In 2026, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are stepping into virtual reality with Empire City, a first-person action game designed for SteamVR and Meta Quest. Developed by Cortopia Studios, it’s the franchise’s first full dive into immersive gameplay—one where you don’t just control the turtles, you become one.
Rather than retelling familiar stories, Empire City drops you into a version of New York after the fall of Shredder, with the Foot Clan reclaiming control of the streets. It’s less about nostalgia and more about giving players a new way to move, fight, and think like a Ninja Turtle inside a living, hostile city.
First-person combat with real weight
Each turtle plays differently, not just in looks but in mechanics. You get Leonardo’s katanas, Donatello’s bo staff, Raphael’s sais, or Michelangelo’s nunchaku—each with distinct handling and range. The game’s melee system isn’t about button mashing, it’s about timing and positioning, which fits the VR format.
Beyond combat, movement plays a huge role. Rooftop chases, alleyway escapes, and vertical traversal feel built into the flow. There’s also gear—smoke bombs, shurikens, and support tools—to vary your approach. It’s clear the game wants you to think tactically, not just swing wildly.
A city that reacts to who you are
Empire City isn’t open-world, but it’s structured around layered urban zones. You’ll revisit the Turtles’ lair, which changes based on which character you’re playing, and you’ll move through parts of New York that feel reactive to your presence. The idea is to build immersion through interactivity rather than scale.
What’s notable here is the lack of fanservice overload. The tone is grounded—yes, there are nods to the comics and shows, but the focus is on putting you in the shell of a Turtle with VR-level immersion. There’s no arcade fluff. The vibe is more hands-on and physical.
Designed for co-op but playable solo
The full game supports online co-op for up to four players, making team dynamics central to the experience. It doesn’t just slap on multiplayer as a feature—it encourages you to think about how different Turtle abilities work together. Leo leads, Donnie supports, Raph disrupts, Mikey flanks.
That said, you can play solo, and the systems adapt. But you’ll miss part of the tension that comes from coordinating, reviving teammates, and working through fights with complementary tools. It’s one of those setups that makes each run a little different depending on who’s in your squad.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City is expected to launch in 2026 on both SteamVR and Meta Quest. Wishlist options are already live. Whether it lives up to its ambition will depend on how well it balances freedom of movement, satisfying combat, and that essential co-op rhythm. But what’s clear is that this isn’t just a skin on a generic VR brawler—it’s a VR-native attempt to reimagine the Turtles for a new format. One where you don’t watch them fight. You fight as them.
Virtual Reality Explorer & Game Reviewer
Always the first to plug in. VRSCOUT dives head-first into the most immersive VR worlds, analyzing mechanics, comfort, innovation, and that elusive “presence” factor. If he says it’s worth it, it probably is.
