Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows — players control the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Players are able to switch between the 4 Turtles — Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo and Raphael — while being able to play through the game in both single-player and co-op modes. In the absence of other players, the remaining turtles are controlled by AI and accompany the protagonist as he progresses. Each of the 4 Turtles has an individual fighting style that differs depending on the weapon chosen: Leonardo wields two katanas, making him the most skilled of the Turtles.
The gameplay is based on teamwork, thanks to which players can use team combinations on opponents and knock them out. Special moves fill the green bar located at the top left of the screen. When it is full, players gain access to a powerful combination that instantly destroys enemies.