Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate is a co-op roguelike starring the heroes in a half shell. Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying.
TMNT: Splintered Fate Review Overview
What is TMNT: Splintered Fate?
Master Splinter's been abducted by the Foot Clan and it's up to you and your brother to brave fractured worlds through reality-bending portals. Battle through countless waves of Foot Clan goons and even Shredder himself as your ninja skills and arsenal get progressively better with every run.
TMNT: Splintered Fate features:
⚫︎ Play as any of the four turtles: Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michael Angelo
⚫︎ Couch and Online Multiplayer
⚫︎ Fast-Paced Action Roguelite
⚫︎ Multitude of Characters from the TMNT Universe
⚫︎ New TMNT Story
⚫︎ Recognizable Voice-Actors
For more gameplay details, read everything we know about TMNT: Splintered Fate's gameplay and story.
| Digital Storefronts | |||||
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 Switch |
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| Price: | $29.99 | ||||
TMNT: Splintered Fate Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
 Rad Hades-Like Roguelike Bodacious Multiplayer Wicked Boss Fights |
Noticeable FPS Drops Lackluster Story |
TMNT: Splintered Fate Overall Score - 80/100
TMNT: Splintered Fate is totally rad and turtle-tastic! It's not flawless—the story is less than bodacious, and the occasional FPS drops can be a cowabummer—but it totally redeems itself with its Hades-like roguelike gameplay and awesome co-op mode. In Mikey's words, it's a cowabunga of fun! It's like biting into a perfect slice of NYC pizza.
TMNT: Splintered Fate Story - 6/10
The story of TMNT: Splintered Fate is like anchovies on pizza—it's only going to appeal to a specific group of people, in this case, the die-hard Turtle fans. It assumes you already know the characters, and while the turtles are famous, their less-known villains don’t get the proper introductions they should. These characters are abruptly thrown into the plot, making it hard to follow who they are and what’s happening.
I have to admit, for the most part, the Turtles and some of the characters are written really well. I love the banter between the brothers and how each of them is dealing with Master Splinter’s disappearance. It shows how timeless these characters are; even in weaker stories such as this, they can elevate the enjoyment factor significantly.
TMNT: Splintered Fate Gameplay - 9/10
This game is essentially Hades but with a TMNT skin—it's Hades in a Half Shell! Sometimes, the gameplay is even more fun and replayable than Hades, thanks to its co-op feature and the ability to switch between different turtles. The co-op mode is incredibly enjoyable, and while I wish there was an option to have all the turtles on screen in offline mode, it's still a blast. Each turtle feels unique, making every playthrough radically different.
TMNT: Splintered Fate Visuals - 8/10
Although there are noticeable graphical improvements from its Apple Arcade counterpart, the game's mobile origins are still evident, leading to some inconsistency in visuals. However, the sprites are exceptionally well done and capture the characters perfectly. I just wish there was more variety in the turtles' sprites.
TMNT: Splintered Fate Audio - 8/10
Some of the music in this game is really fun and catchy, but the voice acting truly stands out. Each of the turtles has fantastic voice work, with Yuri Lowenthal as Mikey being my favorite. He perfectly captures Mikey's humor and emotional depth. The voice actors excel in making the characters more expressive, likable, and full of chemistry.
TMNT: Splintered Fate Value for Money - 8/10
This is a solid port that significantly improves on the mobile version. However, if you have Apple Arcade, it's harder to recommend, as the game runs really well there, and the Switch version can feel a bit pricey compared to the monthly Apple Arcade fee. Still, this game is perfect for the Switch, especially in handheld mode, and offers great value for money at $30.
TMNT: Splintered Fate Review: A Cowabunga Roguelike, Dude!
As a fan of the turtles, I was thrilled to see them back in action in video games, especially after classics like Shredder’s Revenge and Tournament Fighters. However, I had some reservations when I learned this game was essentially a mobile port. While mobile games have come a long way, with titles like Genshin Impact bridging the gap between platforms, I remained skeptical.
Comparing the Apple Arcade and Switch side by side, it seemed like there wasn’t enough to justify a $30 purchase. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised for the most part.
Let's address the drawbacks first: this game's story is clearly designed for hardcore Turtle fans. There's no proper introduction to the characters, the world, or the lore. It's set in its own universe, drawing heavily from the comics where the characters are seasoned veterans.
While I appreciate that it's not another origin story, it assumes players already know everything about the world and the characters' backgrounds.
Newcomers will likely feel lost when unfamiliar characters appear without explanation, making it hard to connect the dots. Even as a fan, I found myself questioning the purpose of these cameos beyond fan service.
The story feels messy and forgettable; if you're new to the franchise, I'd recommend starting with one of the series, movies, or comics instead.
However, I must acknowledge the game's strong points: it boasts excellent character interactions and dialogue. It was great to see April O'Neil, Bebop, Casey Jones, and other TMNT characters again in this version. Despite these positives, the overall narrative experience felt disjointed.
Speaking of disjointed, I hope this game receives some patches soon because it suffers from significant frame drops that feel unnecessary, especially considering it's a port of a mobile game. I experienced stuttering and slow-downs even during offline co-op play, which really detracted from the gameplay.
