To unlock characters in Mortal Kombat 9, you only need to focus on two fighters hidden behind gameplay: Cyber Sub-Zero and Quan Chi. Every other character on the roster is either purchased as downloadable content or locked to a specific platform, so knowing exactly where to find these two will save you time and effort. Once you have them, you can immediately test their unique movesets when you play 2 players mortal kombat 11.
How to unlock characters in Mortal Kombat 9: what to expect
Before you start grinding through modes, understand that the base game’s roster is almost entirely available from the start. The only two characters you can unlock through normal play are Cyber Sub-Zero and Quan Chi. The rest, like Freddy Krueger, Kenshi, Rain, and Skarlet, are DLC, and Kratos is exclusive to the PlayStation 3 version. This means your unlock strategy should focus on Story Mode, not on random challenges or online matches.
Unlocking Cyber Sub-Zero
Cyber Sub-Zero is the first hidden fighter you can add to your roster. He appears as a boss in the campaign, and beating him there is the only requirement.
- Start Story Mode from the main menu.
- Play through the chapters in order until you reach Chapter 13.
- Defeat Cyber Sub-Zero in the fight at the end of that chapter.
- After the battle, he becomes selectable on the character selection screen.
There is no need to replay the chapter on a higher difficulty or meet any extra conditions. Just win the fight, and the unlock is permanent.
Unlocking Quan Chi
Quan Chi is the second and final unlockable character in the base game. Unlike Cyber Sub-Zero, he is not tied to a single fight, you must complete the entire Story Mode.
- Continue or start a new Story Mode save.
- Play through all chapters, including the final battle against Shao Kahn.
- Watch the ending credits and the post-credits scene.
- Return to the main menu and check the character select screen for Quan Chi.
You can play on any difficulty, and you do not need to achieve a perfect run. Simply finishing the campaign once is enough to unlock him permanently.
A note on the Komplete Edition
If you own the Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition, you can skip both of these steps entirely. In that version, Cyber Sub-Zero and Quan Chi are already unlocked from the start, so you can pick them immediately without touching Story Mode. This also applies to the DLC fighters included in that edition, which are ready to use right away.
PlayStation 3 exclusive character: Kratos
Kratos appears only in the PlayStation 3 version of Mortal Kombat 9. He is not available on Xbox 360, PC, or any later re-release. Some sources indicate Kratos is unlocked by completing Ladder mode with him. That means you need to select him on the character select screen (he is visible but locked at first), win a full Ladder run, and defeat the final boss. Once you do, he becomes permanently selectable. If you want to play Mortal Kombat 9 on PC, note that Kratos is absent from that version entirely, so there is no way to add him there. For a classic co-op experience that does work on modern systems, you can play mortal kombat shaolin monks on PC.
Understanding DLC characters
All other fighters you might be missing are downloadable content. Freddy Krueger, Kenshi, Rain, and Skarlet are purchased separately, and they are not unlocked through any in-game progression. You buy them from the platform’s store, then they appear on the roster immediately. There is no hidden condition, no secret fight, and no Krypt item that grants them. If you see a greyed-out slot for one of these characters, the only way to fill it is to pay for the DLC or buy the Komplete Edition that includes them.
What about alternate costumes?
Alternate costumes are a separate system from character unlocks. Completing the Ladder mode on any difficulty with a specific character earns that fighter’s alternate outfit, and you can also purchase costumes in the Krypt using Koins. These do not add new fighters to the roster, they only change the appearance of characters you already own. Do not confuse a costume unlock with a character unlock, because they are entirely different rewards. The Challenge Tower also gives a costume for Mileena (the Flesh Pits outfit) after you finish or skip the final challenge, but again, that is not a new playable character.
