Liu Kang és el personatge principal de la sèrie de videojocs de lluita, Mortal Kombat. Liu Kang és un personatge estereotip, una fusió de tradicions tant orientals com occidentals a pel·lícules d'arts marcials. Encara que en nom d'un monjo Shaolin, el seu estil i maneres estan més occidentalitzats i el seu aspecte basat en el de Bruce Lee. Es mou ràpidament i posseeix habilitats de lluita formidables. Liu Kang és un dels millors guerrers del regne de la terra. A tota la sèrie, en Liu Kang gradualment ha estat mostrat com l'heroi principal, fent-se el Campió després del primer torneig de Mortal Kombat i després segueix la recerca de Raiden. El seu interès romàntic és la princesa Kitana, però ell és incapaç d'involucrar-se en una relació a causa del fet que ell és un monjo Shaolin (aquests no poden casar-se).
En un moviment brusc que va alterar el curs de la sèrie de Mortal Kombat, Liu Kang va ser assassinat brutalment per Shang Tsung (qui tenia l'ajuda de Quan Chi) en el preludi de Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, la seva ànima va ser consumida per Tsung. Ell va tornar en el Mortal Kombat: Deception, encara que com un zombi. També va ser coprotagonista al costat de Kung Lao, Sub-Zero, Scorpion i altres en el seu últim joc d'aventura: Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, i tornarà una altra vegada en el Mortal Kombat: Armageddon.
Aparicions En videojocs Introduït en el primer Mortal Kombat com a monge lluitador de Shaolin Kung Fu, Liu Kang entra en el desè torneig de Mortal Kombat a fi de protegir Earthrealm de ser destruït per haver perdut diversos tornejos. ("Once a member of the super secret White Lotus Society, Liu Kang left the organization in order to represent Shaolin temples in the Tournament. Kang is strong in his beliefs and despises Shang Tsung.") Durant el torneig, Liu Kang derrota al Gran Campió Goro i l'amfitrió Shang Tsung, emergint com el nou campió de Mortal Kombat. ("After defeating mighty Goro and putting an end to Shang Tsung's rule over the Tournament, Kang is able to return the contest to its rightful hosts - the Shaolin Temples. Kang's heroics will always be remembered. He will continue the traditions of the Shaolin Temples and restore the true pride and respect of this once great tournament.") A la seqüela, Mortal Kombat II, Liu Kang troba molts dels companys Shaolin morts en un atac viciós per una horda de mutants nòmades sota les ordres de l'emperador Shao Kahn, mestre de Shang Tsung. Enfurismat, Liu Kang decideix viatjar a Outworld, recolzat pel seu amic Kung Lao a la recerca de venjança. ("After winning the Shaolin Tournament from Shang Tsung's clutches Kang returns to his temples. He discovers his sacred home in ruins, his Shaolin brothers killed in a vicious battle with a horde of Outworld warriors. Now he travels into the Dark Realm to seek revenge.") En el torneig, Liu Kang lluita contra Shao Kahn, i així eventualment dominar l'emperador. ("With his Shaolin temple in ruins, Liu Kang journeys into the Outworld, enters Shao Kahn's tournament and unleashes a fury that does not end until the defeat of Shao Kahn. Liu Kang then returns to the seclusion of his Shaolin temple. He pays his respects to his lost brothers and finally realizes that the events which have taken place were all fulfillment of his destiny.") En Mortal Kombat 3, Liu Kang i els seus amics lluiten contra l'esquadró d'extermini de Shao Khan que va envair Earthrealm. ("After the Outworld invasion, Liu Kang finds himself the prime target of Kahn's extermination squads. He is the Shaolin Champion and has thwarted Kahn's schemes in the past. Of all the humans, Kang poses the greatest threat to Shao Kahn's rule.") Liu Kang una vegada més, derrota a Shao Kahn, ell i les seves forces provoquen la retirada de nou a Outworld. ("After thwarting Shao Kahn in the past, Liu Kang finds himself the main target of Kahn's extermination squads. But Kang is the reigning Mortal Kombat champion and proves it by easily defeating Kahn's minions. But the apparent death of his friend Kung Lao that enrages Kang and enables him to find the strength to defeat Shao Khan. Then before portal closes, Liu Kang is greeted by Princess Kitana and thanked for saving Earth and the Outworld.") En el moment de Mortal Kombat 4, Liu Kang descobreix la seva amant i aliada, la Princesa Kitana, ha estat capturat per les forces del Déu Major Shinnok i comença la recerca de guerrers de la Terra per derrotar Shinnok. ("Still the immortal champion of Mortal Kombat, Liu Kang finds himself venturing into the realm of Edenia to rescue the princess Kitana from the vile clutches of Quan Chi. Unsuccessful in his mission Liu returns to Earth and mounts an effort to bring together Earth's greatest warriors. He does it this time not only to free Kitana's home world but also to assist his mentor and Earth's protector... Raiden.") Eventualment, Liu Kang confronts Shinnok and once again emerges victorious with Kitana and her people having sobreviu a l'atac. No obstant això, ell és incapaç de comprometre's amb una relació a causa del seu deure, mentre que Kitana ha de romandre en Outworld com a princesa regnant. (Liu Kang: "The war is over. I've once again defended my title as the champion of Mortal Kombat, and defended the realm of Earth. But I've failed to save the realm of Edenia. In doing so, I have also lost Kitana... Forever." / Liu Kang: "Kitana?" / Kitana: "Yes, Liu Kang. It is I." / Liu Kang: "But I thought you were gonna lo-" / Kitana: "With Shinnok's destruction, you've not only saved the Earth, but you've also saved my own realm. For that, I can never repay you." / Liu Kang: "Knowing that you survived is all that I need." / Kitana: "As heir to the throne of my realm, I offer you the chance to rule at my side, as King of Edenia... Forever." / Liu Kang: "... I... cannot accept your offer. I belong here on Earth, as Champion of Mortal Kombat." / Kitana: "Then... I wish you good luck, Liu Kang. On all your journeys." / Liu Kang: "Goodbye, Princess Kitana...")
En Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, els bruixots Shang Tsung i Quan Chi uneixen forces per matar Liu Kang, que no es pot jugar en el joc. ("[…] There they confronted Earth's mightiest warrior and Champion of Mortal Kombat, Liu Kang. It has been Shang Tsung's greatest desire to consume the soul of Earthrealm's greatest warrior. With Quan Chi's assistance, he achieved this goal... Liu Kang is dead. [...]") En el moment de Mortal Kombat: Deception, el seu mentor, Raiden, reanima el cos de Liu Kang i el fa desbocar-se, fent que la seva ànima pugui intentar controlar-lo. ("The sorcerer Shang Tsung had killed me and consumed my soul. I remained trapped within his being, tormented by his evil, along with many other victims of his vampiric soul drain. Through Shang Tsung’s eyes, we witnessed the battle with Raiden, who sacrificed himself to stop Onaga. Raiden's blast destroyed Shang Tsung, and our souls were free to ascend into the heavens. I remained in Outworld, however, to aid my friends in the fight against the Dragon King. Why someone would desecrate my grave and reanimate my body, I cannot say. Somehow my corpse retains my knowledge of martial arts and has killed many innocents. Though I am not the perpetrator of these slaying, I cannot help but feel responsible for the brutality committed by my corporal form. The battle between mind and body has begun.") El no-mort Liu Kang apareix com un personatge secret que només pot ser desbloquejat a través del Konquest Mode. En Mortal Kombat: Unchained, la versió de PlayStation Portable de Deception, és directament jugable, ja que l'equip de desenvolupament va assenyalar que era molt difícil desbloquejar-lo en Deception. A partir d'aquí, Liu Kang recluta el ninja Ermac per intentar salvar els seus amics d'Onaga que els ha estat controlant. Acompleix aquesta tasca a Deception, ("In an outer chamber of the Dragon King's throne room, Ermac did battle with Liu Kang's enslaved comrades. Ermac was more than a match for the five warriors, but their defeat was not his objective. Liu Kang materialized and, one by one, freed their souls while Ermac occupied the rest. Eventually, all five were awakened from their enchantment and freed from Onaga's control. Ermac was pleased that his warrior skills could for once bring about a noble outcome. He sensed, however, that an ominous force still shaped the destiny of the realms. It was everywhere. He could feel its influence on Onaga, though the Dragon King was oblivious to its manipulation. Time was running out. Ermac feared the celebration of this latest victory would be short-lived.") però en Mortal Kombat: Armageddon encara és incapaç de controlar totalment el seu cos.
Juntament amb Kung Lao, Liu Kang és el personatge principal en el videojoc d'acció derivat Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks. El joc és un reexplica la història de Mortal Kombat II compta amb els dos monjos Shaolin que viatgen a Outworld per trobar i derrotar Shang Tsung, després acaba en una baralla amb Shao Khan, i el rescat de Kitana en el transcurs del videojoc. Liu Kang també protagonitza el crossover Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, que compta amb baralles entre els personatges dels universos de Mortal Kombat i DC Comics. En aquest joc, Liu Kang apareix com el protagonista del primer capítol del mode història de Mortal Kombat. Tobias va dir que la lluita que esperava veure en el joc va ser entre Liu Kang i Batman com va assenyalar en les seves còpies d'històries molt similars.
En el videojoc reinici de Mortal Kombat en 2011, Liu Kang repeteix el seu paper a partir dels dos primers tornejos com Raiden que té visions d'un futur en el qual Shao Kahn es va mantenir com l'últim guerrer que li creu per ser el guerrer que el seu jo futur va triar com el salvador. Liu Kang i Kitana es van comprometre sentimentalment dins d'aquesta línia de temps també. Quan Shao Kahn s'està preparant per envair Earthrealm, Raiden electrocuta Liu Kang abans que pogués fer front a ell quan es va adonar que Shao Kahn havia de guanyar i combinar els dominis per tal d'evitar els esdeveniments del futur, causant-li la mort. (Raiden: "Defeating Shao Kahn before the merge is but temporary. He will return, bringing Armageddon. I have foreseen it!" […] Raiden: "Liu Kang, forgive me..." / Liu Kang: "You... have killed us... all...")
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