Thousands of years before the events of the first game, Shinnok — one of the Elder Gods who govern the six realms of the Mortal Kombat universe — sought to conquer them all. The thunder god Raiden fought and defeated him in a war spanning centuries, banishing Shinnok to the Netherrealm to be imprisoned forever. Now, with the aid of the sorcerer Quan Chi, Shinnok has escaped, hungry for vengeance against the Elder Gods who cast him down. As part of his plan, he first conquers the realm of Edenia with help from the traitor Tanya while preparing his assault on the Elder Gods themselves. To stop him, Raiden once again calls upon the Earthrealm warriors who saved the realms from Emperor Shao Kahn in battles past.