The vast majority ofMortal Kombatgames have put the franchise’s iconic dragon logo front and center of the box art, often surrounded by flame effects, and very occasionally, one or two well-known fighters.2011’sMortal Kombat, however, marked the start of a new trend for the franchise, one that’s seen an elite selection of fighters take center stage on the games' covers.
While Scorpion has been the poster boy for three out of the fourMortal Kombatentries since 2011, Liu Kang took the spotlight onMortal Kombat 1’s box art, having become the primary god of this once again rebootedMKuniverse. A newMortal Kombatentry might not rear its head for some time, but when it does, there are a handful of characters that would make sense on its cover.
Predicting The Cover Star of Mortal Kombat 1’s Sequel
The Bold Choice - Noob Saibot
For those who didn’t playMortal Kombat 1’s Khaos Reigns expansion, Bi-Han is captured and taken to Khaosrealm by Titan Havik and the rest of his gruesome crew. There, Bi-Han is tortured with Khaos magic that quickly transforms him into Noob Saibot. Desperate for revenge, Bi-Han/Noob hunts down Havik, but Liu Kang stops him before he can land the killing blow.
Noob Saibot then turns to attack Liu Kang, but he’s frozen in place by Geras.Mortal Kombat 1’s Tower endingssee Noob Saibot escaping from Khaosrealm and waging war against Liu Kang and his champions.
Given Bi-Han’s villainous journey inMortal Kombat 1’s storyand Khaos Reigns' ending, it seems that Noob Saibot is being positioned as one of the series' new big bads. If NetherRealm wants to continue this storyline withMortal Kombat 1’s eventual sequel, there’s a shot Noob Saibot could grace the game’s cover.
The Safe Choice - Scorpion or Liu Kang
A much more likely contender forthe nextMortal Kombatcover star is one of the franchise’s primary mascots. Scorpion is probably the most obvious choice, being arguably the most recognizable character in the series to general audiences. Liu Kang would also be a safe bet, given that his likeness was used for the most recent entry.
While Sub-Zero is arguably just as iconic as Scorpion, no one in the currentMortal Kombattimeline has adopted the Sub-Zero moniker after Bi-Han’s transformation.
A Strange Choice - Orin
A guardian dragon of Edenia, Orin was originally a core part ofMortal Kombat: Armageddon’s storyline. Orin is seen briefly inMortal Kombat 1’s Khaos Reigns expansion, and there was a hint that she could return in a possible sequel. It’s highly unlikely, but if Orin plays a big role in the nextMortal Kombatgame, she could appear on its cover, perhaps in the shape of the series' dragon logo.
The Damage Control Choice - Everyone
It’s no secret thatMortal Kombat 1didn’t really resonate with a lot of fans. One point of criticism levied atMK1was its lack of staple fighters like Kano, Sonya Blade, and Jax. If NetherRealm ends up takingtheMortal Kombatuniverseback to the drawing board again for the next entry, it’s possible it will want to show fans its roster off the bat. There’s no better way to do that than by putting an array of well-known faces all over the box art.
