Mortal Kombat II was the first sequel in Midway's massively popular franchise, and considered by many to be the best installment to date. While the control scheme remained the same, Mortal Kombat II expanded on everything that made the first game so popular. Character and level design was greatly improved, the story began to play a larger part, and the fighters were given multiple ways to finish off an opponent. They now had two fatalities, stage fatalities where the winner used the environment to finish an opponent, a friendship, and a babality where the loser was transformed into an infant version of themselves. The last two were probably included as a way to level out the amount of violence in the game.

500 years ago, Shang Tsung was banished to the Earth realm. With the aid of Goro he was to unbalance the furies and doom the planet to a chaotic existence.

By seizing control of the Shaolin tournament he tried to tip the scales of order towards chaos. Only seven warriors survived the battles and Shang Tsung's scheme would come to a violent end at the hands of Liu Kang.

Facing execution for his failure and the apparent death of Goro, Tsung convinces Shao Kahn to grant him a second chance.

Shang Tsung's new plan is to lure his enemies to compete in the Outworld where they will meet certain death by Shao Kahn himself.

Baraka (Playable),  Jade (Hidden/Non-Playable),  Jax (Playable),  Johnny Cage (Playable),  Kintaro (Sub-Boss),  Kitana (Playable),  Kung Lao (Playable),  Liu Kang (Playable),  Mileena (Playable),  Noob Saibot (Hidden/Non-Playable),  Raiden (Playable),  Reptile (Playable),  Scorpion (Playable),  Shang Tsung (Playable),  Shao Kahn/General Shao (Final Boss),  Smoke (Hidden/Non-Playable),  Sub-Zero (Playable)

Armory,  Dead Pool,  Evil Monastery,  Kombat Tomb,  Living Forest,  Pit II,  Portal,  Shao Kahn's Arena (Koliseum),  Wastelands