Many of my favorite toy brands as an 80s/90s kid have only grown more popular over time. Transformers. LEGO. And Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The Turtles are enjoying yet another renaissance lately thanks to a new animated movie, new upcoming series, and a bevy of killer games.
Here are the three best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games you can play on Nintendo Switch right now.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection
Is it cheating to include basically all the original Turtles game as a single entry? Not when they’re neatly wrapped up in a single collection!
The Cowabunga Collection includes 13 (!) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games, from the original 1989 adventure on the NES and arcades, through the late 16-bit era of the mid 90s. This collection represents the Golden Age of TMNT.
Witness the shocking difficulty of the original game, and the smooth multiplayer beat ’em up gameplay of so many later entries. Highlights include Turtles 3: The Manhattan Project (one of my personal favorite games on the original NES), and Turtles 4: Turtles in Time from the SNES.
Like most modern ports, the Cowabunga Collection also features save states, instant rewind, online and local co-op, and concept art.
Play The Cowabunga Collection if you want to see where it all started.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
You can enjoy the nostalgia of the Cowabunga Collection, but Tribute Games and Dotemu recently delivered the perfect modern Turtles game with Shredder’s Revenge (read our review!).
Shredder’s Revenge captures the look and feel of the original Turtles series, with an amazingly bright, crisp, pixelated art style, and every cameo a fan could want. The story is simple and fun, a players navigate an overworld of NYC before diving into lengthy levels.
Playable characters move beyond the brothers, and include Casey Jones, Splinter, and even April O’Neal (and more with the DLC).
Classic beat’ em up gameplay has evolved to include stats, super moves, dodge rolls, and taunts. For veteran Turtles gamers, Shredder’s Revenge is simply a dream come true. For newcomers, it’s the perfect entry.
Play Shredder’s Revenge if you want a perfectly updated yet still classic beat ’em up experience.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate
Although the very first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game for the NES wasn’t really a beat ’em up, the brand soon became synonymous with the genre. Which is all the more impressive that Splintered Fate is definitively different than most Turtles games.
Originally released for Apple Arcade, Splintered Fate is a roguelike that pits the Turtles on a quest to save Splinter. By leaping through portals, they face off in increasingly challenging arenas, with waves of enemies and big boss battles.
Each turtle features their unique weapons and special moves. Between combat players can unlock new powers and skills, restore health, and unlock permanent upgrades for future runs.
Most roguelikes are challenging solo games, but Splintered Fate’s Switch release adds co-op multiplayer — a must-have for any Turtles game.
Play Splintered Fate if you enjoy challenging roguelike gameplay — with multiplayer!
The Cowabunga Collection and Shredder’s Revenge are also available on PC (Steam), PlayStation, and Xbox. Splintered Fate is coming soon to Steam PC.
