Few heroes kick as much ass or spout as many memorable one-linersas the iconic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. You can find these heroes in just about any entertainment medium you can think of, and that includes video games. Once upon a time, the show was a staple of kids' morning TV, and there was no better way to follow that up than playing with action figures or slapping on a game.
The only issue is that even the most ardent TMNT fan would agree thatmany of the games are mediocre at best. Others are inexcusably bad, even when viewed with rose-tinted nostalgia glasses. Sadly, many TV or movie adaptations suffer the same fate, and it’s taken decades for these crossovers not to immediately be viewed as low-effort tie-ins.
Fortunately, they aren’t all bad, andthere are some diamonds in the rough if you know where to look.With this in mind, here’s a list of TMNT games that do the Heroes in Half-shells justice. As a new TMNT doesn’t enter the market every day, there are plenty of retro games on the list as some of them simply cannot be beaten!
10Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan
Fun But Limited
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan
We’re kicking our list off with a newerTMNTgame, which isfun but definitely has limitations.
Mutants in Manhattanis abusy 3D brawlerwith a slick cel-shaded art style. I dig the artistic choice, as it goes with the comic book vibe, although combat can get a little messy. On the plus side, thevillains look fantastic, and it’s a real treat to see Krang and Bebop with a PS4 lick of paint.
Mutants in Manhattanis great for bite-size gaming sessions asthe stages are short and snappy. My major gripe with the game is its forced co-op, and if you’re not playing with friends, you must play with AI teammates.
Despite its flaws, fans will enjoy Mutants in Manhattan, and there’s an addictive gameplay loop as you upgrade your heroes.
9Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Don’t Underestimate the GBA
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003)
Nintendo’splucky Game Boy Advancehas several Turtles games in its library, and theoriginal from 2003is a great way to introduce them.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesis a2D scrolling beat ‘em up. Unlike something likeStreets of Rage, you’re restricted to a single plane, which may sound awkward, but it works pretty well.
Stages often have multiple levels, like the sidewalk and a ledge, which you may jump between. The Turtles are satisfyingly nimble, too, with shoulder charges and slides doubling as movement tech.
Honestly, I really dig this entry, even ifTMNTon the same console inches it out. We’ll cover that one later!
8Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus
The Platform Matters
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus
I’ve read some choice words aboutBattle Nexuson the GBA, and while I agree somewhat, I also appreciate the title for trying something new. It’s alsobetter than the PS2, GC, and Xbox versions, in my opinion, as they feel like dated 3D platformers.
Battle Nexusis a 2D side scroller at its core but with a stronger emphasis on strategy. For example, you don’t even start with a katana and mustsneak past opponentsuntil you find one and can turn the tables.
Some of the movement feels a little stiff, but there’sa welcome sprinkle of puzzle-solving and platforming, which is missing in many Turtles games. If you’re lucky enough to own the Game Cube game, it’s a valuable collector’s item and commands outrageous sums on the pre-owned market.
7Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (NES)
An Old School Ass Kicker
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
I didn’t own an NES when I was growing up, so I didn’t experienceTMNTon the platform until much later. It made no difference andthe game thrashed meall the same.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtleson the NES isa brutal 2D sidescroller,although there are a few brief ‘overworld’ sections played from a different perspective. One nice touch with the NES game is that each Turtle has subtly different strengths and weaknesses. For example, Raphael is deadly up close but loses out against opponents in the distance.
The game boasts a generous serving of old-school difficulty, and some areas, like the underwater section, are borderline unfair. That said, tough games are part of the territory on the NES, and it’s an enjoyable game if you can handle the pressure.
6Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters (SNES)
Now It’s Personal
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters
The rich cast of TMNT is justscreaming for a fighting game, and in 1993, we got it.
Tournament Fightersis asolid 1v1 fighting gameon the SNES featuring the Turtles and a decent selection of villains from the series. The 10-strong roster is compact but varied enough, and the four-button control scheme is intuitive.
