Still, the fighter's popularity is undeniable – and this is mainly due to his impressive set of moves and abilities. His spectral weapons (like a bow and a tomahawk) serve as the most distinctive features.
However, Nightwolf's appearances in the Mortal Kombat series are not that uncommon, and his addition to the latest game is a sweet move by the developers, but it's definitely not the most demanded one. It is worth noting though, that the fighter was enhanced with some new exciting tricks to please returning fans.
5 Sindel
Another Klassic character, Sindel has finally returned as a playable fighter after a long period of interactive absence. She was featured in the previous game, Mortal Kombat X, but the players weren't allowed to pick her and release Sindel's murderous screams. When she was originally introduced back in Mortal Kombat 3, the character was warmly welcomed by the community. Since those times, fans all over the world have favored Sindel.
It is indeed exciting to see her back in Mortal Kombat 11 with a set of newly added moves and abilities. Sindel is bloody and gory like never before and she makes the most out of her predatory haircut. Also, her stunning visual representation remained mainly unharmed, which is nice.
4 Shang Tsung
The evil sorcerer is undoubtedly the best additional character from the Mortal Kombat universe's own roster. Portrayed by Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Shang Tsung brings back the invaluable feeling of nostalgia for all those who watched the original Mortal Kombat movie as kids. If you consider yourself a fan of the aforementioned film, then you must have had a vicious case of goosebumps watching the reveal trailer for Shang Tsung in Mortal Kombat 11.
Shang Tsung was the first additional character for the game, and he was probably chosen to set the right mood. One of the best promotional trailers for the game was the one edited with the original music from the Mortal Kombat movie, so the appearance of that cinematic version of the character further continued the campaign. And while Shang Tsung was the first fighter to expand the original roster of the game, he was clearly the best one from the Mortal Kombat universe.
3 Terminator
Whether new entries in the Mortal Kombat series should be updated with strictly "native" characters or with the addition of guest ones as well is a topic for a separate discussion. While many players often want to see other well-known fighters within the Mortal Kombat universe, guest stars always make an exciting and surprising appearance – and it's a good way to enrich the experience. Moreover, they tend to serve as an entertaining visualization of players' dreams for crossovers.
The first outside fighter to join the latest game by NetherRealm was Terminator. Judging by the timing of his release as a guest character and the looks he was given, T-800 was mostly featured to promote the latest movie – Terminator: Dark Fate. Arnold Schwarzenegger once again reprised the iconic role, and regardless of whether you liked the film or not – the character's representation in the game proved to be close to excellent.
2 Joker
Since NetherRealm supports another popular fighting franchise, the Injustice series, it shouldn't be a surprise that the studio decided to transfer one of the fan-favorite warriors over to Mortal Kombat. And the choice of the specific character proved to be flawless. One of the greatest DC villains of all time and the Batman's arch-nemesis, Joker is not just recognizable as is – his figure has drawn a lot of attention recently thanks to the brilliant movie Joker by Todd Phillips.
That said, Joker's popularity right now is pretty understandable. And it looks like the developers took the opportunity to endow the character with a set of the most impressive fighting animations they've ever produced. The Clown is packed with a plethora of silly – yet deadly – cartoonish gadgets to rip his opponents in halves. And his Fatalities are natural pieces of art.
1 Spawn
The fans have been asking Ed Boon to feature Spawn in the Mortal Kombat series for quite a long time. NetherRealm is well-known for the passion to include various comic book heroes and villains as guest characters, and Spawn is definitely among the favorites and most popular ones. Needless to say, the hellish avenger perfectly fits the style and mythology of the franchise's universe.
It is still unclear what NetherRealm has in store for Spawn's depiction in Mortal Kombat 11 since there're no gameplay trailers available at the moment. For now, there's been just a glimpse of his appearance with deadly chains. The radio silence should be off once Joker becomes available on January 28, but the players will have to wait until March to finally test Spawn in action.
*****
Apart from the listed characters, there have been rumors regarding the possible future additions to the roster. It's highly unlikely that NetherRealm will end the support for Mortal Kombat 11 just one year after the release, so be sure to witness the inevitable Kombat Pack 2 with another sinister six to enjoy.
All the existing DLC characters for Mortal Kombat 11 leaked back in 2019 and were later confirmed, although another three – Sheeva, Fujin, and Ash (presumably from The Evil Dead) – haven't been officially acknowledged. It's a fair assumption that they'll make it to the game in the upcoming DLCs.