NetherRealm has had a long and storied history with theMortal Kombatfranchise. After Midway Games – the developer originally behind theMortal Kombatseries – filed for bankruptcy in February 2009, Warner Bros. acquired many of the company’s assets, including Midway’s Chicago studio, which quickly rebranded to NetherRealm Studios. Under a new name and publisher, NetherRealm produced the 2011Mortal Kombatreboot, which reignited the fighting game franchise’s spark. But along withMortal Kombatsequels, NetherRealm has tried its hand at creating another successful fighting game series:Injustice.
Releasing in 2013 and 2017 respectively,bothInjusticegameshave done a great job of capturing the essence of the DC Universe and its colorful cast of heroes and villains, so much so that fans have been asking NetherRealm to do the same with Marvel for quite some time now. If NetherRealm ever did want to test the waters for a Marvel fighting game, it could do so easily with aMortal Kombatguest fighter.
NetherRealm Could Test The Waters With a Marvel Character Cameo in Mortal Kombat
A Cameo in Mortal Kombat Could Pave The Way for a Full Marvel Fighting Game
TheMortal Kombatfranchise is now home to quite a few guest fighters. 2011’sMortal Kombatopened the floodgates withGod of War’s Kratosand Freddy Krueger,Mortal Kombat Xadded horror icons like Predator, Alien, Leatherface, and Jason Voorhees, andMortal Kombat 11added popular movie characters like The Terminator, Rambo, and RoboCop.
Mortal Kombat 1has continued its predecessors' guest fighter trend, with its first DLC wave adding Omni-Man, Peacemaker, and Homelander, and its second getting ready toadd Ghostface, the T-1000, and Conan the Barbarian. With all of those characters already inMortal Kombat, it would make complete sense for a Marvel cameo to show up in the near future.
It would be a huge deal if a Marvel character appeared inMortal Kombat. It’s been seven years sincethe last mainlineMarvel vs. Capcomgamereleased, and even longer since a solo Marvel fighting game entered the arena.Mortal Kombathas the power to end that dry spell, and in the process, finally test the waters for a long-requested NetherRealm-developed Marvel fighting game. If the reception to a Marvel cameo fighter inMortal Kombatwas positive, then NetherRealm would have a much clearer idea of whether it should pursue a fully-fledged Marvel fighting game.
Plenty of Marvel Characters Would Suit Mortal Kombat’s Tone and Style
As a full-scale Marvel Universe fighting game from NetherRealm would probably aim for a lower age rating thanMortal Kombat, this hypothetical cameo would be the perfect opportunity to add one of Marvel’s more overtly violent characters, and there are plenty of options to choose from. Both Deadpool and Wolverine would be great choices foraMortal Kombatguest fighter, especially after the success of their recent MCU outing.
Daredevil and The Punisher would also be great picks forMortal Kombat, given that their movesets are quite grounded. A Daredevil or Punisher cameo would also tie in nicely with theupcomingDaredevil: Born AgainDisney+ show, which is set to premiere in March 2025. There are also countless Marvel villainsMortal Kombatcould draw from, such as Carnage, Sabretooth, or Bullseye, all of which are notoriously violent in the source material.
Mortal Kombat 1
WHERE TO PLAY
Welcome to a new era of Kombat. NetherRealm Studios ushers in a new era of the iconic fighting franchise with a total reset that changes the entire world as we know it. Following the thrilling climax of Mortal Kombat 11, the all-powerful Fire God Liu Kang has created a New Era in the hope of bringing peace to Earthrealm and beyond. Through the series' most cinematic story mode yet, you’ll be reintroduced to a cast of legendary warriors as you’ve never seen them before. Expect twists on classic friendships and rivalries, as well as new backstories that will change everything you think you know about your favorite Kombatants. Discover a host of new offline and online game modes as you master a revitalized fighting system that boasts bone-crunching Fatal Blows, defensive Breakers and the most creatively vicious Fatalities yet.
