In my 30s, I unexpectedly became a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fan. When I saw a demo for a new TMNT turn-based tactics game called Tactical Takedown in Steam Next Fest, I was eager to try it out. The game is like a board game version of the series, where battles against waves of Foot Clan ninjas are turned into miniatures clashing on a shifting battlefield grid. In the demo, players can only control one turtle at a time, which seems like an odd choice considering the iconic team nature of the turtles. Each turtle has its own set of abilities and playstyle. For example, Leonardo can gain a damage bonus or a free dodge when he defeats an enemy, allowing him to play more aggressively. On the other hand, Donatello specializes in keep-away tactics with AoE shoves, immobilizing kunai throws, and electric bombs that create hazardous terrain. Despite the imbalance among the turtles and some issues with ability tooltips not functioning as described, the core strategy of the game is compelling and enjoyable. The one-vs-many setup combined with simple enemy AI makes it satisfying to outsmart the Foot Clan goons. The game’s release date is yet to be announced, but with some polishing, Tactical Takedown has the potential to be an exciting tactics game. The hour-long demo leaves the gamers with the promise of a loadout screen for customizing each turtle’s abilities to suit different playstyles. The free demo of TMNT: Tactical Takedown is available to play until March 3 during Steam Next Fest.