Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate wants to be the definitive Turtle adventure for a console generation that grew up with the green foursome on TV. It lands somewhere between a solid beat-’em-up and a game that knows it has a duty to please everyone. The result is a game that works best when it leans into its action instincts and falters when it tries to stretch into a full campaign. It is a competent, often enjoyable package, but it never quite becomes the epic the turtles deserve.
The premise is simple. The Foot Clan has split into warring factions, and the turtles must stop the fighting before it destroys New York City. That setup gives the game room to explore the characters’ relationships and the history of their longtime rivals. The story moves at a brisk pace, but it rarely digs deep enough to make the stakes feel personal.
Trailer, via Super Evil Megacorp.
Raphael’s Rage
The game’s strongest element is its combat. Each turtle handles slightly differently, and Raphael gets the biggest shakeup. His moves are faster and more aggressive, which makes him the best choice for players who want to rush in and punish enemies without worrying about balance.
Leonardo, Donatello and Michelangelo each bring their own strengths to the fight. Leonardo’s strikes are precise and balanced, making him the default pick for anyone who prefers a steady approach. Donatello’s moves lean toward range and utility, giving him a role as a support fighter. Michelangelo’s style is the most playful, with combo chains that reward players willing to learn his timing.
The enemy variety keeps the fights fresh. Bosses demand specific strategies, and the game does a decent job of teaching players what to expect before a big fight. The difficulty curve is fair, though some boss battles can feel punishing if a player hasn’t learned the patterns yet.
The Split Screen Problem
Playing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate with a friend is where the game truly shines. The couch co-op mode lets two players jump in at any time, and the game handles the chaos surprisingly well. Characters don’t clip each other, and the screen rarely feels crowded.
The online mode is less successful. Connecting with friends online is finicky, and the game struggles to keep up with fast inputs during chaotic fights. Players who want to play together online will find themselves waiting through frustrating moments that break the flow of a fight.
New York’s Neighborhoods
The game takes players across several distinct locations, each with its own visual identity. The sewers are dark and dripping, the city streets are bright and bustling, and the final stages push into more exotic settings. The level design is clever, with hidden paths and shortcuts that reward players who explore.
One complaint stands out: the game’s camera can be uncooperative during fast movements. It lags behind players at times, which makes timing jumps and dodges harder than they should be. The problem is present but not constant, and it rarely ruins a moment entirely.
Story Beats That Miss
The narrative has its highs. The turtles’ conversations with each other carry genuine warmth, and the game does a good job of showing the strain the Foot Clan’s split puts on their friendships. But the plot often feels like it is moving too quickly to land.
The villains are a mixed bag. Some get enough screen time to feel threatening, while others are reduced to walking threats without much personality. The pacing means the game never spends enough time building dread around its antagonists.
A Familiar Formula
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate follows a familiar pattern for the genre. Players move forward, hit enemies, collect items, and move to the next area. The formula works, but it does not surprise.
The game does add a few systems that keep things interesting. Players can upgrade their turtles’ gear between missions, and certain upgrades open new moves that change how a character plays. These additions give players a reason to return to older levels and try different builds.
Here is a rough breakdown of the game’s structure:
- The turtles split up to cover multiple fronts, each taking on a different Foot Clan faction.
- Players progress through a series of levels, each with its own look and enemy type.
- Boss fights mark the end of major chapters, forcing players to adapt their tactics.
- The final act brings the factions together, setting up a climactic showdown.
Performance Across Platforms
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate runs on Series X|S, PS4, Switch 2 and PC. Performance varies by platform, with the newer hardware handling the game better than the older machines.
| Platform | Performance |
|---|---|
| Series X | S |
| PS4 | Slightly choppy in busy scenes |
| Switch 2 | Occasional slowdown during large fights |
| PC | Best performance, most options |
The load times also differ by platform. Series X|S and PC players enjoy quick transitions, while PS4 and Switch 2 users wait a bit longer between areas.
Where It Lands
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate is a game that knows what it wants to be. It wants to be a fun, action-packed adventure that respects its characters while delivering the thrills fans expect. It mostly succeeds, even if it falls short of greatness.
The combat is sharp, the multiplayer is solid, and the story has moments of real heart. The camera issues and the uneven pacing keep it from reaching the top tier of the genre. This is a game worth playing with friends on the couch, less so online, and a game that rewards curiosity in its levels.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate scores 7.4 out of 10.
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