Welcome back to “Cup of Coffee or Game?”—the only column where we ask the hard-hitting questions, like: Would I rather have a warm, comforting latte, or a digital download that might make me break my controller in frustration?
Today’s contender is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate for the Nintendo Switch. Normally, you might walk past this one, but right now it’s lurking in the Nintendo eShop shadows for $7.95 (down from $39.99) until March 17, 2026.
At that price, you’re basically robbing a convenience store. But is the game a delicious breakfast blend, or just a cup of instant sludge?
The Vibe: Hades with a Half-Shell
Let’s get the elephant in the sewer out of the way immediately: This game takes heavy, heavy inspiration from Hades. You navigate the Turtles through a series of rooms in the NYC subway, battling Foot Clan goons, collecting temporary god-like boons (here called “Mystic Powers” granted by characters like April O’Neil or Metalhead), and dying repeatedly to rescue Master Splinter.
If you are a fan of Supergiant’s masterpiece, the gameplay loop will feel instantly familiar. You dodge-roll like your life depends on it (because it does), you build synergies between your powers, and you slowly unlock permanent upgrades back at the lair. It’s a tried-and-true formula, and Splintered Fate executes it competently.
The Good Stuff (The Pizza)
The Combat: Each Turtle feels distinct. Leonardo is your balanced attacker, Donatello keeps enemies at range with his staff, Raphael is a slow but devastating brawler, and Michelangelo is a speedy whirlwind of nunchaku chaos. Swapping between them keeps the runs fresh. The “Crossing” system—where you can revive a downed teammate in co-op—is a genius touch that reinforces the TMNT brotherhood theme.
The Co-op: This is where the game truly shines. While the Hades comparison is obvious, Hades didn’t have couch co-op or online multiplayer. Bouncing mystic pizza boxes off your buddy’s head to heal them or coordinating Ultimate attacks on a boss is peak TMNT fantasy. If you have a friend, this instantly jumps in value.
The Presentation: The cel-shaded art style is gorgeous on the Switch OLED. It looks like the 2012 cartoon jumped right into your console. The voice acting is cheesy in the best possible way, and the soundtrack thumps.
The Rotten Stuff (The Spoiled Milk)
The Repetition: Even for a roguelike, the environments feel limited. You’ll see the same subway stations and sewer corridors a lot. Hades kept things fresh with stunning art and character interactions between runs; here, the hub world feels a bit lifeless, and the story beats are sparse.
Performance Hiccups: On the Switch, when the screen gets busy—especially in co-op—the framerate can chug. It’s never unplayable, but it’s noticeable. This is a game that screams for the fluidity of a PC or current-gen console.
Shameless Cloning: I mentioned Hades a lot. If you haven’t played Hades, you’ll think this is a revelation. If you have played Hades, you might spend the first hour just listing all the things this game borrows without adding much new to the genre.
The Verdict
At its original $40 price tag, I’d tell you to wait for a sale. But at $7.95? This is a no-brainer.
It’s not perfect—the Switch version has technical warts, and it doesn’t surpass its inspirations—but it captures the spirit of the Turtles perfectly. It’s a perfect game to play on the couch with a buddy or to kill a half-hour on a lunch break.
Verdict: If you’re flying solo, this is a solid double-espresso—short, strong, and gets the job done. If you have a friend for co-op, this is a full pot of your favorite roast. For less than the price of a fancy latte, you can beat up Shredder with your brother. That’s a deal.
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