Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is the arcade game that put the 1987 cartoon into a cabinet. Shredder has kidnapped April O’Neil, and the four brothers chase the Foot Clan from April’s burning apartment building through the streets and the sewers to the Technodrome, where Splinter is held too. This is Konami’s 1989 arcade game in its two-player version, where each player picks a turtle, and it plays right here in your browser with no download.

Like Konami brawlers? Try The Simpsons Arcade too.

How to play

1. Press Play under the title picture and wait a moment while the arcade machine starts.
2. Press Coin (V on a keyboard) to add a credit, then Start (Enter).
3. Pick Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello or Raphael with left and right and press attack.
4. Walk with the arrow keys, attack with Z and jump with X. Attack in the air for a jump attack.
5. Press Z and X together for the turtle’s special attack: Raphael rolls along the ground into a kick, the others sweep forward with their weapons.
6. Pick up the pizza to refill your energy.

Controls

Computer: arrow keys walk, Z attacks, X jumps, Z + X is the special attack, V adds a coin and Enter is Start. Move the mouse over the game to show the bar with pause, restart, sound, save state, load state and full screen buttons.

Phone and tablet: the pad under the game has the cross, A to attack, B to jump, and Coin and Start buttons.

A USB or Bluetooth gamepad also works.

Cheats

Press the magic wand button next to the full screen button above the game. A small panel opens over the game, and the game waits until you close it. The cheats switch on a few seconds after the machine has started.

• Unlimited lives: you never run out of lives.
• Unlimited energy: your energy bar stays full.
• Invincible: enemies can’t hurt you.

Reloading the page turns the cheats off again.

The four turtles

• Leonardo: the leader in blue, with two katana swords and a wide, even reach.
• Michelangelo: the joker in orange, swinging his nunchaku.
• Donatello: the inventor in purple, whose bo staff has the longest reach.
• Raphael: the hothead in red, quick and close with his sai.

About the TMNT arcade game

Konami released Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in arcades in 1989, at the height of the cartoon’s success. The original cabinet let four friends play at once, each on a fixed turtle; the two-player version here lets each player choose. Bebop, Rocksteady, Baxter Stockman, Granitor, General Traag, Krang and Shredder all appear as bosses, and the game’s success led to Turtles in Time in 1991.

Frequently asked questions

Is the TMNT arcade game free to play here?

Yes. You can play it free in your browser on Yes This Game, with no download and no sign-up.

How do I start the game?

Press Coin (V) to add a credit, then Start (Enter). You can add more credits any time to continue.

Which turtle is the best?

Donatello reaches furthest with his staff, which keeps enemies away. Leonardo is the most balanced. Michelangelo and Raphael are fun but need you to get close.

Can two people play?

Yes. A second player can join with a second gamepad.

Can I play it on my phone?

Yes. On a phone or tablet an on-screen pad with Coin and Start appears under the game.

Can I save my progress?

Yes. The bar under the game has save state and load state buttons that keep the game in your browser on this device.