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If you loved TMNT: Mutant Mayhem, play these 7 Turtles’ games next

Paramount Pictures’ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem hit theaters this week, and it’s a radical time at the movie theater. After watching the excellent animated movie, I had the itch to revisit some TMNT games and live out my turtle power dreams. There were a wealth of options available to me, from ones that I grew up with to titles that I’ve enjoyed more recently. I’m sure I won’t be alone in that feeling, so allow me to pass along some of the great games starring the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles that you can dive into after seeing the movie.

This isn’t just a list of the retro classics. I mixed in games from all eras, from the early arcade game that set the precedent for future TMNT titles to more recent crossovers and ambitious titles. Regardless of which you choose (or have access to at all), you’re sure to have a great time playing any of these TMNT titles.

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

April and Leo high-five in TMNT: Shredder's Revenge
Dotemu

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge from 2022 might be the best TMNT game ever made. It’s a beat ’em up by Dotemu, the publisher of Streets of Rage 4, and Tribute Games, whose founders also worked on the shockingly solid 2007 TMNT game for Game Boy Advance. As a huge fan of the genre, I love how Shredder’s Revenge hits all of the right notes required of a fantastic brawler. It has fluid combat with lots of combo potential, excellent pixel art, and really enjoyable co-op. Shredder’s Revenge is also packed with references for TMNT fans from all eras.

If you were still somehow doubting its quality, it’s also one of the few games to ever get a five-star review from Digital Trends. If you play one game on this list, make it this. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is available now on PC, PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and iOS and Android via Netflix. It’s part of the Xbox Game Pass catalog too, so there’s no reason to not check this game out. 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

The 1989 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade game emulated within Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection.
Konami

While Shredder’s Revenge perfected the idea of a TMNT beat ’em up, it isn’t the game that kicked off that trend. Credit for that goes to Konami’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which hit arcades in 1989. Although it’s possible to beat the game in under an hour, and its gameplay feels a little dated compared to some of the other titles on this list, it still provides some enjoyable, button-mashing arcade fun. Its historical importance to TMNT games can’t be understated, and that’s what makes me appreciate it the most.

Almost every TMNT game that has come afterward, especially the 2D ones, owes something to this game that set the standard for how enthralling TMNT beat ’em up games could be. If you want to play Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles nowadays, you’ll need to buy its $700 Arcade1Up cabinet or play it as part of Digital Eclipse’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection, which is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan

Raphael stabs an enemy in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan.
Activision

The most controversial pick for this list from me is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan. This game didn’t get great reviews at launch, but it’s hard to ignore a TMNT game made by the developers of Bayonetta and Nier Automata. Is this licensed game published by Activision one of PlatinumGames’ lesser titles? Sure, but I’ve found that even a mediocre PlatinumGames release is still a pretty solid and fun action game. Its cel-shaded art style inspired by the classic shows and comics has aged surprisingly well, making this the game that looks the most like Mutant Mayhem.

Mutants in Manhattan’s mission design is quite repetitive and full of hit-sponge enemies, but it still retains some of PlatinumGames’ satisfying signature action flair. It’s the closest thing to a modern 3D AAA Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game that currently exists; hopefully, that isn’t the case for much longer. In 2016, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan launched on PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. Sadly, it’s somewhat difficult to get ahold of nowadays because Activision delisted the game in January 2017, less than a year after its release. You’ll need to track down a physical copy of this game to play it, but you might actually find that Mutants in Manhattan is a bit better than you remember if you do so. 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time emulated through Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection.
Konami

Before Shredder’s Revenge, this was the crown jewel of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games. Regardless of whether you play the arcade or SNES version, Konami’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time is an extremely good time and one of the best beat ’em up games ever made. I love it for many of the same reasons as Shredder’s Revenge: enthralling combat, solid pixel art, and lots of clear adoration for the IP it’s based on. It was extremely influential, not just on the beat ’em up genre, but on all future TMNT games; the developers of almost every other game on this list worked hard to try and match the bar of quality Turtles in Time set.

If you’re looking to play one classic TMNT game after seeing Mutant Mayhem, I highly recommend picking this one. Currently, both the arcade and SNES versions of Turtles in Time are part of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection, which is available across PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. Just don’t play Ubisoft’s terrible 2009 remake of the game. 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus

Gameplay from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus
LongplayArchive / Konami

I’ve never played Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus before, but it comes highly recommended by Digital Trends Gaming Section Lead Giovanni Colantonio. He has fond memories of playing Battle Nexus on the GameCube, enjoying its 3D take on the beat ’em up formula that most TMNT games followed, and he thinks the game provides an ideal co-op experience. As an outsider to the game, I can see that its cel-shaded art style also still holds up fairly well today. As an added bonus, the aforementioned Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade game is playable within Battle Nexus.

Unfortunately, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus is not one of the games included in The Cowabunga Collection. If you want to play this game, you’ll need to track down a GameCube, PS2, Windows, or Xbox copy of the game from 2004. Hopefully, Konami and Digital Eclipse will get around to remastering and rereleasing Konami’s 2000s-era TMNT games sometime soon.

