10 HARDEST Levels in TMNT Games

10 Hardest Levels in TMNT Games

Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we’re counting down our picks for the ten hardest levels in “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” games. Cowabunga dude!

Episode 3 - Mutants Over Broadway!

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge” (2022)

We are going to start things off a tad bit more laidback here, but only just. Autoscrolling levels can be incredibly frustrating, even when they are fun to play through. Most of the challenge and frustration can come from having little to no room for error since the level just keeps on moving, especially in a case like Mutants Over Broadway where it’s also a vehicle section with oodles upon oodles of baddies to attempt to thwart. Interestingly, this is one of those rare levels in the game where it’s actually harder the more people you are playing with since it only adds to the cacophony of color, sound, and pummeling madness. If you manage to survive, you then need to deal with Bebop and Rocksteady’s Turtle Tenderizer, a massive vehicle that takes up a huge portion of the screen.

Sewer Surfin’

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time” (1991)

Much like the previous entry, Sewer Surfin’ in “Turtles in Time” is another autoscrolling level, this time bringing back fond (or perhaps scarring) memories of Turbo Tunnels from “Battletoads.” Yes, it’s short. Yes, it can easily be beaten if you memorize it completely. But, for most of us out there, it’s a real doozy to stay on your turtle toes as you avoid the Foot Clan, spikey vines, sharp mines, and apparently Xenomorphs that have jaundice. And, just when you are about to take a breather, the Rat King shows up…

Episode 2-2: Large Lab

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus” (2004)

It’s so easy to get overwhelmed at this short but grueling level. This early game difficulty spike is there to ensure you have begun to master your combat prowess. Despite being a large battle arena, it still oddly feels small, mostly because it’s super dark, it’s circular, and has a crazy cornucopia of baddies that constantly barrage you, giving you little room to breathe and reset. The best tip is to stay mobile, picking off one or two goons when you get the chance to whittle down their numbers.

Ninjas in the Crypt

“TMNT: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (2007)

2007’s “TMNT” is an often overlooked “Turtles” game – which is a real shame since it blends some fun and challenging “Prince of Persia”-inspired parkour platforming with some skill-based combat arenas. It’s not perfect by any means, but there’s a lot to love. The level ‘Ninjas in the Crypt’ might just be the most challenging of all levels in this game since it throws you into some truly devious parkour platforming obstacle course with loads of traps and hazards, with these sections interspersed with combat encounters that are sheer battles of attrition; all in an attempt to save Leo. You best have your wits about you and your skills ready if you hope to survive this creepy crypt.

Episode 15 - Outworld Strangeoids

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge” (2022)

When a level is downright grueling even in co-op, you know it’s out to get you; a difficulty spike in an otherwise pretty chill beat ‘em up overall…well, apart from the previous level we mentioned, of course. Outworld Strangeoids is a bit unique in that a lot of the challenge actually comes from the sheer amount of spike traps that are devious as they are lethal. They are just so hard to avoid. Trying to navigate around them while dealing with the onslaught of goons takes real grit, again, even with friends by your side. Then, it all ends with a pretty fierce boss battle against Krang. Best of luck!

Scene 8 - Spaceship

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project” (1991)

This is easily the hardest level in the entirety of “The Manhattan Project.” However, it also just so happens to have the best difficulty curve. It’s a solid beat ‘em up stage that slowly ups the ante, tossing increasingly tougher opponents your way as the stage progresses. It’s honestly quite refreshing. Your skills will constantly be tested as baddies consistently pop up, and you will always be on your toes. To keep the level from getting stale, you are also given a mini-boss against a Foot Clan goon riding a robot and a regular boss battle against Krang. It’s an uber-tough but fair level that is fun, challenging, and rewarding.

Neon Night Riders

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time” (1991)

Lookie here everyone, another tough-as-nails autoscrolling. Short. Sweet. And Brutal. Surprise, surprise? A turtle, a hoverboard, loads of Foot Clan dudes, a neon-drenched city, and Super Krang are what await you here. This one is a pure test of reaction timing and quick-second decision making both during the initial part of the stage and, of course, against Super Krang. Again, it’s a short stage, but it wastes no time at all in throwing your right into the thick of it. Like other autoscrolling levels we have discussed on this list, success will generally come from memorizing the pacing of the levels and how the goons attack.

Area 6 - The Technodrome

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (1989)

Are you prepared for the Technodrome? This is no cake walk; a real doozy of a stage. It sets you up for the final boss battle against Shredder, itself quite easy, all things considered. The Technodrome is a test of everything you have learned in the game so far, anticipating that you have gathered the necessary skills to barge through its gauntlet of pain. Baddies popping out of nowhere, projectiles flying about willy-nilly, a sort of labyrinthian level layout, and you health bar getting decimated easily if you aren’t careful, all lead the Technodrome to be one of the hardest in this whole game, but not the absolute hardest. We’ll get there soon.

Act 6

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Back from the Sewers” (1991)

Good golly, this Act is downright brutal from top to bottom, split into smaller sub-levels, with each one punishing any careless moves. The stage starts out with a quick autoscrolling section that will test your nerves. Then, you are thrown in a gauntlet of various areas where baddies pop out of nowhere, constantly barrage you, and fill the screen up with projectiles and attacks. Plus, you even contend with a tough mini-boss. The fact that the screen real estate is tiny (given it’s a Game Boy game) in tandem with large character sprites means that you have very little room for error as you traipse through this nightmarish Act.

Area 2 - The Dam

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (1989)

Yes, that’s right, the downright most brutal level in all of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” video games is none other than this one. It’s likely the first level your mind conjures up when people ask about the hardest “TMNT” games or levels. It’s infamous. It’s notorious. It’s cruel at times. But, yet, we keep coming back for more for some reason. Most of the pain comes from the underwater bits and bobs where you have to disarm bombs under a strict time limit, all while avoiding lethal electric seaweed and an incredibly confusing stage layout. That’s not to say the pre-underwater parts are easy; far from it. But, it’s really the swimming section that makes us cringe, even to this day. Ya…good luck, you will need it!

So, what did you think of our picks for this list? What are the hardest levels you have endured in “TMNT” games? Let us know in the comments.