Raiden is the Mortal Kombat character known as the Thunder God.
Raiden is the immortal protector of Earthrealm and one of the franchise’s central figures. His powers include controlling lightning, teleporting, and flying. In the original game’s story, he guides Earthrealm’s champions during the tournament and opposes threats from Outworld and other realms.
The character is based on the Japanese thunder deity Raijin, although Mortal Kombat gives him a distinct fictional identity and mythology. Raiden’s wide-brimmed hat and lightning attacks became instantly recognizable design elements. Christopher Lambert portrayed him in the 1995 film, while James Remar played him in Mortal Kombat: Annihilation.
Raiden’s role changes across the series. In some timelines he acts as a divine protector, while in others he becomes human or takes a different position in the cosmic order. These transformations can create confusion, but the title Thunder God consistently identifies Raiden rather than Fujin, who is the Wind God.