Like the previous two games in the series, Mortal Kombat 11 is a 2.5D fighting game. Alongside the returning Fatalities and Brutalities, new gameplay features are introduced, such as Fatal Blows and Krushing Blows.

Following Shinnok's defeat in Mortal Kombat X, a now corrupted Raiden plans to protect Earthrealm by destroying all its enemies and making an example of Shinnok. This latter act inspires Kronika, Shinnok's mother and the keeper of time, to rewrite history in order to erase Raiden's interference. Two years later, a Special Forces strike team led by Sonya Blade, Cassie Cage, and Jacqui Briggs attacks the Netherrealm, with Raiden providing a diversion to aid them. The team succeeds in destroying the castle at the cost of Sonya's life. Kronika creates an alliance with revenants Liu Kang and Kitana immediately afterwards.