In Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, players take on the roles of two protagonists, Liu Kang and Kung Lao, who are tasked with stopping the evil sorcerer, Shang Tsung, from taking over the Mortal Kombat tournament. The gameplay deviates from the traditional Mortal Kombat formula, incorporating elements of action-adventure games, such as exploration, puzzle-solving, and interactive cutscenes.