4 Over-the-Top Fatalities in Mortal Kombat Games That Might’ve Gone Too Far

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Mortal Kombat has always been famous for its extreme violence. The game’s shockingly graphic finishing moves, which originally used digitized actors, caused a huge reaction when it first came out – some people found it disturbingly realistic. The intense gore even led to a Senate hearing in the United States, prompting the video game industry to create the Entertainment Software Association and a content rating system. While those early, controversial finishing moves seem tame now, the series continues to try and surprise players with new and shocking ways to eliminate opponents.

The most shockingly graphic Fatalities are generally found in the newer *Mortal Kombat* games, particularly *Mortal Kombat 11*. However, here are four Fatalities from across the franchise that stood out for being particularly shocking – and it wasn’t just because of the violence.

4) Mr. Cage’s Neighborhood (Johnny Cage, Mortal Kombat 11)

Johnny Cage’s finishing moves are known for being particularly over-the-top and humorous. For instance, his “Here’s Johnny” Fatality in *Mortal Kombat X* playfully references the famous scene from *The Shining*. His “Hollywood Walk of Pain” from *Mortal Kombat 1* stands out because he poses for a selfie with his opponent’s severed head—a move inspired by a similar finishing move his daughter had in *MKX*. However, his two Fatalities in *Mortal Kombat 11* are considered his most impressive.

The clear winner is Mr. Cage’s Neighborhood, showcasing a bizarre act only Johnny Cage could deliver. He begins by cleanly decapitating his opponent, then a spotlight reveals it’s all part of a performance. He proceeds to tell intentionally cheesy jokes, using the severed head as a puppet for a bewildered audience, before someone throws a tomato at the body.

Okay, so this Fatality isn’t the *most* brutal in Mortal Kombat, that’s for sure, which is why it’s lower on my list. But it’s seriously one of Johnny Cage’s funniest and most messed up. I mean, turning a dead body into a punchline and then letting it *take* the punch from an exploding movie set? That’s just classic Johnny. It’s a really unique finisher and honestly, it surprised me more than a lot of the others.

3) Bottoms Up (Bo’ Rai Cho, Mortal Kombat X)

Bo’ Rai Cho is usually played for laughs. He stands out in a world of athletic fighters because he’s overweight and known for crude behavior – constantly burping, vomiting, and drinking excessively. However, don’t underestimate him; his finishing moves are surprisingly brutal.

Bo’ Rai Cho’s “Bottoms Up” Fatality is particularly gruesome, combining his crude and unpleasant characteristics. It starts with him smashing a strange drink into the opponent’s face, causing them to violently vomit blood. Then, what appear to be internal organs – possibly intestines or the esophagus – are ejected from their mouth. Bo’ Rai Cho then brutally stomps on the opponent’s stomach, causing even more viscera to spill out.

It’s always difficult to watch excessive violence in games, and while broken bones and over-the-top injuries have become commonplace and almost expected, the depiction of characters violently vomiting organs feels different and isn’t so easily dismissed.

2) New Species (D’Vorah, Mortal Kombat 11)

D’Vorah is a member of the Kytinn, a bug-like species first seen in *Mortal Kombat X*. Because she’s essentially a humanoid insect, she brings a unique and disturbing form of attack to the game’s fighters.

Baraka’s “New Species” Fatality in *Mortal Kombat 11* is arguably her most disturbing finishing move. It begins with a swift stab to the opponent’s shoulders, followed by a torrent of green, maggot-filled fluid forced into their mouth. They collapse, convulsing, as four spiky legs burst from their chest. Their head then splits open, revealing a growing insect within – the source of the Fatality’s name.

The “New Species” Fatality is particularly disturbing because it stands out in the world of Mortal Kombat for its intense body horror and the sheer volume of insect-filled vomit involved. The disgusting flood of infested fluids forced into the opponent’s mouth, combined with a clear nod to the chestburster scene from the movie *Alien* and the terrifying transformation into another creature, makes this a truly remarkable and sickening Finisher. It’s repulsive on multiple levels.

1) Thanksgiving Finisher (Any Character, Mortal Kombat 1)

The holiday-themed finishing moves added to *Mortal Kombat 1* were widely criticized for being too expensive, and many felt it was a greedy move by the publisher. After the backlash, the developers, NetherRealm Studios, decided to give the remaining two seasonal finishing moves to players who had already purchased the first one. Although the whole situation was unpleasant, the finishing moves themselves were intentionally disturbing, as expected for the game.

The Thanksgiving scenario is by far the most brutal. The winner hosts a feast for the loser, then violently headbutts them at the dinner table, breaking their jaw. They then force-feed the nearly unconscious opponent a massive amount of food – green bean casserole, an entire pumpkin pie, and a whole turkey – which gets stuck, causing a struggle. The loser shoves the turkey down the winner’s throat, knocking them to the ground. The victor then stomps on the loser’s stomach, causing them to vomit with such force that their skull cracks open and their eyes are ejected. The scene ends with a wide shot of the bloated, blood-soaked corpse.

This Fatality is notable for pushing boundaries in a couple of ways. The over-the-top gore isn’t just about physical violence; it’s intentionally disturbing to watch. Beyond the in-game action, it also highlighted a disappointing business practice by Warner Bros., who attempted to profit from players by selling this single move at an excessively high price. This marked a low point for the series, and is another example of Warner Bros. Games prioritizing profit over quality in recent years.

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2025-10-19 21:11