Raiden first appeared as a playable fighter in the original Mortal Kombat, and returned in Mortal Kombat II, the 1993 arcade sequel that expanded the roster and the series' over-the-top finishing moves. As the god of thunder, he became one of its most recognisable faces, with his electric powers and distinctive look carrying through later games, films and re-releases. Short clips from the arcade era remain popular online because they are instantly recognisable, easy to drop into edits, and carry a strong sense of nineties nostalgia for players who grew up with the series.