# Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks
**Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks** is an action-adventure beat 'em up video game developed and published by [Midway Games](https://www.edgepedia.org/midway-games) for the [PlayStation 2](https://www.edgepedia.org/playstation-2) and Xbox in September 2005. A spin-off of the [Mortal Kombat](https://www.edgepedia.org/mortal-kombat) fighting game series, it retells the events of Mortal Kombat II, with players controlling the Shaolin monks Liu Kang and Kung Lao in single-player or two-player cooperative play as they protect Earthrealm from the forces of Outworld.[1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc9Zy3zqa8k) • [2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLzQ_8K5TPQ)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Genre | 3D action-adventure beat 'em up, the first well-received non-fighting Mortal Kombat game[3](https://gameinformer.com/2021/04/22/ranking-every-mortal-kombat-game-from-worst-to-best) |
| Platforms / release | PlayStation 2 and Xbox; initial release September 16, 2005, shipping to stores September 19[4](https://www.metacritic.com/game/mortal-kombat-shaolin-monks/) • [5](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mortal-kombat-shaolin-monks-goes-gold/1100-6132756/) |
| Playable characters | Liu Kang or Kung Lao, each with four attack styles, special attacks, and fatalities; two-player co-op supported[6](https://legacy.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/mksm_factsheet.pdf) |
| Story placement | Picks up right after the final battle of Mortal Kombat 1 and travels through the Mortal Kombat II realms[7](https://www.mortalkombatonline.com/t/classic2/game-chronicles-magazine-interviews-mk-shaolin-monks-producer/xmxAirvp17Y) |
| Developer | Midway LA (formerly Paradox Development), co-developed with Midway Chicago and San Diego; Ed Boon as creative director[7](https://www.mortalkombatonline.com/t/classic2/game-chronicles-magazine-interviews-mk-shaolin-monks-producer/xmxAirvp17Y) • [8](https://3rdvoicegaming.com/2015/07/23/mortal-kombat-retrospektive-11-mortal-kombat-shaolin-monks-2005/) |
| Critical reception | Metacritic 77/100 on PlayStation 2 (41 critic reviews) and 78/100 on Xbox (37 critic reviews)[4](https://www.metacritic.com/game/mortal-kombat-shaolin-monks/) |
## Background and development
A spin-off centered on [Liu Kang](https://www.edgepedia.org/liu-kang) had been considered since the early 2000s, but the idea was shelved after the negative reception of the series' previous adventure spin-offs, Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero (1997) and Mortal Kombat: Special Forces (2000), which were critical and commercial failures.[1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc9Zy3zqa8k) • [9](https://mortalkombat.fandom.com/wiki/Mortal_Kombat%3A_Shaolin_Monks) Shaolin Monks was officially announced in 2004 as part of Midway's plan to release Mortal Kombat games annually.[1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc9Zy3zqa8k)
**Development team.** Producer Shaun Himmerick described the game as being developed out of the Midway LA office, formerly Paradox Development, the studio behind [Thrill Kill](https://www.edgepedia.org/thrill-kill) and Backyard Wrestling, with close contact maintained by the Mortal Kombat team in Chicago. The art directors were Tony Goskie and Steve Beran from the [Mortal Kombat: Deception](https://www.edgepedia.org/mortal-kombat-deception) team, and [Ed Boon](https://www.edgepedia.org/ed-boon) served as creative director.[7](https://www.mortalkombatonline.com/t/classic2/game-chronicles-magazine-interviews-mk-shaolin-monks-producer/xmxAirvp17Y) • [8](https://3rdvoicegaming.com/2015/07/23/mortal-kombat-retrospektive-11-mortal-kombat-shaolin-monks-2005/) A six-part developer diary series ran through mid-2005, covering environments, characters, co-op mode, and finishing moves.[10](https://www.mortalkombatonline.com/t/general/mortal-kombat-shaolin-monks-developer-diaries/wJX6FmxJWGy) The game went gold in September 2005 and shipped to stores on September 19.[5](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mortal-kombat-shaolin-monks-goes-gold/1100-6132756/)
## Gameplay
The game translates Mortal Kombat's fighting mechanics into a 3D beat 'em up. Each playable character has a repertoire of four attack styles plus special attacks and fatalities, and the story mode can be played alone or in two-player co-op.[6](https://legacy.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/mksm_factsheet.pdf) Reviewers highlighted the combo system: VideoGamer described the combo possibilities as effectively endless and praised a combat system flashy enough to support 300-hit combos.[11](https://www.videogamer.com/reviews/mortal-kombat-shaolin-monks-review/)
