Cowabunga, dudes! The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are riding the waves of resurgence, thanks to the success of the animated film, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, which rocked both audience and critic scores on Rotten Tomatoes.
Capitalizing on the new-found buzz, Nickelodeon and Paramount are working on a sequel and a two-season series on Paramount+. But the turtles aren’t stopping at the silver screen. They’re infiltrating the gaming world with a new video game set to release in 2024.
Published by Outright Games, which has an extensive portfolio of family-friendly licensed games like Peppa Pig: World Adventures and Transformers: Battlegrounds, the game is a tie-in with the Mutant Mayhem universe.
The game takes place months after the events of the film, putting players in the shells of Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo as they combat a new mutant threat in New York City. While the developers behind the game remain shrouded in mystery, the gameplay promises to blend “energetic ninja teamwork” with a “funny story,” according to a press release.
Stephanie Malham, COO of Outright Games, expressed excitement over the collaboration with Nickelodeon, stating that the game would further expand the global reach of the “most enduring and beloved franchises in the world.
This all sounds like a Turtle fan’s dream, but what about the game’s visuals? It will borrow the “bold, painterly art style” from the film, aiming to make the sprawling cityscapes and sewer lairs of New York that’s as vibrant and dynamic as the turtles themselves. Doug Rosen, SVP of Games and Emerging Media at Paramount, emphasized how the film’s unique art style makes it a perfect candidate for video game adaptation, adding another layer of excitement to the forthcoming release.
Interestingly, the game’s timeline fits snugly between the events of Mutant Mayhem and its upcoming sequel, as well as a new 2D animated series, Tales of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This layered storytelling approach across multiple mediums indicates a meticulously planned expansion of the Ninja Turtles universe, providing ample opportunity for character development and world-building.
While waiting for more specifics, the game’s expected compatibility spans across both the PC and unspecified consoles. Given Outright Games’ history, it’s likely the game will be available on a variety of platforms like the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X. The company has received relatively positive reviews for their past titles, though some users have expressed concerns about the price-to-playtime ratio.
As for the Ninja Turtles themselves, they’ve been pixelated heroes long before this upcoming venture. Classics like the original TMNT arcade game and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time are still held in high regard. The franchise also saw a modern release last year with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, which brought the arcade beat’em up action to contemporary platforms. Finally, it’s believed that the turtle brothers are headed to Fortnite next.
With a sequel film, a Paramount+ series, and now a video game as well as a video game adaptation of TMNT: The Last Ronin in the pipeline, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are reclaiming their spot in pop culture. The only missing piece of the puzzle is who the new mutant villain will be in the game. Until then, fans can only speculate while humming the iconic theme song, awaiting the next adventure of their favorite heroes in a half-shell. Turtle power!
