They took away the thing everyone was angry about — and found out that was the only reason anyone cared.
In arcades, Mortal Kombat was digitized actors ripping spines from bodies. It was controversial enough to trigger Congressional hearings and create the video game rating system that still exists today. But when it came to the Game Boy in 1993, all the blood was gone — no fatalities, no gore, just grey figures trading punches on a tiny screen. The review scores dropped. Players who lined up on 'Mortal Monday' for the home versions mostly bought the uncensored Genesis cart, not this one. Ed Boon and John Tobias built a game that forced society to ask where the line was. This port erased the line — and in doing so, showed that controversy wasn't a problem the game had. It was the conversation the game started.
— inspired by Ed Boon and John Tobias
About this game
Released on 'Mortal Monday' — September 13, 1993 — the Game Boy version of Mortal Kombat arrived alongside SNES, Genesis, and Game Gear ports. The arcade original shocked players with digitized actors and graphic violence that triggered U.S. Congressional hearings and led directly to the creation of the ESRB rating system. The Game Boy port removed the blood and fatalities that defined the arcade experience, offering a tamer version of the controversial fighter.
The Story Behind
Mortal Kombat was developed in 10 months from 1991 to 1992 by a four-person team: Ed Boon (programmer), John Tobias (designer and artist), John Vogel (artist), and Dan Forden (sound). The arcade version used digitized footage of real actors, giving the violence a shocking realism that led to U.S. Senate hearings on December 9, 1993. Senators Joe Lieberman and Herb Kohl scrutinized the game's fatalities and dismemberment, leading directly to the creation of the ESRB rating system. The Game Boy port, released simultaneously with SNES, Genesis, and Game Gear versions on September 13, 1993, removed the blood and fatalities.
Tricks & Tales
The simultaneous release of all four home versions — SNES, Genesis, Game Boy, and Game Gear — on September 13, 1993 was marketed as 'Mortal Monday.' The arcade version became the first game to receive a Mature rating from the newly created ESRB. One of the most infamous fatalities was Sub-Zero's spine-rip, where he tears off his opponent's head with the spine still attached. The controversy made the game more desirable — everyone wanted to play the first M-rated game.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
The Game Boy is region-free, so a North American Mortal Kombat cartridge plays on any Game Boy worldwide. The Game Boy version removed the blood and fatalities present in the arcade, SNES, and Genesis versions, making it the most heavily censored port.
Maintenance Tips
Vertical lines on the LCD are the Game Boy's signature aging defect. The cause is delamination of the ribbon cable that connects the LCD panel to the board. The standard repair is to apply heat along the ribbon cable near the LCD edge -- a soldering iron (at low temperature) run slowly along the ribbon cable reflows the connection and usually clears the lines. This repair has a documented success rate and requires no replacement parts. The speaker can be replaced with any 8-ohm 0.5W speaker of similar dimensions; audio quality often improves noticeably with a new unit. Clean battery terminals with vinegar and a cotton swab if corrosion is present. The contrast dial uses a potentiometer that can be cleaned with contact cleaner if the image is unstable at certain positions. Use fresh alkaline AA batteries -- rechargeable NiMH cells run at lower voltage and may cause erratic behavior.
Going deeper
Explore the machine this game ran on, and what to check before you buy or care for one:
What to Watch Out For
Before buying, these are the points worth knowing — from someone who handles original Japanese Mortal Kombat copies regularly.
Does the Game Boy version of Mortal Kombat need a save battery?
No. Mortal Kombat on Game Boy has no save system — it's a single-session score-attack game, like most arcade conversions of the era. You play, you compete for high scores, and you start fresh the next time you turn it on. That means there's no CR1616 battery to worry about replacing, which is good news for collectors — one fewer thing that can go wrong thirty years later.
Will a Game Boy Mortal Kombat cartridge from one region work on another region's console?
Yes. The Game Boy has no region lock, so a North American Mortal Kombat cartridge plays on a Japanese Game Boy, and vice versa. The game is identical inside — only the box and label text differ by region. The cartridge also works on a Game Boy Advance. Just remember that the Game Boy version is the most heavily censored port — the blood and fatalities that defined the arcade original were removed entirely.
Before You Buy
Things worth knowing before you buy Mortal Kombat
A short checklist for buying a used Game Boy cartridge wisely — useful with any seller, anywhere.
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Choose a seller who tests it before shipping
A copy that has actually been powered on and checked is a known quantity. An untested one is a gamble you only settle after it arrives.
Look for a seller who states it was function-tested and says what they confirmed. A serious seller can tell you exactly what was checked.
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Good news — Game Boy is region-free
Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges are not region-locked, so a Japanese copy plays on any Game Boy worldwide.
Just confirm the hardware family — original GB, Color, or Advance — matches the cartridge.
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If this title saves your progress, check the battery
Cartridges that save use a small coin-cell battery that fades over decades — a dead one wipes your save without warning.
Ask the seller whether the save function was tested. Replacing the battery is possible, but doing so erases any existing save.
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Check that the contacts are clean
Dirty edge contacts are the most common cause of startup and sound trouble in cartridges of this age.
Choose a seller who cleans the contacts before shipping. A note that it was tested and cleaned means the basics were handled.
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Read the seller's reviews and return policy
A 100% positive record across thousands of sales is close to a guarantee — packing, communication and problem-solving all work for everyone. A return policy protects you if something is off.
Read the feedback and confirm a clear return window before you buy.
The last step before buying anywhere is knowing what it's worth.
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Rooms this game lives in
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