Stages tend to be an afterthought for many players in fighting games, simply providing a backdrop for the hectic combat that is about to commence. However, there’s no denying that some fighting game franchises have produced memorable combat arenas that stand out for their design, atmosphere, and music. This is especially true in theMortal Kombatfranchise. It has a rich lore full of unique locales where players can fight, and added to this, many stages allow the characters to interact with the environment. This makes the arena feel much more alive.
Ever since the days ofMortal Kombatbeing on the arcades, one of its standout features that helped separate it from its competitors, other than itsgruesome gameplay and Fatalities, were the stages. These stages always dropped hints about the wider story of this beloved series. Among them, there are definitely a few stages that have proven to be much more popular among longtime fans.
9Warrior Shrine
It’s strange that the Warrior Shrine was the only stage from the originalMortal Kombatthat didn’t return inMortal Kombat (2011).Anyone who played the first game will immediately recognize the statues of Goro, Kano, Scorpion, and the other mighty combatants showcasing their might as part of the arena.
This stage has a very important place in theMortal Kombatlore. It was revealed as the area whereLiu Kang and Shang Tsunghad their final battle, which can be seen in the introduction toMortal Kombat II.Liu Kang delivers his signature flying kick while zipping past all the statues seen at the back of the stage.
8Acid Bath
WhileMortal Kombat 4had dabbled in taking a 3D approach in its gameplay,Mortal Kombat Deadly Alliancewent all out with this. It allowed players to side-step around each stage, which ultimately led to a lot of unique environments to be designed.
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The most iconic stage from the game, and one that really tested players' skillfulness of navigating the 3D space, was the Acid Bath. This small circular platform was surrounded by a pool of bubbling acid that helped ramp up the intensity, making it feel like a true fight to the death. There were also four Acid Buddhas spread across the stage who would damage players if they got too close, making each encounter much more strategic.
7Living Forest
The eerie Living Forest is full of sentient trees that are said to feed on any travelers who stumble into their domain. While the stage has made several appearances across the franchise, its design inMortal Kombat IIis especially unnerving.
Every now and again,Jade and Smokewill poke their heads out from the trees, which only adds to the creepiness of the environment. Back when the games were only on arcade machines, there were even rumors of a secret stage fatality where the trees would chew up a defeated opponent, something NetherRealm actually added in later games.
6Kove
Kove was one of the very first stages that players were able to see during the buildup toMortal Kombat X.It immediately blew fans away for its incredible visuals and the amount of interactable objects that were scattered across the environment for players to get their hands on.
The large skull-shaped cavern with the ravenous waves crashing in front of it is a breathtaking sight. The stage also featured plenty of barrels and even bodies lying in the ocean, which players could throw at their opponent. Kove was one of the most memorable stages fromMortal Kombat X, and demonstrated how far fighting games had come visually since their humble beginnings.
5Evil Monastery
The gothic-inspired Evil Monastery makes its first appearance inMortal Kombat II.However, it wasn’t until it was remade inMortal Kombat (2011)that the developers could make this iconic location in the franchise as menacing as it has always been described.
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The stage features a shifting day and night cycle, creepy Shadow Priests hovering in the background, and robed skeletons equipped with swords. Together, these aspects make this stage a joy to simply look at, let alone fight in. This isn’t even mentioning the intense music that is guaranteed to get both players pumped up once the battle commences.
Perhaps the most iconic stage fromMortal Kombat X, The Dead Woods is a snow-filled forest that has been left behind to wither away after a bloody encounter. Its history is evident given how many corpses are still lying around.
This sense of isolation provides a nice contrast to many other stages, which tend to be at the heart of the action. Instead, The Dead Woods pits two opponents against each other in a desolate arena. There, they can fight to their heart’s content without any distractions. The Dead Woods was the stage shown in thenow iconicMortal Kombat Xcinematic reveal trailer, so in many ways, it has become synonymous with the title.
3Portal
Portal has appeared in many games across the series, even showing up as one of the Retrocade arenas inMortal Kombat 11.But its design inMortal Kombat IIstill stands as one of the most unique in the history ofMortal Kombat.
Located in the highlands of Outworld, the portal in the center of the stage remains still as thunder crashes around it. Shadow Guards stand at each side, protecting wherever this mysterious entity may lead. In the Sega Genesis versions ofMortal Kombat II,there is a palette-swapped version of Portal where the stage turns blue when players fight Jade, Smoke, and Noob Saibot, who are all secret characters in the game.
2The Pit
There are several iterations of The Pit that have appeared in numerous games. The first one, from the firstMortal Kombatgame, is iconic and defined what type of gameMortal Kombatwas. It was an example of how much more gruesome and intense it was, compared to the other arcade fighters.
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The Pit itself is onShang Tsung’s Island. It is a bridge suspended over a bed of spikes, which had already taken the lives of many warriors in the past. The dark blue sky and gloomy moon almost give this stage a peaceful, atmosphere if it weren’t for the amount of bloodshed taking place. This stage is a standout that any longtime fan of the series will be familiar with.
Dead Pool was arguably the first stage inMortal Kombatthat really felt like a part of the actual fight itself. This was in part because of the grislyStage FatalityinMortal Kombat IIwhere players coulduppercut a defeated opponent into the pool of acid, with only their skeleton rising back up to the surface.
Dead Pool paved the way for many of the modern stages that feature interactions players can use to gain the upper hand. Alongside the Stage Fatality, Dead Pool also had a unique design. As a mysterious torture chamber full of bodies, it caused many people to theorize about the lore of this strange area. Dead Pool has been re-introduced in nearly every game sinceMortal Kombat II, showing just how beloved it is among the fanbase, and how influential it has been to the direction of the games.
