15 Best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) Games, Ranked

As a gamer, I’ve seen the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles everywhere. Seriously, they’ve conquered comics, cartoons, movies – you name it, they’ve been a part of it. And of course, that includes video games! TMNT games have been around almost as long as the Turtles themselves – the first one came out only two years after the original cartoon and five years after the comics started. What’s really cool is that they’re still making new games, and there have been a ton of releases lately.

Most fans have played a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game at some point, but the experience can be very different depending on which one they chose. There have been some truly bad TMNT games over the years, even for dedicated fans. Luckily, there have also been many excellent TMNT games that anyone can enjoy. Let’s take a look at the best ones while we wait for The Last Ronin to release.

15. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants In Manhattan

Doesn’t Have That PlatinumGames Pedigree, But An OK Hack And Slash Game

Released in 2016, this action-packed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game returns to the Turtles’ home of New York City, but with fresh threats. The Turtles battle a diverse group of enemies to save their family and friends. While it features the fast-paced combat PlatinumGames is known for, it doesn’t rank among their best games, and players may find the levels become repetitive quickly.

Okay, let’s be real – Mutants in Manhattan feels like a pretty cheap game. Honestly, considering PlatinumGames – the team behind Bayonetta – was making a TMNT title, I expected so much more. They did a few licensed games around this time, and this one was definitely the weakest. It didn’t even reach the level of their Korra game, which wasn’t amazing to begin with! I guess if you really love the Turtles, you might find some fun here, but be warned – the story gets pretty repetitive. It’s just not the Platinum experience we were hoping for.

14. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters

A Forgettable But Serviceable TMNT Fighting Game

Fighting games were incredibly popular in the early 1990s, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles naturally joined the trend. Konami created separate fighting games for the NES, SNES, and Genesis, each with a unique approach to take advantage of the genre’s success.

Most fans consider the Super Nintendo version of the game to be the best, with a roster of ten characters and two boss battles. It’s a fighting game similar to classics like Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter, but with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ signature humor. While it might not reach the level of the SNES’s best fighting games, it’s a solid title for its time, and retro game enthusiasts can still find copies in stores or online. It looks and plays well enough for a game of that era.

13. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3: Radical Rescue

Gamefaqs Score: 3.61

First launched by Konami for the original Game Boy in 1993, this action-packed platformer shares similarities with the classic Castlevania series. What makes it stand out is that each of the four turtles has their own special moves. This lesser-known early game in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise helped expand the series beyond arcades, and features many of the villains fans already know as challenging bosses. It’s a real hidden treasure for handheld gaming fans!

Okay, so looking back at older games is tough, because things have changed so much. But honestly, I think Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3: Radical Rescue on the Game Boy is a really solid action platformer – the best of the three TMNT games, in my opinion. That said, I’d definitely tell people to play the other TMNT games first. Radical Rescue is good, but you’ve gotta be prepared for some frustrating moments to really enjoy it.

12. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash-Up

A Fun Enough Platform Fighter That Can Scratch That TMNT Itch

Similar to Super Smash Bros., Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash-Up is a fighting game that’s also designed for fun, cooperative play with friends. The combat is smooth, easy to pick up, and encourages players to battle each other. It’s lighthearted and perfectly matches the Turtles’ playful personality. Beyond the enjoyable gameplay, the game features impressive, interactive environments that can even feel like you’re in a movie.

While other platform fighting games are now better overall, fans of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles might still enjoy Smash-Up. However, they might want to check out Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl instead.

11. TMNT (Home Consoles)

A Decent Romp And A Time Capsule For This Era Of TMNT

This action-packed platformer is based on the 2007 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. Created by Ubisoft for consoles like the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, the game plays a bit like the Prince of Persia series, but its story mostly follows the movie’s plot.

Though not incredibly difficult, TMNT offers enjoyable moments and captures the feel of classic arcade beat ’em ups. It’s one of the more refined and consistent games in the TMNT series, making it a good choice to play today. While other 3D beat ’em ups and platformers are better on their own, TMNT successfully blends the two genres into a solid game.

10. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3: Mutant Nightmare

A Good Co-Op TMNT Game

Konami made several Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games for consoles like the PlayStation 2 and GameCube, bringing the characters into 3D for the first time. The third game in the series adapts storylines from the original cartoon, with the Turtles facing off against familiar villains. A special, playable version of the classic game Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time is also hidden within Mutant Nightmare.

This game isn’t a classic, and it didn’t get great reviews when it came out, but it’s a decent, simple beat ’em up, especially if you’re a fan of the series it’s based on. Playing alone isn’t the best experience, but Mutant Nightmare is a lot more fun with a friend or two. The fighting gets better as you unlock more combos for your Turtle, because the basic moves are a little too basic.

Okay, so I’ve played the 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game, Battle Nexus, and Mutant Nightmare. Honestly, they’re all pretty much the same level of good – which is to say, not amazing, but definitely not terrible either. They’re just…okay. I wouldn’t write them off, but don’t expect a masterpiece.

9. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist

Not Turtles In Time, But Not Bad Either

Okay, so this Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game on the Sega Genesis often gets forgotten, but it’s actually pretty cool! It came out right after Turtles in Time and plays a lot like it. Basically, Shredder uses this thing called the Hyperstone to shrink Manhattan, and it’s up to me and my turtle brothers to travel through time, stop him, and save the city. It’s a classic side-scrolling beat ’em up!

While often compared to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time, this game still delivers plenty of enjoyable side-scrolling action and improves on what made earlier games great. It was only available on the Sega Genesis, so you might be able to find a used copy online or at retro game shops.

8. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Arcade)

A TMNT Video Game Classic

This game is where the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles really became famous! The classic arcade game lets up to four players team up as the Turtles to fight Shredder and his Foot Clan. It was a huge hit when it came out in 1989, and became so popular that it was quickly released for home consoles like the NES in 1990.

As a huge TMNT fan, I’m always excited people can still easily play the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game! It was included as a bonus with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus on older consoles, so it’s surprisingly accessible today. While later beat ’em ups definitely improved on the formula, this 1989 game was a real pioneer and laid the foundation for everything that came after.

7. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (GBA)

The Most Underrated TMNT Game

October 21, 2003
Developed by Konami

While revisiting some older games for this article, I was surprised to discover how good the TMNT games were on the Game Boy Advance! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus is a decent side-scrolling game, and the movie tie-in also appeared on the console (I’ll cover that in more detail later). Plus, Konami released a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game based on the popular cartoon series from that time.

The console version of this game is just okay and really only for dedicated fans, but the Game Boy Advance version is a genuinely fun beat ’em up that anyone who likes the genre will enjoy. The fighting feels fast and smooth, and it’s actually more similar to Shredder’s Revenge than older Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games like Turtles in Time. It’s not quite as good as those classics, but it’s a great game to play in between them.

6. TMNT (GBA)

No, This Is The Most Underrated TMNT Game

March 20, 2007
Developed by Ubisoft Montreal

Alongside the console releases, Ubisoft also made TMNT for the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance. The DS version isn’t great, but the Game Boy Advance version is surprisingly good, especially considering how late in the system’s life it came out. It’s a fun choice for fans who enjoyed the classic arcade beat ’em ups from the ’90s. The game doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel – it’s a nostalgic experience based on the 2003 cartoon – but it successfully captures that classic feel while still being a unique game.

The game looks good for a Game Boy Advance title. The backgrounds are simple but colorful, and the characters are well-designed. The fighting is easy to control and feels good, and the story keeps the gameplay from becoming repetitive. While the jumping and platforming sections can be a bit clunky and annoying, it doesn’t ruin the overall experience.

2026-04-19 20:39