Highlights

  • Johnny Cage, despite being a central protagonist in the most recent games, has had a spotty attendance record in the Mortal Kombat series, missing several games.
  • Sonya and Jax both had consistent showings, but were left off the primary playable roster in Mortal Kombat 1.
  • Sub-Zero is the only character to appear in every single mainline entry of the Mortal Kombat franchise, making him the character with the most game appearances.

The Mortal Kombat series has been kicking butts and cranking out oodles of gory viscera for decades now. In that time, a lineup of key cast members has emerged. Every single last one of these characters is, at this point, iconic. But who has made the most appearances? Well, that is the question we are here to answer.

Related
Mortal Kombat: The Most Powerful Characters, Ranked
Ranking the most powerful characters in Mortal Kombat by their hierarchy of power levels.

A quick bit of housekeeping. The portable entries are an absolute mess. Tons of characters are dropped due to memory limitations, there is one instance of the same game essentially being released twice with each part containing half of the roster, and then there are the Tiger electronics releases further muddying the water. So, we are primarily talking about the mainline entries here. Not the portable interpretations. This leaves us with the twelve mainline Mortal Kombat games (which Mortal Kombat VS. DC Universe appears to be a part of) plus Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, Mortal Kombat Trilogy, and Mortal Kombat Gold. Which means there are a grand total of 15 possible appearances!

Updated October 17, 2023: With the recent release of Mortal Kombat 1, this list has had some characters shift around a little. Of course, we had to make a decision on whether or not appearing as a Kameo counts as being an appearance. We'd argue that being a Kameo needs to be worth something, though it definitely isn't the same as being a fully playable character. So, we'll count Kameos as being worth half an appearance. Look, we get it, the accounting is messy here, but we're doing the best we can, people!

Just remember, the most recently released game in the Mortal Kombat franchise is "Mortal Kombat 1". So, whenever we refer to Mortal Kombat 1, we are referencing the most recently released game. The first game in the franchise will simply be referred to as "Mortal Kombat".

10 Johnny Cage

Mortal Kombat - Both The Future And Past Johnny Cage Smiling At Something

If you started playing the Mortal Kombat series with the new titles, you may be surprised to find out that the closest character to a central protagonist, Johnny Cage, actually had a bit of a spotty attendance record for a while there.

Cage missed MK 3, Ultimate MK 3, Deception, and MK Vs. DCU (his agent probably advised him to turn that one down), which puts him at eleven appearances and actually ties him with a few characters in the series. However, given his recent importance, we are going to give him the Hollywood treatment and hand him all the recognition. Sorry, Kitana, maybe next time.

9 Reptile

MK Past Character Reptile

Mortal Kombat's first secret character, Reptile has always been a fan favorite. While that wasn't enough to ensure he got a roster spot in every game, he did make it into the cast of playable characters more often than not. Reptile missed MK3, MK11, and Mortal Kombat Vs. DC Universe. He also kinda-sorta missed Deception.

You see, the Reptile we all know in love was not on Deception's roster, but Onaga, the big baddy of the game, was possessing Reptile's body. So, in a weird way, Reptile was almost the boss of that one? Depending on how you view things? We acknowledge that this is a fiddly point. He was also not playable in the first Mortal Kombat, but you can fight against him (and that is certainly amounts to more than a simple cameo appearance). We're going to call that eleven and a half appearances.

8 Kung Lao

Mortal Kombat - Kung Lao Meditating

Kung Lao is another Shaolin Monk protagonist. In more recent years he has been played up as having a little more flash to his personality than his brother in arms Liu Kang (or in Mortal Kombat 1, Raiden). Which explains that snazzy hat.

Being introduced in Mortal Kombat 2, this sharp dresser (heh) naturally missed the first game in the series. Outside of that, though, Kung Lao has only missed MK4 and Deception. Meaning that he has made twelve appearances in total. Not bad for a dude who missed the first release.

7 Shang Tsung

Shang Tsung from Mortal Kombat

Sure, he will steal your soul, but this tricky sorcerer will also steal your heart. This shape-shifter originally got his powers due to a memory shortage, but now his shapeshifting shenanigans are a staple of the character. His portrayal in the Mortal Kombat film was so strong that Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa was brought back to play the iconic sorcerer in MK11. While the same isn't true for the recently released Mortal Kombat 1, given that premium skins like Jean-Claude Van Damme Johnny Cage are a thing, we hope Shang Tsung is given a similar treatment and Tagawa joins the cast once again.

Related
MK11: Shang Tsung DLC - Every Easter Egg And Reference
Mortal Kombat 11's Shang Tsung DLC is full of fan service and easter eggs, and we went through every one we could find.

In the entire series, Shang Tsung has only missed three games: MK4, Deception, and MKX. Making him good for a total of twelve appearances. Whatever shape he takes next, we hope it is present in many more Mortal Kombat games to come.