I really hope they fix these issues soon because the gameplay itself is absolutely turtle-riffic. This game showcases the best of the Turtles' abilities, highlighting their distinctiveness with unique skills, specialties, and weapons. It's reminiscent of Hades—a top-down roguelike where you battle waves of enemies, gather power-ups, and progress to the next area. Like any good roguelike, expect to die and retry levels repeatedly.
Normally, I find roguelikes repetitive and tedious, but Splintered Fate manages to elevate the experience. The game's standout feature is its four playable characters and outstanding multiplayer. Each run feels fresh; if you tire of playing as Michelangelo, switch to Raphael for a different challenge. The characters are fun and well-balanced, and upgrading them feels rewarding with plenty of rewards to earn easily.
Early on, if you have the option to choose Dragon Coins for upgrades after each area, go for it. Dragon Coins are crucial for permanently enhancing abilities and unlocking new ones for the turtles.
I also noticed how each playthrough feels refreshingly different, thanks to its fantastic level randomizer. Every boss encounter and area battle varies significantly, sometimes in subtle ways and other times quite noticeably.
There were moments when a boss seemed easy, but in subsequent encounters, they proved much tougher with new attack patterns and additional enemies in the mix.
These variations in level design and enemy encounters really keep the gameplay feeling fresh and exciting, avoiding any sense of grindiness.
This game is a perfect fit for the Nintendo Switch, especially in handheld mode. It's so addictive that you'll easily lose track of time playing it. By the end, you'll definitely feel the true Turtle Power!
Pros of TMNT: Splintered Fate
| Things TMNT: Splintered Fate Got Right |
|---|
|
Rad Hades-Like Roguelike Bodacious Multiplayer Wicked Boss Fights |
Rad Hades-Like Roguelike
This game takes the best elements of Hades' gameplay and in some instances feels smoother and less repetitive. It strikes a great balance—not as punishing as Hades, yet challenging enough to make you feel like a true ninja turtle. The difficulty spikes can be daunting at first, but they're fair. I didn’t encounter any enemies that felt cheap or unfair. Each upgrade noticeably enhances your character, whether from area rewards or permanent abilities via Dragon Coins, especially with the new elements introduced.
Every playthrough feels fresh, and all the turtles are equally enjoyable to play. Personally, I favor Raphael for his ability to deal massive critical damage—you can really rack up the hurt with the right upgrades. While it may not match Hades in terms of visuals, especially character design-wise, the gameplay is just as enjoyable and sometimes even more engaging.
Bodacious Multiplayer
I have to say, more roguelikes should incorporate multiplayer, and this game nails it perfectly. Playing with my friend locally and online felt incredibly fun and liberating. It's an absolute blast and really helps break up any sense of grindiness. In my opinion, all TMNT games should offer a multiplayer option, and this one is hands-down the best and most enjoyable.
Wicked Boss Fights
The boss fights in this game are intense and really give you a run for your money. They're not just challenging but also fair, and each one is memorable with unique movesets and arenas. It's exciting to face off against villains from the series, and the game does a great job of translating their abilities and skills into gameplay. One of my favorite fights is with Karai; her shurikens and abilities are awesome, and it's a thrilling one-on-one battle. There are plenty more amazing boss surprises and memorable encounters waiting as you continue playing.
Cons of TMNT: Splintered Fate
| Things That TMNT: Splintered Fate Can Improve |
|---|
|
Noticeable FPS Drops Lackluster Story |
Noticeable FPS Drops
If there's one issue I have with the combat, it's not actually with the combat mechanics themselves but with the frequent frame drops. It's disappointing because I could overlook occasional drops, but they happen quite noticeably, especially in co-op. It's odd since the game isn't particularly demanding graphically, being a port and all. The frame drops become a real problem when you're surrounded by multiple enemies, making dodging and reacting more difficult and creating unnecessary challenges. I really hope they patch this issue soon.
Lackluster Story
While the game offers fantastic fan service and insanely fun character interactions, especially among the turtles, it's let down by a really lackluster story. Despite all the cool nods and banter, the story feels like an afterthought. Even for die-hard turtle fans, it can feel tedious to get through.
Is TMNT: Splintered Fate Worth It?
Get it! If You Don’t Have Apple Arcade!
The Nintendo Switch port is excellent, and spending $30 on it is well worth it, especially if you want a game that's fun both online and offline with friends. The multiplayer mode really sets it apart, especially since the Apple Arcade version lacks local co-op. However, if you're already subscribed to Apple Arcade, it might be a tougher decision because the Switch port doesn't offer much new content beyond what's already in your subscription. But for Turtle fans or roguelike enthusiasts craving something like Hades, this game is an absolute must-buy!
| Digital Storefronts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Switch |
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| Price: | $29.99 | ||||
TMNT: Splintered Fate FAQ
Is TMNT: Splintered Fate Coming to Steam?
Yes, the game is coming to Steam, however, there is currently no confirmed release date as of writing.
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TMNT: Splintered Fate Product Information
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| Title | TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: SPLINTERED FATE |
|---|---|
| Release Date | July 17, 2024 |
| Developer | Super Evil Megacorp |
| Publisher | Super Evil Megacorp |
| Supported Platforms | Nintendo Switch, Mobile (iOS) |
| Genre | Action, Roguelike |
| Number of Players | 1-4 (Online Multiplayer) |
| ESRB Rating | E (Everyone) |
| Official Website | TMNT: Splintered Fate Website |