**Fatalities and finishing moves.** As in the fighting games, players build a meter through combat and spend it on fatalities. The game offers up to three fatality gauges, with different finishing moves consuming different amounts of the gauge.[11](https://www.videogamer.com/reviews/mortal-kombat-shaolin-monks-review/) • [12](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps2/925007-mortal-kombat-shaolin-monks/reviews/101330) Beyond standard fatalities, the gauges power the multality, which kills multiple opponents at once, and the brutality, taken directly from [Mortal Kombat 3](https://www.edgepedia.org/mortal-kombat-3) but with full character control.[11](https://www.videogamer.com/reviews/mortal-kombat-shaolin-monks-review/) Found fatalities include some borrowed from [Mortal Kombat II](https://www.edgepedia.org/mortal-kombat-ii) and some parodies, such as [Kung Lao](https://www.edgepedia.org/kung-lao)'s "Friendship" turned into a lethal move.[13](https://www.digitpress.com/reviews/mkshaolinmonks_xbox.htm)
**Bosses and platforming.** Familiar Mortal Kombat characters appear as level bosses with their own mechanics; [Baraka](https://www.edgepedia.org/baraka-mortal-kombat), for example, acts as the master of his own level and hurls an innocent monk into a fire when roughed up.[14](https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/34303-mortal-kombat-sh-review-2) Moves learned from defeated bosses also figure into the platforming scheme.[14](https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/34303-mortal-kombat-sh-review-2) Platform jumping was designed to feel largely automatic, which one retrospective called the best thing to happen to jumping in a 3D platform game since [Super Mario 64](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-mario-64).[13](https://www.digitpress.com/reviews/mkshaolinmonks_xbox.htm)
## Story
The story picks up immediately after the final battle of the first Mortal Kombat tournament and then travels through the realms of Mortal Kombat II, with allies such as [Raiden](https://www.edgepedia.org/raiden-mortal-kombat) helping the monks and enemies such as Baraka serving as boss battles.[7](https://www.mortalkombatonline.com/t/classic2/game-chronicles-magazine-interviews-mk-shaolin-monks-producer/xmxAirvp17Y) The game places itself between and during the events of Mortal Kombat I and II and attempts to round out the history of many of the series' combatants.[15](https://archives.nd.edu/observer/2005-09-27_v40_026.pdf) Reception of the writing was mixed: GameSpot found that the story starts reasonably well but degenerates into a fairly incomprehensible mess of pseudo-betrayals and overwrought plot twists, while a GameFAQs review called it a pleasant tour of the Mortal Kombat universe.[16](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mortal-kombat-shaolin-monks-review/1900-6133891/) • [12](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps2/925007-mortal-kombat-shaolin-monks/reviews/101330) Fans and later commentators have noted continuity problems, including retconned character deaths and events that conflict with Mortal Kombat II's own storyline.[9](https://mortalkombat.fandom.com/wiki/Mortal_Kombat%3A_Shaolin_Monks)
## Reception
Shaolin Monks was received considerably better than the series' earlier action spin-offs. Metacritic aggregated scores of 77 out of 100 from 41 critic reviews for the PlayStation 2 version and 78 from 37 reviews for the Xbox version.[4](https://www.metacritic.com/game/mortal-kombat-shaolin-monks/) [Game Informer](https://www.edgepedia.org/game-informer) later called it the first good spin-off game in the Mortal Kombat franchise,[3](https://gameinformer.com/2021/04/22/ranking-every-mortal-kombat-game-from-worst-to-best) and Retro Gamer described it as the best spin-off by a country mile.[17](https://designblog.uniandes.edu.co/blogs/dise3349/files/2009/01/retro-gamer-pt2.pdf) GameSpot wrote that it provides quality fan service to dedicated Mortal Kombat aficionados, something no other non-fighting-based MK game had managed.[16](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mortal-kombat-shaolin-monks-review/1900-6133891/)
