A new Mortal Kombat game is coming to phones this year called Mortal Kombat Onslaught, a project developed by NetherRealm Studios and distributed by Warner Bros. for iOS and Android smartphones. Now, don’t expect a traditional fighting game because it’s nothing like that. It’s actually a tactical team-based RPG. Below, we’re going to tell you everything we know about this peculiar and long-awaited project, including details about its gameplay, release date and its minimum requirements.
What is Mortal Kombat Onslaught?
Mortal Kombat Onslaught breaks away from what has traditionally been seen in NetherRealm Studios’ fighting saga; instead of individual combats with a lateral perspective, it goes for team battles in real-time. You’ll have to put together a group with the classic characters from the franchise and use their different powers to fight against enemies and players from around the world. You’ll be able to improve your characters’ skills, get new fighters and earn rewards.
What genre is Mortal Kombat Onslaught?
Although the Mortal Kombat saga has always been about fighting and is actually considered to be one of the most important games of the genre, this new title for phones has decided to go in a different direction, maintaining the action but moving away from one-on-one combat. Here, you’ll battle it out using a team of fighters with special powers and unique skills that you’ll have to use wisely in order to plan your strategy and achieve victory. That, added to the fact that you can customize the play style of each fighter, makes it clear that Mortal Kombat Onslaught is closer to being a tactical role-playing game than a fighting game.
The gameplay of Mortal Kombat Onslaught
In this new Mortal Kombat for smartphones, you’ll have to put together your own team of fighters from a roster of more than 30 iconic characters from the fighting franchise. Once chosen, you’ll jump into three-dimensional battle arenas where you’ll fight against in-game enemies or players from around the world (depending on the game mode) in matches lasting less than 3 minutes.
The battles in Mortal Kombat Onslaught will take place in real-time, although you’ll be able to pause the action to decide which of your heroes will attack and what attack they’ll perform, as well as the opponent you want to target. This hybrid between direct action and strategy will give the game a dynamic touch without losing an ounce of tactic. Everything will be represented using high-quality graphics, as to be expected since it is a high-budget AAA production.
Once the fight is over, you’ll go through some menus where you can manage each character from your team, each with their own level and skills. You’ll be able to unlock new upgrades for the fighters in Mortal Kombat Onslaught, as well as accessories and other types of rewards. You’ll also get materials and battle pass levels that will change each season.
Will it have a story mode?
Yes, Mortal Kombat Onslaught will have a story mode that will retell the rise of Shinnok, the iconic villain of the saga. It’ll be a new reboot of the original story but adapted to this renewed gameplay. The story won’t be a simple addition, but will instead be of utmost importance: in fact, there will even be high-quality cinematics that will narrate all the events of the game between fights.
Will it have a competitive multiplayer mode?
NetherRealm Studios and Warner Bros. will offer a gameplay system that allows players to enjoy the game both solo and competitively against other players. In other words, you’ll be able to face the game’s enemies in its story mode or choose to participate in online battles against players from all over the world. The description of Mortal Kombat Onslaught also reveals that there will be PvP (player vs. player) tournaments where you’ll be able to win seasonal rewards as you move up in the global rankings.
Mortal Kombat Onslaught’s confirmed characters
Although there’s currently no official list of Mortal Kombat Onslaught characters available, in the trial version, which can already be downloaded for free, we can see a list of fighters, giving us a sneak peek at the cast that players will be able to choose from once the game is available in its final version. In all, there are more than 30 characters in the current roster, although we have to add the appearance of Shinnok, who acts as the main villain of the game (although we don’t know if he’ll become playable).
Here’s the current list of confirmed characters for Mortal Kombat Onslaught:
- Baraka
- Erron Black
- Frost
- Fujin
- Gord
- Jade
- Jax
- Johnny Cage
- Kano
- Kitana
- Kung Lao
- Liu Kang
- Noob Saibot
- Quan Chi
- Raiden
- Scorpion
- Shao Kahn
- Skarlet
- Sonya Blade
- Sub-Zero
Will Mortal Kombat Onslaught be a free game?
In the absence of official confirmation, we could almost take it for granted that Mortal Kombat Onslaught will be a free game with a free-to-play model that will include payment systems integrated into the app. We do know officially that there will be a battle pass and random reward mechanisms (like envelopes, chests or loot boxes). It has also been confirmed that its structure will be seasonal.
When will Mortal Kombat Onslaught be made available?
Mortal Kombat Onslaught is currently being tested in certain locations, so you can already download its APK for free. However, the release date of the definitive version of the game has not yet been set. We do know that it’ll be released sometime in 2023, so at least we won’t have to wait until next year to play it. It’s just a matter of time before NetherRealm Studios and Warner Bros. announce what specific day it will be playable on iOS and Android.
What are the minimum requirements to play Mortal Kombat Onslaught on phones?
Since the game is still in development, those responsible for Mortal Kombat Onslaught have not yet shared what features mobile devices will need to have in order to be able to run it smoothly and stably. However, the tests that are being carried out make it clear that there are some essential minimum requirements to be able to play it, such as having Android 8.0 or higher and at least 1.5 GB of free storage space, which is what the additional files that download the first time you start it require.
Translated by Sarah Odebralski
