PS Plus’ new free game is one the best releases of recent years

With so many games available across the PlayStation Plus library, it can sometimes feel a little overwhelming with so many choices.

Recently, the PlayStation Plus Games June 2023 were announced for Extra and Premium subscribers, and it includes some fantastic games: indie darlings, Rogue Legacy 2 and Inscryption, as well as Ubisoft’s AAA big-hitter, Far Cry 6.

One other game that is a standout addition, and I can whole-heartedly recommend is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, developed by Tribute Games and published by Dotemu (Streets of Rage 4). TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge plays homage to the classic TMNT arcade game of 1989 and Turtles in Time (1991).

However, TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge is more than just paying homage to the classic arcade games of yesteryear. For starters, the pixel art style looks wonderful in glorious HD with updated animations to boot, and the nostalgic distorted sound bites will bring all sorts of cosy fuzziness.

TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge has two main modes, traditional arcade provides a limited number of lives that challenges the player to finish the game in one sitting. Then we have the story mode which not only allows the player to accumulate extra lives and use abilities such as Radical mode which unleashes a temporary superpower to dispose of your enemies, but you can unlock a certain character upon completion that is playable for the first time.

What’s more, TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge also supports up to six players co-op, an improvement over four players from the 1989 arcade game. While you can play Shredder’s Revenge locally, you can also play it online, and somehow, this game manages to capture the charm of playing an arcade game with a stranger, when arcades were a lot more common back in the day.

I’m someone that suffers from anxiety, even when playing games online. Yet, despite playing with non-communicating strangers from the other side of the world, I was instantly taken back to my childhood arcade memories when playing online co-op with Shredder’s Revenge. That in itself is something truly special.

Dotemu

You don’t even have to be a fan of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, because Shredder’s Revenge is for everyone that loves to sit back, pick up the controller and enjoy some simplistic, but fun beat ‘em-up action.

At the time of writing, Sony hasn't announced how long Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge will remain on PlayStation Plus, so do yourself a favour, download and play this absolute delight of a game now. If you need extra convincing, check out our review.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is out now for PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo. What’s more, it’s also getting some DLC with ‘Dimension Shellshock’ later this year which adds a new character, levels and modes. Which is totally Bodacious, of course.