Mortal Kombat Tier List for Every Version of Johnny Cage

Originally intending to be the martial arts movie star Jean-Claude Van Damme, Johnny Cage was developed when Midway Games could not get the rights to use the actor for the first Mortal Kombat. However, over time, Johnny Cage has become an icon in his own right. Sporting a look similar to Van Damme’s outfit from Bloodsport, Cage became an instant fan favorite. He stood out among the rest of the Mortal Kombat cast of ninjas, sorcerers, and Shaolin monks but still represented the era MK was developed uniquely. Cage was a representation of the popularity of martial arts films in Hollywood at the time, embodying the tropes of American movie stars at the time while maintaining a deeper story of a truly talented martial artist under the guise of theatrics.

The Hollywood action star turned real-life hero is a story that has always been fun to watch and play. Cage’s juxtaposition with the evil and powerful creatures, deities, and warlords of the Mortal Kombat universe has offered some comedic relief amid the brutal battles and gore the series is known for. However, the character has developed over the years into taking on meaningful roles in the story, particularly in Mortal Kombat X. Johnny Cage has gone from a cocky, carefree movie star into a determined hero and father in one of the more unique arcs of any Mortal Kombat character. Cage has had many iterations throughout the mainline MK games, but each new version brings something different to the table.

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S-Tier

Mortal Kombat 1

The most recent version of Johnny Cage does a great job of resetting the character for the new era. MK1‘s Johnny Cage captures everything the character has been known for across the franchise while managing to keep things fresh. His story is compelling, and his bond with the other Earthrealm heroes like Kenshi feels more developed than ever. Plus, the added benefit of being able to play with a DLC Van Damme skin makes this version of Johnny Cage come full circle with the original MK.

Mortal Kombat 11

Like much of the cast, MK11 features two Johnny Cages in its time travel-focused story. The elder Johnny Cage continues the story of the character from MK9 and MKX, where he is now a devoted father and husband. This is an interesting character development made more apparent next to his reckless younger self. This version of Cage offers the best of all iterations of the character, as MK11‘s customization system allows players to change the appearances and moveset of both young and old Johnny.

Mortal Kombat (2011)

MK9 was the ultimate retelling of the original Mortal Kombat trilogy. After Armageddon’s nearly series-ending conclusion, the franchise rebooted with this follow-up game. In it, Johnny Cage was reborn in all his glory. MK9‘s Johnny Cage captures the classic essence of the character while standing out among the game’s stacked roster.

Mortal Kombat (1992)

The original 1992 Johnny Cage will always be important for introducing the world to the character. Decked out in Van Damme’s Bloodsport outfit and armed with the actor’s high kicks and splits, Johnny Cage was a force to be reckoned with. The original Mortal Kombat was the first time Cage’s iconic “nut punch” move was used, and it has been present in each game the character appears in ever since. This was also the origin of Cage’s shadow kick and force ball abilities.

A-Tier

Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance/ Armageddon

The pit vipers and golden lion belt say it all. With a classic Karate stance and Nunchaku by his side, Johnny Cage in Deadly Alliance and Armageddon is one of the most fun versions of the character. All of his classic moves were present in these games, plus several new moves and fatalities to match the 3D era’s combat system. Though Johnny wasn’t as prominent in the story of these games, he was present in many endings and was still an important part of the roster.

Mortal Kombat X

MKX picks up on a time skip after the end of Mortal Kombat 9. Several years into the future, Johnny Cage is a family man with children. No longer the self-obsessed character from the past, MKX‘s Johnny Cage is focused on assisting Sonya in the special forces and raising their daughter, Cassie. Taking a bit more center stage in the story of this game, Cage plays an important role in defeating the fallen elder god Shinnok and restoring Earthrealm.

Mortal Kombat 2

MK2 helped solidify Johnny Cage as an important recurring character in the Mortal Kombat franchise. With an extreme 90s outfit and all his classic moves, this version of Johnny is always fun to play. MK2 Johnny also has an interesting meta ending in this game, where he makes a movie of the game itself called MK2. His arcade tower ending concludes by foreshadowing MK3 before it was announced.

B-Tier

Mortal Kombat 4

In the lore of Mortal Kombat, Johnny Cage dies during the events of MK3. Hence, he does not appear as a playable character in the game. However, during the events of Mortal Kombat 4, Johnny Cage is said to have been revived by Raiden in order to help his friends. This version of the character sports his iconic blue and black uniform to make his debut in 3D in style.

Mortal Kombat Trilogy

Although this tier list is focused only on the mainline Mortal Kombat games, Johnny Cage’s appearance in MK Trilogy is sort of an exception. Since he didn’t appear in MK3, Johnny was added to MK Trilogy with a new design to match that game’s graphics. He even comes with new animations for every attack, and the design is what it would have looked like if he was in MK3.