Mortal Kombat II

Step back into the Outworld tournament. Mortal Kombat II is the legendary 1994 Sega Genesis fighter — faster, deeper, and far more ambitious than the original — and the whole cartridge runs on this page for nothing, with no download standing in front of it. Choose a warrior, learn the motions, land the finishing blow. The Play button drops you at the title screen; below you'll find the roster, modes, controls, and Fatality basics that make MKII a 16-bit legend. It is a mature fighting game and was one of the titles that prompted the creation of game ratings boards, so it is not one for younger players.

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 arcade's mature content intact, unlike the heavily 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 — elaborate finishing 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 the game starts at the Mortal Kombat II title screen. Then:

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

Either kind of input works. At a computer the keys listed below cover all six buttons, and a USB or Bluetooth pad is picked up on its own and mapped to the Genesis layout — worth connecting for a fighter that expects four attack buttons and a dedicated Block. On a phone or tablet the on-screen pad arranges those same buttons in the Genesis pattern under your thumbs, so Block stays reachable without abandoning the attack cluster mid-exchange.

Controls

MKII is built for the six-button Genesis pad, so all four attack buttons plus Block are in play:

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?

Tracking down a working Genesis and a copy of this cartridge is a project in itself; opening the tab is not. What runs here is the genuine 16-bit build, which matters more for MKII than for most games — the roster is complete, the combat moves at the speed the Genesis conversion was praised for, and the Fatalities, Babalities and Friendships are intact rather than sanded down to suit a rival console's standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mortal Kombat II free to play here? Yes. The cartridge was a full-price retail purchase in 1994; the complete twelve-fighter game runs here at no charge, and there is no sign-up of any kind.

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.

Is this the uncensored Genesis version? Yes — it keeps the arcade presentation and the full set of Fatalities, Babalities, and Friendships, unlike the heavily edited release on some rival consoles.

Can I play it on my phone? Absolutely. The touch layout puts all four attack buttons and Block under your thumbs, which is exactly what a six-button fighter needs, and on desktop the keyboard or a connected pad works just as well.

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.