6 Sonya

Mortal Kombat - Sonya In The Past Of MK11 Using His Standard Blown Kiss Taunt

Things weren't looking great for Sonya as of Mortal Kombat 2; at that point, she had only appeared in half of the titles in the series (unless you count being chained to two posts in the background of Shao Kahn's stage). Thankfully, Mortal Kombat 2 would end up being a rare exception to the rule. Sonya is absolutely one of the most notable women in fighting games and is, at this point, a bit of an icon.

She has only completely missed MK2 and Deception. She appears in the recently released Mortal Kombat 1, but she has been reduced to the position of a Kameo character. We'll count that as a hald an appearance. That means that she has made twelve and a half appearances in total in the mainline games. Despite often getting shafted in the portable games, Sonya is an absolute pillar of the series and with Mortal Kombat X she became one of the few notable moms in gaming. Though, that does make the whole "fatality" thing a little awkward when she is fighting against her daughter. We never said she was a good mom.

5 Jax

Mortal Kombat - Jax Briggs Lighting Up A Cigar

Looking for everyone's favorite metal-armed grappler? Well, we gotcha covered. Jax, like Kung Lao, is another example of a fighter who missed the first game, yet immediately established himself as a staple.

The steel-armed soldier had only missed two games up until Mortal Kombat 1. However, in Mortal Kombat 1 he has been reduced to a Kameo role. You had a good run, Jax. But worry not, Jax fans, we doubt he'll be out for long. Given the unique flair he has always brought, it is hard to imagine him not making it into the next game Mortal Kombat. Even with the most recent entry only counting toward half of an appearance, Jax still comes in with a very respectable twelve and a half appearances.

4 Raiden

Raiden preparing lightning attack

Raiden is an unquestionably important character. He is a prominent secondary protagonist in many of the games. He also has a few heal turns thrown in there. Better yet, the most recent version of Raiden has him being less of a bumbling doofus and more of a dependable leader. Which is a pretty damn good look for this thunderous badass! We hope he carries that forward into the future titles.

It is unsurprising, then, as Raiden only missed two games. He failed to make the cut in both MK3 and Ultimate MK3. So, he has made thirteen appearances at this time. With Jax and Sonya being Kameos in Mortal Kombat 1, this means that Raiden has actually moved up on this list! With his ability to turn himself into a human torpedo, and his iconic gibberish, this lightning god is a shockingly fun character; we look forward to seeing him in many more Mortal Kombat games to come.

3 Scorpion

Mortal Kombat 11 Unbound Rage Scorpion Skin

We know what characters you people come here for. This mustard-colored, harpoon-throwing Ninja is on the top of everyone's mind when they think "Mortal Kombat". Famously, Scorpion is Ed Boon's favorite. Which probably helped him get into as many Mortal Kombat games as he did.

Related
Mortal Kombat 11: The 10 Best Scorpion Skins
Scorpion is, unquestionably, one of the most iconic Mortal Kombat franchise members. But which of his skins is just as iconic as he is?

Our undead yellow friend has managed to only miss Mortal Kombat 3 (I guess he and Ed were going through a rough patch during its release). However, he was included in the subsequent Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, and since then has never missed another title. Though. notably, Scorpion in Mortal Kombat 1 is actually Kuai Liang, who was Sub-Zero in the majority of Mortal Kombat games. This means that Scorpion (the persona, at least) has been in fourteen Mortal Kombat games. Not too shabby, Scorp.

2 Liu Kang

Mortal Kombat Liu Kang Info

Liu Kang has dipped in and out of the spotlight since the series first emerged. Initially, he was seen as the central protagonist, but he began to play more of a supporting role over time. However, with Mortal Kombat 11, Liu seemed to be back in the spotlight again.

His protagonist status has been good to him. Rarely missing a beat, Liu Kang has nearly been in every Mortal Kombat game. Except for the one he died in, at least. However, even death didn't keep him down for long, it just kept him off the Deadly Alliance roster. Which, when you think about it, is appropriate given the series. This gives Liu Kang fourteen appearances in total.

1 Sub-Zero

Mortal Kombat 11 Sub Zero

This cool customer is the only character to make every single last game in the franchise. He is in all of them (well, unless you count special forces, but you shouldn't). This chill, blue ninja has had a number of changes over the years. His mask has been on and off multiple times since Mortal Kombat 3. In Mortal Kombat 1 he also sheds some of that hero energy he has been giving off for decades now (though that makes sense in context).

Sub-Zero has had the unique privilege of being represented by different people. Bi-Han was the first Sub-Zero, while Kuai Liang is the Sub-Zero from the second game on, until Mortal Kombat 1, that is. With the release of Mortal Kombat 1 Sub-Zero is once again Bi-Han. But that won't affect our accounting here. Sub-Zero is the moveset and the moniker. Which means that he has been in every single mainline entry without fail. With fifteen entries, Sub-Zero is definitively the Mortal Kombat character who has appeared in the most games.

Next: The Best Mortal Kombat X Characters Who Aren't In Mortal Kombat 11