Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate vs Injustice: Which Fighter Should You Play?

Quick Verdict: Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate is the bigger, more modern investment at $59.99, with a 91 Metacritic score and the complete 37-fighter roster. Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition costs just $19.99, delivers a tighter DC superhero story with destructible stage combat, and is the easier buy for newcomers or anyone on a smaller budget. Both are already covered in our individual “how to get it free” guides linked below.

Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate and Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition both come from NetherRealm Studios and both bundle every piece of DLC into one complete package, but they ask very different things of a player’s wallet and attention span. One is the studio’s flagship modern fighter. The other is a cheaper, DC-flavored predecessor still holding up a decade later. This guide breaks down where each one wins.

Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate vs Injustice at a Glance

Category Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition
Release Date November 17, 2020 (Ultimate Edition) November 29, 2013 (PC release)
Price on Steam $59.99 $19.99
Developer NetherRealm Studios NetherRealm Studios
Publisher Warner Bros. Entertainment Warner Bros.
Metacritic Score 91 79
Content Included Base game, Kombat Pack 1, Aftermath expansion, Kombat Pack 2, complete 37-fighter roster Base game plus 6 DLC characters, over 30 skins, 60 S.T.A.R. Labs missions
Best For Players who want the deepest, most modern NetherRealm roster and combat system Players who want a shorter, cheaper, story-driven DC fighter

Story and Setting

Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate spans two acclaimed campaigns, the base MK11 story and the Aftermath expansion, both built around Kronika’s attempt to rewind time and reshape history. Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition tells a tighter, single story where Superman turns villain after the Joker tricks him into killing Lois Lane, and Batman rallies the Justice League to stop him. Edge: Injustice, for a more focused narrative that’s held up as one of the stronger superhero game stories made.

Combat System

Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate uses a custom variation system for building your own fighter loadout, plus a Fatal Blow mechanic that grants a powerful comeback move once per match at low health. Injustice leans on interactive, destructible stages, with environmental objects to throw and stage transitions that smash fighters into new areas mid-combo. Edge: Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate, for deeper, more technical fighting mechanics.

Roster and Guest Characters

Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate’s complete 37-fighter roster includes guest characters Terminator, Joker, Spawn, RoboCop, and Rambo, voiced by Sylvester Stallone himself. Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition adds six DLC characters including Lobo and Batgirl, plus a Mortal Kombat crossover appearance from Scorpion. Edge: Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate, for a significantly larger roster, though Injustice’s DC lineup has broader mainstream name recognition.

Critical Reception

Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate holds a 91 Metacritic score and an 88 percent positive rating across more than 85,000 Steam reviews. Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition holds a 79 Metacritic score and was named Best Fighting Game of 2013 at launch. Edge: Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate, for the stronger overall critical consensus.

Content and Completeness

Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate bundles the base game, both Kombat Packs, and the Aftermath expansion into one package, with NetherRealm officially ending DLC support in July 2021 to make it the final, complete version. Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition folds in all six DLC characters, more than 30 skins, and 60 S.T.A.R. Labs missions, and was even given away completely free across Steam, PS4, and Xbox for a full week in June 2020. Edge: Injustice, for delivering the same all-inclusive completeness at a third of the price.

Price and Value

Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate costs $59.99 on Steam. Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition costs $19.99, roughly a third of the price. Edge: Injustice, for value, especially for players not ready to commit to a $60 fighting game.

Which One Should You Play First?

  • New to fighting games or working with a smaller budget: start with Injustice. It’s cheaper and has a shorter, more contained campaign.
  • Want the most complete, modern NetherRealm fighter with the deepest roster: start with Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate. Its combat system and guest character lineup are the most ambitious the studio has shipped.
  • DC Comics fan first, fighting game fan second: start with Injustice. Its roster and story lean entirely on the DC universe.
  • Want the most critically acclaimed of the two: start with Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate, which holds the higher Metacritic score.

Overall Verdict

Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate and Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition both come from the same studio and both bundle in every piece of DLC, but they serve different budgets and appetites. Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate is the bigger, more critically acclaimed package for players ready to invest in the deepest roster and combat system NetherRealm has built. Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition delivers a shorter, cheaper, still well-regarded DC story for a third of the price. If budget is the deciding factor, start with Injustice. If you want the definitive modern fighter, Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate is worth the extra cost.

Get Both For Less

Both games already have their own dedicated guide on this site covering legitimate ways to get them below full Steam price. Read How To Get Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate Free and How To Get Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition Free for the full breakdown of both routes.

FAQ

Which is better, Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate or Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition?

Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate is the better pick for the deepest roster and the strongest critical reception, holding a 91 Metacritic score. Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition is the better pick for a cheaper, shorter, DC-themed fighter at $19.99. Neither is objectively better, they fit different budgets and playstyles.

Is Injustice cheaper than Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate?

Yes. Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition costs $19.99 on Steam compared to Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate’s $59.99, roughly a third of the price.

Are Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate and Injustice made by the same studio?

Yes. Both were developed by NetherRealm Studios and published by Warner Bros., using similar core fighting mechanics with different rosters and stage designs.

Which game has the higher Metacritic score?

Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate holds the higher score at 91, compared to Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition’s 79.

Does Injustice include a Mortal Kombat character?

Yes. Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition includes Scorpion as a playable crossover fighter from the Mortal Kombat series.