The original 1992 Mortal Kombat arcade game featured seven playable fighters.
The roster consisted of Johnny Cage, Kano, Raiden, Liu Kang, Scorpion, Sonya Blade, and Sub-Zero. Each fighter had distinct special moves, despite the game using digitized actors and a relatively compact roster compared with later entries.
The game also included non-playable opponents. Goro served as the sub-boss, Shang Tsung was the final boss, and Reptile appeared as a secret opponent. Their presence sometimes leads players to count more than seven fighters when recalling the arcade ladder.
Later versions and sequels expanded the lineup substantially. Mortal Kombat II added characters including Baraka, Jax, Kitana, Kung Lao, Mileena, and Noob Saibot, making the original roster seem especially small by comparison.