I’ve always found strategy games a bit challenging—they can be overwhelming with managing multiple characters or squads. But I couldn’t put down Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown, a game that cleverly combines elements of classic TMNT arcade games with modern strategy gameplay. It’s fast-paced, easy to pick up, and packed with action.
Developed by Strange Scaffold, Tactical Takedown keeps things simple by focusing on just one character per level, with a total of 20 levels to conquer. Each of the four turtles has unique moves—Leonardo wields his swords aggressively, while Michelangelo zips around on his skateboard. You can customize their abilities by unlocking new moves, but I found I could complete the game without changing their default skills.
Combat unfolds on a grid over small sections of iconic TMNT locations like streets, sewers, or subway tunnels. Each turn, you have six action points to move or attack—pressing a button to perform moves makes gameplay quick and seamless, with no complicated menus slowing things down. You’ve got six hearts and three lives; losing a life prompts a quick “Continue” option, letting you choose where to re-enter the level and keep the fight going, though it affects your score multiplier.
The levels are like tiny dioramas—characters perform attacks with simple animations, such as kicks, punches, or falls. It creates a charming feel, as if you’re moving action figures around rather than animated characters. One of the game’s coolest features is how the environment shifts constantly. Occasionally, new terrain drops in, or existing parts fall away, adding unpredictable hazards like toxic sewage or passing cars. Sometimes, the game even alerts you with a “Go” prompt, encouraging you to keep moving forward, much like an arcade game.
A strategic trick I learned is that if there’s no wall, you can send enemies flying off the level into the void for instant defeat. At first, it took me a moment to realize that this was a key tactic—sometimes, the fastest way to clear a crowded level is by knocking enemies off the edge.
One memorable level had me playing as Leonardo in a subway tunnel. The stage began on a platform, then a subway car appeared—navigating onto it, the platform fell away, and I moved through the subway, battling enemies with Leonardo’s swords. The train then arrived at a station, prompting me to hop off and continue. It felt like a fast-paced progression through the level, blending strategic combat with a sense of movement and momentum. Despite being turn-based, Tactical Takedown captures the crisp, energetic feel of classic TMNT arcade games.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown is now available on PC, offering a fresh take on strategy gaming that fans of TMNT and action-packed gameplay will love.
