Gameplay & What It Adds

Mortal Kombat: Khaos Reigns is an exciting new story expansion for Mortal Kombat 1, adding fresh layers to the already intense storyline. As a semi-standalone narrative, Khaos Reigns acts as an aftermath to the main game's story mode, diving deeper into the chaos left in the wake of the original events. It provides fans with a continuation that brings unresolved story arcs to a head and introduces new conflicts that reshape the Mortal Kombat universe.

With Khaos Reigns, a new season pass also arrives, featuring six additional fighters: Cyrax, Sektor, Noob Saibot, Ghostface, T-1000, and Conan the Barbarian. Cyrax, Sektor, and Noob Saibot are essential to the new storyline, making their inclusion in the DLC both natural and exciting—much like Quan Chi and Ermac in the first season pass. Although the guest fighters don’t follow a specific theme this time, they bring a unique flair. I’d always hoped to see Ghostface join the Mortal Kombat roster, especially alongside horror icons in MKX, so it’s satisfying to finally see him get his place here.

The story in Khaos Reigns is split into two compelling parts. One part explores the escalating conflict between the Lin Kuei and the Shirai Ryu clans, as Sub-Zero and Scorpion clash over their differing visions of honor and respect. This tension brings a personal intensity to the expansion, showing the complexities within these legendary clans. The second part picks up after the conclusion of Mortal Kombat 1, as Titan Havik discovers the existence of other timelines. Driven by his singular purpose to unleash ultimate chaos, Havik aims to merge these timelines, forcing them into endless battles.

While the story feels a bit short, it somehow fits the Mortal Kombat style—intense, fast-paced, and full of raw energy. Khaos Reigns might be brief, but it packs a punch, expanding the Mortal Kombat universe in unexpected and exciting ways.

Feedback

I’ve found that Mortal Kombat 1’s story mode has become noticeably easier than past entries in the series, and it’s a bit of a letdown for someone who appreciates the challenge that fighting games are known for. In my review of Mortal Kombat 1, I mentioned my disappointment with Shang Tsung and Quan Chi as boss fights—they felt surprisingly easy. And while Titan Havik provided a slight bump in difficulty, he wasn’t much more challenging. It only took me two attempts to take down Havik, while Shang Tsung went down in just one try. For a fighting game, where well-crafted, challenging battles leave players feeling accomplished, this reduction in difficulty was underwhelming. Thinking back to the intense fight against Kronika, which left me feeling truly satisfied, I can’t help but feel like these recent bosses didn’t capture that same feeling of a proper, climactic fight.

Verdict

Mortal Kombat: Khaos Reigns is an intense new expansion that enriches the Mortal Kombat 1 storyline, delivering a thrilling yet brief aftermath filled with unresolved arcs and fierce new rivalries. The introduction of six additional fighters—Cyrax, Sektor, Noob Saibot, Ghostface, T-1000, and Conan the Barbarian—adds exciting variety to the roster, with Cyrax, Sektor, and Noob Saibot seamlessly woven into the plot. The expansion explores the deep-rooted clash between the Lin Kuei and Shirai Ryu and Havik's drive to unleash chaos across timelines, propelling the Mortal Kombat universe in fresh directions. While the storyline and boss battles lean toward the easier side, fans will find plenty of new content and a satisfying continuation that still captures the series' relentless energy.