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Mortal Kombat 1 Invasion brings a board game-esque map to the celebrated fighting franchise. It’s a fresh take on the Krypt that players have experienced in earlier MK titles.
The new game mode lets you take the game’s new combat system to task with a new roster of Mortal Kombat 1 characters. There are plenty of unique Mortal Kombat 1 fatalities to explore and combos to master once more.
What is Invasion in Mortal Kombat 1?
Invasion is a brand-new top-down mode in Mortal Kombat 1 that features RPG elements and unlockable content. This unique single-player experience has been described as “a greatest hits” collection by MK co-creator Ed Boon.
Invasion pairs the Krypt with MK11’s Towers of Time. It lets you explore a board game-like map and level up characters by clearing stages and winning loot. The new game mode revolves around enemy factions launching attacks on various realms. For instance, the first board is Johhny Cage-themed, so you start by fighting a Baraka who supposedly stole the key to his mansion’s front door. After facing hordes of enemies, the final boss you’ll encounter is Scorpion. Expect to see new Kameo fighters and bosses like Liu Kang over time.
Invasion promises unlockable rewards like in-game kurrency, cosmetics for MK1 Flighters, and previously unseen concept art. It’s a mix of previous franchise staples like the classic Arcade Towers, Test Your Might, and the Krypt. NetherRealm Studios is channelling all the experience it’s gained from previous minigames and single-player modes here and it shows. The game mode takes a party of characters on a mini-adventure, complete with branching paths and complex stages involving timing counters and elemental minions.
Freezing ice balls and purple gravity zones are just some of the threats you’ll face alongside regular Kombatants. You also gain goodies and gear like Talismans that raise stats and can be used to trigger elemental effects like bonus fire damage against an ice-themed opponent. And just like the Krypt, there’s treasure around the corner.
Invasion is a solid addition to MK1’s single-player component, complementing its new rebooted Story Mode. While online multiplayer has always been the main draw of Mortal Kombat, it’s nice to see NetherRealm spice things up for solo players outside of a meaty campaign. The RPG elements keep things fresh with new challenges that will be added to MK1 periodically.
The team at NetherRealm also promise seasonal updates with new threats. They’ve also mentioned a seasonal currency that can be spent on unique cosmetics. And don’t worry, there’s no battle pass or microtransactions in sight. Expect plenty of throwbacks to older games and familiar foes cast in new roles. After all, this timeline follows a different reality.
That covers Invasion in Mortal Kombat 1. With the Mortal Kombat 1 release date quickly approaching this September, we’ve already learned about most of the fighters and Kameo appearances. You’ll get to try new modes like Invasion pretty soon. You’ll earn some sweet loot on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