**Criticisms.** The most common complaints were clunky platforming and uncooperative camera angles, with projectiles appearing out of nowhere and jumps made difficult by sloppy camera work.[18](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/xbox/925008-mortal-kombat-shaolin-monks/reviews/92519) Later retrospectives added cheap, gimmicky boss fights and a constant "Test Your Might" gimmick as elements that held the game back.[19](https://www.336gamereviews.com/mortal-kombat-shaolin-monks-review/) The enemy character models were also criticized as lacking variety compared with the well-rendered main characters.[12](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps2/925007-mortal-kombat-shaolin-monks/reviews/101330) The issues were present in both console versions, although the Xbox version loads and saves faster.[14](https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/34303-mortal-kombat-sh-review-2)
## Legacy
Shaolin Monks has been described as the series' most fondly remembered non-fighting game. Fans have repeatedly called for a remaster or sequel, and an Ed Boon social media poll on a potential remaster drew over 21,000 votes with Shaolin Monks narrowly leading Mortal Kombat 9.[20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7VasYf2RIs) Interest has extended to the films: Mortal Kombat 2 actor Max Huang said in 2026 that he would like a Shaolin Monks spin-off exploring the origins of Liu Kang and Kung Lao, though the 2005 game itself spans the events of the second game rather than their upbringing.[21](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/action-movies/mortal-kombat-2-star-max-huang-wants-a-shaolin-monks-spin-off-after-that-standout-blue-portal-fight/)
## References
1. [Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks - PS5 Gameplay description, YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc9Zy3zqa8k)
2. [Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks full gameplay description, YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLzQ_8K5TPQ)
3. [Ranking Every Mortal Kombat Game From Worst To Best, Game Informer](https://gameinformer.com/2021/04/22/ranking-every-mortal-kombat-game-from-worst-to-best)
4. [Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks Reviews, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/game/mortal-kombat-shaolin-monks/)
5. [Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks goes gold, GameSpot](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mortal-kombat-shaolin-monks-goes-gold/1100-6132756/)
6. [Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks fact sheet, Midway](https://legacy.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/mksm_factsheet.pdf)
7. [Game Chronicles Magazine Interviews MK Shaolin Monks Producer, Mortal Kombat Online](https://www.mortalkombatonline.com/t/classic2/game-chronicles-magazine-interviews-mk-shaolin-monks-producer/xmxAirvp17Y)
8. [Mortal Kombat Retrospektive #11: Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks (2005), 3rd Voice Gaming](https://3rdvoicegaming.com/2015/07/23/mortal-kombat-retrospektive-11-mortal-kombat-shaolin-monks-2005/)
9. [Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, Mortal Kombat Wiki](https://mortalkombat.fandom.com/wiki/Mortal_Kombat%3A_Shaolin_Monks)
10. [Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks: Developer Diaries, Mortal Kombat Online](https://www.mortalkombatonline.com/t/general/mortal-kombat-shaolin-monks-developer-diaries/wJX6FmxJWGy)
11. [Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks Review, VideoGamer](https://www.videogamer.com/reviews/mortal-kombat-shaolin-monks-review/)
12. [Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks Review for PlayStation 2, GameFAQs](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps2/925007-mortal-kombat-shaolin-monks/reviews/101330)
13. [Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, Digital Press Online](https://www.digitpress.com/reviews/mkshaolinmonks_xbox.htm)
14. [You have not offended the Shaolin temple. Review, GameRevolution](https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/34303-mortal-kombat-sh-review-2)
15. [Observer, University of Notre Dame, 27 September 2005](https://archives.nd.edu/observer/2005-09-27_v40_026.pdf)
16. [Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks Review, GameSpot](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mortal-kombat-shaolin-monks-review/1900-6133891/)
17. [The History of Mortal Kombat, Retro Gamer](https://designblog.uniandes.edu.co/blogs/dise3349/files/2009/01/retro-gamer-pt2.pdf)
18. [Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks Review for Xbox, GameFAQs](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/xbox/925008-mortal-kombat-shaolin-monks/reviews/92519)
19. [Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks review, 336GameReviews](https://www.336gamereviews.com/mortal-kombat-shaolin-monks-review/)
20. [Ed Boon May Have Teased the Next Mortal Kombat Remaster, YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7VasYf2RIs)
21. [Mortal Kombat 2 star Max Huang wants a Shaolin Monks spin-off, GamesRadar](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/action-movies/mortal-kombat-2-star-max-huang-wants-a-shaolin-monks-spin-off-after-that-standout-blue-portal-fight/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Video games and digital play › Games and gameplay › Franchises and series › Fighting game franchises › Mortal Kombat franchise*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license