Injustice 2

Key art for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in Injustice 2
WB Games

OK, Injustice 2 isn’t a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game. It’s a fighting game based on a DC Comics world where Superman is evil. But the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles came to this game as DLC fighters, and it’s my personal favorite cameo appearance by them in another game. All four turtles are playable; they share many attacks, but each has some special moves and character powers. Who you fight as changes depending on which weapon is equipped in the character customization menu, making the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles one of the most complex yet satisfying characters to learn in the entire game.

While there are some TMNT fighting games, none are as polished as this one from NeatherRealm Studios and WB Games, which is available across PC, PS4, and Xbox One. If you’re looking for another modern fighting game featuring TMNT characters, I recommend checking out Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl or its upcoming sequel for some Super Smash Bros.-like fighting game fun. 

TMNT Splintered Fate

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles battle rats in TMNT: Splintered Fate.
Super Evil Megacorp

The most recent TMNT game is an Apple Arcade exclusive for iOS, and it’s a surprisingly good time. TMNT Splintered Fate is an isometric,story-driven roguelite clearly inspired by the likes of Hades, and it features a story co-written by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic writer Tom Waltz. It’s a much deeper action game than you’d expect for a mobile title, and the roguelite structure makes Splintered Fate immensely replayable. It’s also one of the more narrative-driven TMNT games, which complements Mutant Mayhem’s compelling and surprisingly emotional story quite well. 

The only other game available on mobile on this list is Shredder’s Revenge, and you need a Netflix subscription to try that, so Splintered Fate is a great TMNT game choice for iPhone users who want something to play as soon as they leave the theater. TMNT Splintered Fate is available to play now on iOS devices through Apple Arcade. Hopefully, it’ll make the jump to other platforms eventually like some other Apple Arcade titles.

Tomas Franzese
A former Gaming Staff Writer at Digital Trends, Tomas Franzese now reports on and reviews the latest releases and exciting…
The best video games of June 2022: TMNT, Fire Emblem, and more
An image of the TMNT in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge.

