The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game follows the story of Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael as they battle against evil forces in New York. The Foot Soldiers, led by Shredder, have created a Mutagen bomb to mutate the city, but the turtles are able to stop it. However, when April O'Neil is kidnapped, the turtles must fight their way through hordes of enemies to rescue her and defeat Shredder.
The gameplay in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a side-scrolling beat 'em up, with many sequences using classic side views. Each turtle has its own unique attack, and the four can be controlled on screen at all times. When playing solo, the other turtles are controlled by AI. The game features upgrades that can be unlocked using Mutagen Canisters, as well as health-boosting food items such as pizza and sushi.