Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate Delivers Roguelike Action on Nintendo Switch
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have enjoyed a significant resurgence in recent years.
With acclaimed releases like Shredder's Revenge and the Cowabunga Collection earning praise on the Nintendo Switch, and the upcoming Mutants Unleashed generating anticipation for October, the heroes in a half shell are keeping the momentum going.
Their latest venture, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate, takes the franchise in a bold direction, fusing the cherished beat-'em-up action with fresh isometric and roguelike gameplay on the Switch platform. Developed in collaboration with major TMNT stakeholders and launched via the Nintendo eShop, Splintered Fate offers fans yet another opportunity to step into the shells of Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello.
These iconic sewer-dwelling mutants—under the guidance of their sensei, Master Splinter—have starred in countless games since their arcade debut in 1989.
However, Splintered Fate marks the first time a roguelike approach has been applied to the franchise. Inspired loosely by the 2023 comic book series of the same title, the plot kicks off with the kidnapping of Master Splinter.
Players must guide the turtle team across an energetic, multi-dimensional journey through the sewers, streets, and rooftops of New York City, facing classic villains such as the Foot Soldiers, Mousers, and more.
The robust narrative, filled with humor and supported by standout voice acting, draws in both newcomers and long-time fans.
Beloved side characters—including April O'Neil, Metalhead, Casey Jones, and Leatherhead—feature throughout the adventure, heightening the authenticity of the TMNT world. Splintered Fate's core innovation is its roguelike structure.
Each run presents randomized rooms, enemy layouts, and mini-boss encounters, with permanent upgrades available via currency collected during gameplay.
Notably, even if a player loses all health, they are transported back to a base hub instead of facing a harsh game over.
Here, additional dialogue opportunities with supporting characters and the upgrading of abilities provide compelling reasons to dive back in.
Chapter bosses retain their identity across attempts, but dynamic dialogue and evolving scenarios keep the experience feeling both fresh and familiar.
These features combine to make Splintered Fate a welcoming entry point for rookies to the roguelike genre, while still rewarding fans of traditional side-scrolling action. Of course, action is at the heart of every TMNT adventure.
While Splintered Fate differs from older titles by omitting a jump feature, players quickly adapt to a satisfying combat system featuring standard attacks, special moves, and a dash ability, all of which can be improved during a session.
The ability to customize these moves mid-run further personalizes the gameplay, making each encounter rewarding.
The title supports solo play, local multiplayer, and online co-op.
Though adding players to ongoing solo runs requires a return to the menu, the game preserves story progression and upgrades across both modes, making cooperative play accessible and engaging. Technical setbacks do surface, as some users have encountered crashes and occasional glitches, particularly affecting non-primary players during endgame sequences.
In some instances, character visibility issues and progress loss have slightly marred the otherwise polished experience.
However, the game ensures a degree of continuity by retaining the player's abilities and run status after a crash, minimizing frustration. Ultimately, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate successfully pushes the franchise into new territory on the Nintendo Switch.
Its blend of classic TMNT charm, smooth visuals, robust voice acting, and approachable roguelike mechanics result in a compelling package.
Despite some technical hiccups, the game stands as a must-play for long-time fans and newcomers curious about this iconic team’s latest adventure on the Switch, reinforcing the TMNT legacy in the modern gaming era.
With acclaimed releases like Shredder's Revenge and the Cowabunga Collection earning praise on the Nintendo Switch, and the upcoming Mutants Unleashed generating anticipation for October, the heroes in a half shell are keeping the momentum going.
Their latest venture, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate, takes the franchise in a bold direction, fusing the cherished beat-'em-up action with fresh isometric and roguelike gameplay on the Switch platform. Developed in collaboration with major TMNT stakeholders and launched via the Nintendo eShop, Splintered Fate offers fans yet another opportunity to step into the shells of Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello.
These iconic sewer-dwelling mutants—under the guidance of their sensei, Master Splinter—have starred in countless games since their arcade debut in 1989.
However, Splintered Fate marks the first time a roguelike approach has been applied to the franchise. Inspired loosely by the 2023 comic book series of the same title, the plot kicks off with the kidnapping of Master Splinter.
Players must guide the turtle team across an energetic, multi-dimensional journey through the sewers, streets, and rooftops of New York City, facing classic villains such as the Foot Soldiers, Mousers, and more.
The robust narrative, filled with humor and supported by standout voice acting, draws in both newcomers and long-time fans.
Beloved side characters—including April O'Neil, Metalhead, Casey Jones, and Leatherhead—feature throughout the adventure, heightening the authenticity of the TMNT world. Splintered Fate's core innovation is its roguelike structure.
Each run presents randomized rooms, enemy layouts, and mini-boss encounters, with permanent upgrades available via currency collected during gameplay.
Notably, even if a player loses all health, they are transported back to a base hub instead of facing a harsh game over.
Here, additional dialogue opportunities with supporting characters and the upgrading of abilities provide compelling reasons to dive back in.
Chapter bosses retain their identity across attempts, but dynamic dialogue and evolving scenarios keep the experience feeling both fresh and familiar.
These features combine to make Splintered Fate a welcoming entry point for rookies to the roguelike genre, while still rewarding fans of traditional side-scrolling action. Of course, action is at the heart of every TMNT adventure.
While Splintered Fate differs from older titles by omitting a jump feature, players quickly adapt to a satisfying combat system featuring standard attacks, special moves, and a dash ability, all of which can be improved during a session.
The ability to customize these moves mid-run further personalizes the gameplay, making each encounter rewarding.
The title supports solo play, local multiplayer, and online co-op.
Though adding players to ongoing solo runs requires a return to the menu, the game preserves story progression and upgrades across both modes, making cooperative play accessible and engaging. Technical setbacks do surface, as some users have encountered crashes and occasional glitches, particularly affecting non-primary players during endgame sequences.
In some instances, character visibility issues and progress loss have slightly marred the otherwise polished experience.
However, the game ensures a degree of continuity by retaining the player's abilities and run status after a crash, minimizing frustration. Ultimately, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate successfully pushes the franchise into new territory on the Nintendo Switch.
Its blend of classic TMNT charm, smooth visuals, robust voice acting, and approachable roguelike mechanics result in a compelling package.
Despite some technical hiccups, the game stands as a must-play for long-time fans and newcomers curious about this iconic team’s latest adventure on the Switch, reinforcing the TMNT legacy in the modern gaming era.