10 Best RPGs Where You Can Build Settlements
RPGs are known for cramming in a lot of different systems, with these games allowing you to build settlements while saving/destroying the world.
The quality offighting gameson the SNES is all over the place, butTMNTis one of the good ones. The controls are decent, as is the soundtrack. The stages also have busy backgrounds, which makes them feel more alive.
The AI is a little annoying to fight asit never misses an anti-air, but the game remains a great addition to the franchise.
5Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The HyperStone Heist
Sega Was Feeling Left Out
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist
Back in the 90s, Sega and Nintendo were in anintense battle for the home console market. Both had impressive libraries in their own ways, and one exclusive that only Genesis users could enjoy wasHyperStone Heist.
HyperStone Heistis a solid scrolling beat-em-up. It’s ashort but sweet experience, and the soundtrack is as thumpy as you should expect from the system.
The Turtles are fun to control with the shoulder charge attack, and there’s evenvehicle sectionsto break up the gameplay. The game isn’t as good as the SNES offerings, but a solid game nonetheless.
Three For Three For The GBA
TMNT (2007)
I rarely seeTMNTon the GBA mentioned, but it’sanother excellent side-scrolling beat ‘em up, even with the system limitations. It’s also great to see each Turtles game on the system offer aunique gameplay style.
TMNThas a fun story tying the stages together, and the combat is remarkable, considering there are only two face buttons.
The Turtles use different moves depending on the direction you’re holding at the time. Andeveryone gets their turn in the spotlight. There are also jump attacks so you can assault your opponents from above.
The game looks great, feels great, and is as close as you’ll get toTurtles in Timeon the go. The funny part is the game actually came out on home consoles, but it sucked on the Game Cube, PS2, Xbox.
3Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate
A Refreshing Take
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate
You’ve probably noticed that the vast majority ofTMNTgames stick to a select few genres. WhileSplintered Fateisn’t outlandish, it’s a decent andrefreshing take on the universe.
Splintered Fateis aRogueliteat it’s core and not dissimilar toHadesin its execution. You candash around the mapto avoid attacks, there’s a wide array of skills to play with, andbosses will humble youuntil you learn their attack patterns.
The developers have leaned into the franchise in all the right ways. The Turtles never miss an opportunity tocrack one-liners, and they are far more nimble than they look. Best of all,Splintered Fatehas asuperb co-op mode, making it one of the best ways to enjoyTMNTwith a friend.
2Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles In Time
A SNES Classic
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles In Time
Many fans regardTurtles in Timeasthe bestTMNTgame on the market. I would 100% agree with this if it wasn’t for a certain release in 2022.
Turtles in Timeis ashining example of an Arcade port done right. The game is an impressively fluid brawler with catchy tunes andgorgeous busy backdrops, whether you play in the arcade or on the SNES.
Technically, the Arcade version looks and plays better, but theSNES version has extra levelsthat round off the package nicely for a home release.
I won’t reel off all the version differences here, but the arcade version can be played four-player, while the home version is only for two. Still, it’snot a deal-breakerby any means, and the title has truly survived the test of time.
1Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
You Saw This Coming
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
Dotemu did a phenomenal job withStreets of Rage 4and delivered even withlofty fan expectations. The team then proved it wasn’t just a fluke withShredder’s Revenge.
Without trying to sound like a rabid fanboy,Shredder’s Revengeiseverything I ever wanted from a Turtles game. The tone is a little more goofy thanSoR4, and the game is a brilliantly responsive brawler.
So many iconic baddies make an appearance inShredder’s Revenge, and the title offersflawless co-op, so you can battle with friends.
The locale variance is impressive, and it’s a game I infrequently return to for a run with my friends.
As the game hasseveral difficulty modes, it’s accessible to everyone, unlike the classic games, but the ‘Gnarly’ mode will still whip hardcore players into shape.
10 Best Cozy Games With Extensive End-Game Content
While many cozy games have an endless loop for certain game features, these are the best cozy games with actual, extensive, endgame content.
