The games of Mortal Kombat are most famous for their gratuitous violence as a tournament fighter as well as the iconic fatalities. However, over the years and with eleven main entries in the game series, the story and lore of Mortal Kombat have evolved into a complex one with so many characters.
Across multiple timelines, the characters of Mortal Kombat show that they are more than fighters; they have their own personal arcs and they develop bonds. As a result, several friendships and romances have formed, stealing the spotlight from a story about saving the universe from interdimensional beings.
Shang Tsung & Quan Chi
It would be a reach to call these two friends but there is a charm to the partnership of Shang Tsung and Quan Chi. Shang Tsung is an iconic villain and is one of the best things about the 1995 Mortal Kombat movie. Meanwhile, Quan Chi never quite got his proper footing until the two ed forces and became the Deadly Alliance in the aptly titled Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance.
They don't get along and they rarely ever agree with each other but their alliance makes for an iconic villainous force. The Deadly Alliance would even return in the second timeline when Shao Kahn forced them to work together in Mortal Kombat 9.
Jacqui Briggs & Jax Briggs
Time travel can bring about strange friendships and one of them in Mortal Kombat 11 happens to be when Jacqui bonds with a version of her own father that is near her age. That said, it shows how much of herself came from Jax because they work together well and bond quickly.
It's this friendship with her father that helps her reform her bond with the Jax of her time. They're strong, they crack jokes, and even have softer sides that come out when they work together. It's like the old saying: like father, like daughter.
Jade & Kotal Kahn
Despite there being zero mention of a connection between these two prior, the surprise romance between Jade and Kotal Kahn is endearing. The way the two gravitate to each other, the history they only talk about, and how Jade never gives up on Kotal is genuinely cute to watch.
A lot of that has to do with the voice actors, especially the celebrity voice of Phil Lamarr as Kotal Kahn. There is a subplot in Mortal Kombat 11 that shows Kotal Kahn has become a darker man than before and Jade tries her hardest to melt his cold heart, bringing out the good in Kotal again.
Jacqui Briggs & Takahashi Takeda
In Mortal Kombat X, the second timeline introduced many new characters, including the Kombat Kids. Jacqui, the daughter of Jax and Takeda, the son of Kenshi, end up forming a more subtle romance over the course of their story.
It's nothing too deep but there is a cute chemistry between the two, with little moments sprinkled throughout that show that these two care for each other. They don't even get a romantic kiss or sweeping moment; their arc ends with them cuddling at Raiden's temple, agreeing to a much-needed vacation.
Johnny Cage & Johnny Cage
Having a family can change anyone and Johnny Cage is the perfect example of that. In his fifties, Johnny Cage is presented as a family man willing to do anything to protect his wife and daughter (which has helped to turn him into one of the best Mortal Kombat characters). This makes it even better when the merging of two points of time causes him to meet his younger self.
Rather than getting along, Johnny Cage hates his cockier and more arrogant self, even dishing out a much-deserved beating and breaking the sunglasses he used to cherish. After that, the two end up being a funny yet awesome pairing, with the younger Johnny learning a few lessons along the way.
Kitana & Jade
Surrounded by liars and murderers, Kitana needed someone to help her adjust to the fact that Shao Kahn was nothing but a monster that murdered her real father. Thankfully, Kitana has the most loyal friend in all of the realms: Jade, who protected and trained with Kitana since childhood.
As a result, Jade became like a sister to Kitana, even betraying one of Mortal Kombat's most powerful villains, Shao Kahn, when Kitana rebelled against him. In all of the timelines, the friendship between Jade and Kitana is nothing short of sweet, with Jade likely being the reason Kitana didn't fall to darkness after the truth was revealed.
Kitana & Liu Kang
When a champion of Earthrealm meets a champion of Outworld, the result is a romance that is not exactly new but it's hard to imagine the Mortal Kombat mythos without it. Having been raised by an evil warlord, Liu Kang and his pure heart helped bring out the good in Kitana that led to her betraying Shao Kahn.
Even when they died in the second timeline, Liu Kang and Kitana stuck together as evil Revenants even to the point of becoming the Emperor and Empress of the Netherrealm. At that point, it becomes a twisted romance but a romance nonetheless.
Liu Kang & Kung Lao
Armed with some of the most iconic weapons in the Mortal Kombat franchise, Liu Kang and Kung Lao represent the Order Of Light. They are the ultimate Shaolin monks who, like Kitana and Jade, grew up together and trained together (which led to them being like brothers).
However, Kung Lao is a bit more arrogant and even has a bit of jealousy over the fact that Liu Kang was chosen to be an Earthrealm champion over him. So there is a friendly rivalry between the two as well as genuine love and care for each other, making them the perfect partners to defend Earthrealm.
Johnny Cage & Sonya Blade
One is a cocky playboy actor and the other is a no-nonsense soldier of Special Forces who doesn't trust anyone but herself. It's easy to see where things go with Johnny Cage and Sonya Blade: they don't like each other at all at first but, sometimes, opposites attract and the two end up falling in love.
There are bumps and rough turns during the trip but the destination always ends with Johnny and Sonya being a perfect match. Both Johnny and Sonya bring out the better sides of each other with Johnny eventually growing up while Sonya learns to trust again and let loose.
Hanzo Hasashi & Kuai Liang
Scorpion and Sub-Zero have the most iconic rivalry in Mortal Kombat history and even one of the most famous rivalries in video game history. That's why there is a pleasant irony that Scorpion (aka Hanzo Hasashi) would become best friends with the younger Sub-Zero (aka Kuai Liang).
After realizing the truth about the feud between their two clans, Hanzo and Kuai formed a truce that would lead to the two assassins becoming the new Deadly Alliance. In Mortal Kombat 11, the two work perfectly together and have great banter together, becoming some of Earthrealm's greatest warriors.