Can you turn off blood and gore in Mortal Kombat 1?

A masked character in Mortal Kombat 1.

A masked character in Mortal Kombat 1.
September 20, 2023: Find out if you can turn blood and gore off, MK1 has made its full public launch!

There are few certainties in life: death, taxes, and Mortal Kombat producing the most graphic and violent depiction of fighting possible. While we've come to expect that NetherRealm Studios will take the disembowelments to the next level with each new release, it's not a facet of the game that appeals to everyone. Read on to find out if you can turn off blood and gore in Mortal Kombat 1.

While some MK purists might argue that there's no Mortal Kombat without blood and gore, it makes sense that some gamers out there would prefer to skip that side of the franchise. The title is famous for it, no doubt, but it also manages to draw players in with its narrative, characters, and impressive environments. The ability to turn off the ugly side of it comes down to one word - accessibility.

We've got towers of Mortal Kombat Kontent to sink your Baraka-sized teeth into. Check out how to perform counters and all of the game's trophies and achievements. We've also got an overall Mortal Kombat 1 tier list to help pick your main!

Baraka performing a grisly attack in Mortal Kombat 1.
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Credit: Gfinity Esports

Can you turn off blood and gore in Mortal Kombat 1?

Unfortunately, it appears that Mortal Kombat 1 won't be offering the option to turn off blood and gore. From an accessibility (there's that word again) perspective, it is a shame to see that this option has been omitted from the title. It may deter a few fans out there who are invested in the narrative and fight mechanics that make Mortal Kombat such a complete title.

The continuous improvements that NetherRealm Studios have made to the visual elements of Mortal Kombat are a blood-stained double-edged sword. While it's improving the immersion of the game in ways that few other titles can better, it does force players to increase their tolerance for extreme levels of violence.

While we are certainly excited to see the new and overtly grotesque ways the Mortal Kombat 1 roster manages to manipulate the human (and not-quite-human) anatomy, we can also understand that the is a far cry from the predecessors found in old-school arcades. We will hang on to hope that this small adjustment is included in the future, for the sake of appealing to a wider audience.

That's all we have for you about the blood and gore settings in Mortal Kombat 1! For more info on the game, take a look at our beginner tips for the game, as well as how to perform Brutalities.