At the dawn of existence, the Elder Gods, Titans, and the One Being were the only divine entities. After the One Being consumed the others' power, the Elder Gods defeated it using six sacred artifacts called the Kamidogu, shattering its body into the realms that became the foundation of all life. To prevent powerful realms such as Outworld from conquering the others, the Elder Gods created Mortal Kombat, a sacred tournament held every 500 years. A realm that wins ten consecutive tournaments earns the right to merge with another realm, while the champion gains extended youth until the next contest.

Liu Kang is the main hero and "Chosen One" of the Mortal Kombat franchise. An orphan raised in the Shaolin monasteries, he has mastered martial arts and the power of fire. His mission throughout the ages has been to protect Earthrealm from invasions by realms such as Outworld and Netherrealm.

Kung Lao is a Shaolin monk, a member of the White Lotus Society, and a direct descendant of the Great Kung Lao. He is world-famous for his iconic hat with sharp brims.

Johnny Cage (born Jonathan Carlton) is a narcissistic Hollywood actor and martial arts master. Initially entering the tournament just to prove his skills to skeptical critics, he evolved from a superficial comic relief character into one of the greatest defenders and leaders of Earthrealm.

Kitana—often referred to as Princess Kitana, and at one point known as Kitana Kahn—is one of the most enduring and layered characters in the Mortal Kombat franchise. She is the rightful Princess of Edenia, born to Queen Sindel and King Jerrod, and for a time, she also carried the mantle of Kahnum of Outworld.

Raiden is the eternal God of Thunder and sworn protector of Earthrealm. He serves as the primary mentor and father figure to Earthrealm's warriors, guiding them through the Mortal Kombat tournaments to defend their home against invaders like Outworld and the Netherrealm.

Nightwolf is a powerful shaman and warrior from the Matoka tribe in Mortal Kombat. He serves as a spiritual guardian dedicated to protecting Earthrealm and is known for wielding mystical weapons made of pure green energy.

Fujin, the God of Wind and younger brother of Raiden, is a compassionate and steadfast defender of Earthrealm.

Jackson "Jax" Briggs is a cybernetically-enhanced U.S. Special Forces Major and leader of the Outer World Investigation Agency in the Mortal Kombat universe. His story centers on his military loyalty, his harrowing trauma from the Netherrealm Wars, and his iconic bionic arms.