Following all of the major summer showcases, there's a general feeling that gaming in 2022 already peaked earlier this year with games like Elden Ring, Horizon Forbidden West, and Kirby and the Forgotten Land. That said, this mindset isn't really that accurate because June contained several of 2022's best games.
From beat 'em ups to simple mobiles games to grand Musou adventures, there were a lot of games to enjoy alongside all of the announcements this month. If you haven't played anything new this month because you thought 2022 gaming couldn't get any better than Elden Ring, we recommend the following six games.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge - Gameplay overview
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge isn’t a super complex game; it’s just almost perfectly executed for what it is. This beat ’em up calls back to classics like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time while paying respect to the popular franchise with a variety of Easter eggs and beautiful pixel art. Anyone can pick up and enjoy its beat-’em-up combat, and it’s filled with every hero or enemy you’d expect to see in a TMNT game.
We even gave Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge our first five-star review of 2022. “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is a must-play for both TMNT and beat-’em-up fans alike,” Digital Trends contributor De’Angelo Epps wrote in his review. “It’s a game that takes what worked in the past, but still finds space to innovate beyond its fan service and nostalgia play.”
Surprisingly, the game features six-player co-op, so all of your friends who are TMNT fans can get in on the fun. It’s a near-perfect beat ’em up that succeeds at precisely what it was out to achieve and shouldn’t be overlooked because of that. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is available now for PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. It’s even on Xbox Game Pass, so it’s easy to try out if you’re curious.
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes - Announcement Trailer - Nintendo Switch
Like Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity and Persona 5 Strikers, Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes incorporates enough elements from the game it’s based on and tells a compelling enough story to stand on its own. Fire Emblem mechanics such as permadeath, distinct character classes and abilities, and support conversations combined with the high-octane Musou action players have come to expect from Koei Tecmo’s Musou games to make something special.
“This is a high-effort hack-and-slash that convincingly functions as a full-fledged sequel to Fire Emblem: Three Houses,” gaming editor Giovanni Colantonio wrote in its four-star Digital Trends review. “While its core action gets repetitive due to a lack of overall variety, there are plenty of familiar RPG hooks around it that keep the adventure engaging. For those who want a good reason to revisit the land of Fódlan, Three Hopes is much deeper than a reunion special.”
The game’s narrative, in particular, stands out as Three Houses’ protagonist Byleth is now the villain. Like Three Houses, You can also play Three Hopes multiple times over if you want to see the story from each house’s perspective. Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is available now for Nintendo Switch. If you want to try it, a free demo with several hours’ worth of content is available on the eShop.
Poinpy
Poinpy | Official Game Trailer | Netflix
Poinpy is much more obscure than the other games on this list because it’s tucked away as a Netflix exclusive for iOS and Android. If you search for it in the Games tab of your Netflix app on mobile, you’ll be able to jump to the App Store and Google Play Store and download it. If you go through the effort to do all that, you’ll find a simple but enthralling mobile game about collecting fruit to keep a monster at bay as you continuously climb to escape it.
It’s from the creator of the challenging but equally satisfying Downwell. Instead of descending into a dark and dreary well, Poinpy is a much more cute and colorful experience where your focus is on launching your character up to collect fruit and escape. A monster is always chasing you, so you’ll have to collect certain combinations of fruit to feed it and keep it at bay. Once you get the hang of swiping to jump and tapping your phone to stomp into the ground, you won’t want to put Poinpy down.
Netflix’s video game initiative hasn’t quite caught on yet, which is why Poinpy is relatively obscure. If Netflix can keep delivering games of this quality, people will start to notice. Poinpy is available now for iOS and Android via Netflix. Simply get a Netflix subscription, and you’ll be able to access the game without any ads or microtransactions.
Neon White
NEON WHITE | Launch Trailer
Neon White presents itself as a first-person shooter with an edgy story and intense platforming, but it really just wants you to have a good time. This game is about a bunch of criminals trying to earn their place in heaven by competing in a contest to kill the most demons. As you do this, you’ll be platforming around heavenly levels and taking out demons with guns that come from cards strewn about the level. It’s an odd mix of genres, but it works.
“Neon White takes some big swings with its card-shooter/platformer premise and fortunately doesn’t miss,” Giovanni Colantonio wrote in his four-star Neon White review. “Its execution-heavy action is wildly fast and fun, pushing players to complete complex demon-slaying gauntlets that pepper in exciting twists through the game’s last moments.”
Neon White will be up your alley if you love games like Mirror’s Edge and Clustertruck that challenge your first-person platforming skills. Visual novel fans will get a kick out of the game, too, thanks to its compelling story about who deserves forgiveness and gift system that lets the player unlock extra conversations and memories with Neon White’s supporting cast. Neon White is available now for PC and Nintendo Switch.
AI: The Somnium Files – nirvanA Initiative
AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative Gameplay Trailer
A follow-up to a 2019 cult classic mystery adventure game, AI: The Somnium Files – nirvanA Initiative has been a low-key critical darling this month. Sitting at an 85 on Metacritic, fans of the Danganronpa series or other similar anime-inspired games should check AI: The Somnium Files – nirvanA Initiative out. In it, you’re trying to track down a serial killer who is literally tearing people in half.
To find out who did this, you must investigate the crime scene to look for evidence and delve into people’s minds to extract more information that could help with the case. Its intense anime stylings and frequent innuendo-filled jokes aren’t for everyone, but if AI: The Somnium Files – nirvanA Initiative, it could scratch that detective gaming itch and be one of your favorites of the year.
AI: The Somnium Files – nirvanA Initiative is available for PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Card Shark
Card Shark - Release Date Trailer - Nintendo Switch
Like Neon White, Card Shark puts a spin on the card game formula. Instead of blending shooting and platforming mechanics, Card Shark is all about cheating at traditional card games with different tactics. It’s also a beautiful game, as Card Shark is styled after the paintings from 18th century France, where the game is set.
“Card Shark is one of the most inventive video games I’ve played this year, completely spinning the concept of genre on its head,” Giovanni Colantonio wrote about the game earlier this month. “Despite having cards, I can’t really call it a 'card game.' It’s an unclassifiable title that’s more about finding a compelling way to turn real-world sleight of hand into engaging gameplay. Whenever I could successfully pull off a trick without arousing too much suspicion, I felt like an overconfident mastermind.”
If you enjoy card games (or maybe want to pick up a few cheating tricks of your own), Card Shark is worth checking out on PC or Nintendo Switch. While it’s been somewhat forgotten as it came out early in the month ahead of Summer Game Fest, it helps show that times of the year that are considered quiet by many gamers can contain some of its best games.

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Midyear progress report: Here are the best games of 2022 so far
Aloy swimming underwater.

We’re already nearly halfway through 2022, and it’s been an unusual year when it comes to new video game releases. The first quarter of 2022 was loaded with massive hits that eclipsed 2021’s holiday season. Major releases slowed to a drip after March though, creating a front-loaded year for gamers. Even with a slower cadence, however, each month has brought some excellent new titles -- some of which were easy to miss.

The midway point of any year serves as a good excuse to stop and take stock of what’s launched so far. You likely already know the biggest releases (such as the Radahn-sized elephant in the room), but there’s a whole sea of vibrant games worth catching up on during this slow summer. Here are the best games we’ve played so far this year.
Elden Ring

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How TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge unites the real and fictional NYC
tmnt shredders revenge new york city ss 2b0dee3ccf7b45d8491e5f75d70caace606581c9 1920x1080

When it comes to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, there are two things that define the heroes: Pizza and New York City.

Since the franchise’s creation in 1984, NYC has been a core part of the turtles’ ethos. It’s not just an empty backdrop for superhero antics, but a city that reflects their entire being. Its streets and sewers become an urban playground for the four brothers. Like any good New Yorker, the turtles feel a deep sense of pride for their home, swearing to protect even its ugliest corners.

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