Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 81 | 100 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 100 | 1 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 88% | 82 | 514 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 40% | 45 | 2 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 6 reviews sampled · 5 total reviews in window · weighted 1 up / 1.5 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (90)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 70
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection is one of the best retro gaming collections to come out in years. Obviously the developers absolutely loved the series, because every single moment of this collection is bursting with Ninja Turtle love. From including some of the best home console and arcade games, to including the most in-depth behind-the-scenes look at the games, The Cowabunga Collection sets the new standard for how retro collections should be. While the collection includes a few less than stellar games you should probably avoid, there are 8 great games to jump in to and have a great time. These are some of the best games to appear on a Nintendo (or Sega) console in the past and a great way to revisit these classics again today on Nintendo Switch.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection is a decent overall package - even if it could use a bit more - but the numerous issues I ran into really brought down the experience.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection is an excellent package and another wonderfully executed preservation job from Digital Eclipse. Not all the games hold up under a modern lens, but this is still a must own for any TMNT fan.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection is indisputably the best thing Konami has released in a long while, meeting all expectations and then some. Bar absent difficulty settings for the arcade games, it's an anthology that finally gets it totally right. Digital Eclipse and Konami have done the fans justice, offering a comprehensive library that doesn't hide content behind a paywall, while going above and beyond in terms of features and bonuses. With online functionality and rollback netcode being the icing on the cake, this is now the gold standard for retro collections. Capcom, pay close attention.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The Cowabunga Collection is a fantastic compilation of some of the best TMNT games ever made, and it’s one of the premiere examples of a property managing to make the jump to video games without losing what makes it special in the first place.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Although inconsistent in game quality, if you are looking for the ultimate TMNT package, it's here. Excellent games with a host of enhancements to improve the experience as well as a well thought out, well researched slice of pizza in it's extras section. Online only adds to the brilliance allowing that arcade experience from the comfort of your own sewer. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection has all the T.U.R.T.L.E Power that is ever needed. Cowabunga!”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Unless you already own all of these games on their intended, initial platforms, you will undeniably get your money’s worth from The Cowabunga Collection’s varied Ninja Turtle action. However, retro game haters and those who don’t care for “The Heroes in a Half Shell” will find little to no value in Digital Eclipse and Konami’s blast from the past.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Not every game here is essential (or even worth playing), but there are enough gems that even new players will find something to enjoy.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection is a great package. While not every game is a winner - and a lot of them are variants of other games in the collection - there's still lots here to love. It brings two of the most beloved beat-'em-ups in history to modern platforms, and is host to some hidden gems like Radical Rescue. This is all polished up with a host of great enhancements and the fantastic Turtle Lair gallery, which - for any TMNT fan - may be worth the price of admission alone.”
read full review ↗ - 87
“TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection includes 13 great classic games with improvements and options that optimize the game experience. Besides having a good selection of titles, it includes a very complete gallery that works as a virtual museum. This nostalgia-packed collection is a great option to play with friends and is one of the best collections of the last few years.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection may be one of the most heartfelt compilations created to date, with all the fan service and love any fan of a turtle in a half shell could ever want.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Or maybe you just want to watch a playthrough of Hyperstone Heist just because. Cowabunga Collection presents so many ways to experience the Turtles games of the '80s and '90s, making it enjoyable for anyone who has any interest in the Turtles or their video game exploits. This truly is radical.”
read full review ↗
Pure Nintendo
cublikefoot
Jump Dash Roll
Nintendo Life
eXputer
Cubed3
Prima Games
PC Invasion
Push Square
LevelUp
Capsule Computers
NintendoWorldReport…and 78 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Cowabunga Collection 2nd PatchApr 4, 2023
- TMNT Collection First UpdateDec 21, 2022