This article contains MAJOR spoilers for Mortal Kombat 1 's story.

The Mortal Kombat franchise has worn a few different faces over the last few decades, originating as a groundbreaking 2D fighter, evolving into a bold but divisive 3D brawler, before returning again to the realm of 2D, where the franchise sits comfortably today. With each new evolution in the Mortal Kombat franchise, new features are added, and some old features get axed. Mortal Kombat 1 has been no exception to this cycle.

While its story mode might be the best in the franchise, the return of air combos is a welcome one, and its animations are arguably better than ever before, Mortal Kombat 1 isn't without its fair share of criticisms, arguably falling short in its lack of modes and customization options. There's no doubt that the next Mortal Kombat is going to follow the same pattern as all those before it, but if NetherRealm makes good on one teased feature, it could be enough of an addition to keep all fans happy.

Mortal Kombat 1 Homelander Trailer-1
Related
Mortal Kombat 1: Homelander's Fatalities Explained

Mortal Kombat 1 is finally set to add The Boys' Homelander in the coming months, but his brutal Fatalities may have already been revealed.

The Next Mortal Kombat Should Have a Character Creator

Why Fans Think a Character Creator Could Be on The Table For The Next Mortal Kombat

Towards the end of Mortal Kombat 1's story, the game makes the bold decision to introduce the multiverse, with a Shang Tsung from an alternate dimension being revealed to have been pulling the strings the whole time. Within just a few short missions, this small-scale alternate reality cameo turns into an all-out multiversal war, where hundreds of variants of iconic Mortal Kombat characters duke it out with one another. It's a truly absurd way to end the game, and it's proven to be quite divisive, with many loving the bombastic nature of it, while others think it might have been a step too far.

Though Liu Kang and his army of multiversal warriors manage to defeat Shang Tsung and his own dimension-hopping entourage, the game's final moments make it clear that Mortal Kombat's multiverse plot is far from over, and that's cause for NetherRealm to return to old Mortal Kombat feature that could work perfectly with this multiversal premise.

Released in 2006, Mortal Kombat: Armageddon is one of the most feature-complete games in the franchise, with a slew of extra modes and mechanics. One of these features was an all-new "Kreate a Fighter" mode, in which players could create their own custom Mortal Kombat character. On top of a surprisingly extensive array of cosmetics, Mortal Kombat: Armageddon's Kreate a Fighter also let players choose a unique fighting style, weapon style, and an arsenal of special moves. This Kreate a Fighter concept is an idea that's certainly worth revisiting, and a multiverse backdrop is the perfect opportunity, letting players create their own custom variations on iconic fighters.

A Mortal Kombat Character Creator Has a Wealth of Inspiration to Draw From

If the next Mortal Kombat game does decide to revive the Kreate a Fighter system, then it would have no shortage of games to draw inspiration from. While Mortal Kombat: Armageddon offered a surprising amount of depth with its character creator, these systems have come a long way in the last two decades, and Street Fighter 6 is a great example of that.

Possibly the most relevant source of inspiration for a Mortal Kombat character creator, Street Fighter 6's Avatar Creator is not only packed with RPG-level cosmetics, but also links its gameplay to the player's appearance. For instance, players can make their SF6 Avatar have long arms, and they'll reach further in combat, while having a larger body will make them an easier target to hit. Street Fighter 6 also allows players to make some truly monstrous creations with its custom sliders, adding a nice layer of absurdity and unpredictability to its online training battles.