Step back into the Outworld tournament and settle it the bloody way. Mortal Kombat II is the legendary 1994 Sega Genesis fighter — faster, deeper, and more brutal than the original — and you can play the full game right here in your browser, free and with no download. Pick your warrior, master the special moves, and land that finishing blow. Hit the Play button to enter the arena, and read on for the roster, modes, controls, and Fatality basics that make MKII a 16-bit legend.

What Is Mortal Kombat II?

Mortal Kombat II (often shortened to MKII) is a one-on-one fighting game originally produced by Midway for the arcades in 1993, then ported to home systems including the Sega Genesis in 1994. It's the second entry in the Mortal Kombat series, refining the first game's combat and expanding its mythology with iconic new fighters like Kitana, Kung Lao, Mileena, Baraka, Jax, and the series' recurring villain, Shao Kahn.

The plot picks up after the first tournament: Earthrealm's champions are lured into the otherworldly realm of Outworld for a new Mortal Kombat held by the sorcerer Shang Tsung, fighting their way toward the emperor Shao Kahn himself. The Genesis version is famed for keeping the blood and over-the-top violence intact, unlike the toned-down release on rival consoles — one of the big reasons fans consider it the definitive home version of its day.

The Fighters

MKII features a roster of twelve playable warriors, each with their own special moves and finishing techniques:

Liu Kang — the heroic Shaolin monk with his flying kick and fireballs.
Kung Lao — a razor-hatted Shaolin fighter with a deadly spin.
Johnny Cage — the Hollywood action star with his shadow kicks.
Reptile — the green ninja with acid spit and invisibility.
Sub-Zero & Scorpion — the rival ice and hellfire ninjas.
Kitana & Mileena — the fan-wielding princess and her savage clone.
Jax — the powerhouse Special Forces soldier.
Baraka — the Tarkatan warrior with retractable blades.
Raiden — the thunder god with teleports and lightning.
Shang Tsung — the shape-shifting sorcerer who can morph into any fighter.

Sharp-eyed players can also encounter the hidden characters Jade, Smoke, and Noob Saibot, while the bosses Kintaro and Shao Kahn await at the end of the tournament.

How the Combat Works

MKII plays almost twice as fast as the original and adds real depth. Matches are best-of-three rounds — drain your opponent's life bar twice to win. Beyond the standard punches and kicks, the game adds:

A full six-button moveset — high and low punches, high and low kicks, plus Block.
Differentiated attacks — crouching punches, more distinct low/high kicks, and powerful roundhouses and uppercuts that send foes flying.
Easier combos thanks to reduced recovery times, plus new special moves, including some performed in mid-air.
Finishing moves — when you win the final round, your dazed opponent is left open for a signature finisher.

Finishing Moves

MKII is where the franchise's famous finishers truly bloomed:

Fatalities — gruesome execution moves unique to each fighter.
Babalities — turn your defeated rival into a crying baby.
Friendships — a peaceful gesture, like a dance or a gift, instead of a kill.
Stage Fatalities — uppercut an opponent into the spikes of the Dead Pool's ceiling, the acid below, or off the Kombat Tomb's pit.

How to Play

Getting started is instant. Press the Play button on this page and Mortal Kombat II loads directly in your browser — free, with nothing to install. Then:

Choose your fighter from the character-select screen.
Pick your difficulty (the game offers five levels) or grab a friend for two-player versus, including same-character duels.
Learn your special moves — each fighter has a unique set of motions.
Win two rounds, then perform a finishing move on your dazed opponent.
Climb the tournament ladder through the other fighters, then the bosses Kintaro and Shao Kahn.

Mortal Kombat II plays great on both desktop and mobile. On a computer you use the keyboard (and any USB or Bluetooth gamepad you connect is detected automatically and maps to the Genesis layout — ideal for a six-button fighter), while on phones and tablets you get a custom on-screen gamepad styled just like a real Genesis controller, so every punch, kick, and block is right at your thumbs.

Controls

Here's what each control does, mapped to your keyboard. MKII is built for the six-button Genesis pad, so all four attack buttons plus Block are in play:

Action	Control
Move / Jump / Crouch	Arrow Keys
High Punch	A
Low Punch	S
High Kick	D
Low Kick	Z
Block	X
Pause	Enter (Start)

A connected gamepad uses the same button assignments, and a six-button controller is strongly recommended so Block sits comfortably under its own button during fast exchanges.

Tips for New Fighters

Block is your lifeline. MKII rewards defense — hold Block to soak up strings, then punish the gap with an uppercut.
Learn one fighter's specials first. Each character has a few signature motions; mastering one warrior's kit beats spreading yourself thin across the roster.
Uppercuts win rounds. A well-timed uppercut deals big damage and creates space — it's the backbone of MKII offense.
Use the corners. Trapping an opponent against the screen edge limits their escape options and sets up combos.
Practice your finisher early. Knowing the inputs for at least one Fatality means you'll never fumble that satisfying final moment.

Why Play It in Your Browser?

Mortal Kombat II is one of the most influential fighting games ever made, and running the Genesis version right here means no cartridge hunting and no console setup — just press Play and step into the arena. Because it's the genuine 16-bit build, you get the real roster, the faster combat, the intact blood and violence, and every Fatality exactly as fans remember them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mortal Kombat II free to play here? Yes. Press Play and the full Genesis game loads in your browser — no cost, no account, no download.

When did Mortal Kombat II come out? It hit arcades in 1993 and arrived on the Sega Genesis in 1994, developed by Midway and published for home by Acclaim. The version here is the Genesis release.

Does this version have the blood and Fatalities? Yes — the Genesis version keeps the blood, gore, and full set of Fatalities, Babalities, and Friendships, unlike the toned-down release on some rival consoles.

Can I play it on my phone? Absolutely. It plays great on mobile thanks to a custom on-screen gamepad modeled on the classic Genesis controller, and just as well on desktop with the keyboard or a connected gamepad.

Can I play two-player? Yes. MKII supports two-player versus matches, including same-character duels, so you can settle who's the better Kombatant head-to-head.

Ready for Kombat? Press Play and fight your way to Shao Kahn.