Top 10 Hottest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Collectibles to Collect

By VeVe Staff · October 21, 2025

The late ’80s and early ’90s saw Turtlemania sweep the globe. Back then, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles collectibles flew off shelves with the first four years of TMNT toys alone raking in over $1 billion in sales. Some are now worth thousands, while new releases keep the turtle power alive for a new generation.

Below, we count down the top 10 hottest TMNT toys to collect, a mix of vintage rarities and modern releases that are in serious demand. Whether you’re a nostalgic 80’s kid or a new fan diving into the sewer, these are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles collectibles you’ll want to snag for your collection.

10. Mutant Mayhem Movie Figures (2023 Playmates Line)

In 2023, the Mutant Mayhem animated film introduced the heroes to a new generation, while the tie-in toys quickly became the hottest items on holiday wishlists. Playmates’ Mutant Mayhem action figures captured the movie’s fresh style and fun vibe. They even earned a spot on TTPM’s “Most Wanted” toys of 2023 list, meaning kids and collectors alike were scrambling to find them. While these figures aren’t rare, their massive popularity shows how Turtle Power is alive and well. And who knows, keeping a set of these movie figures mint-on-card might pay off years down the line, when today’s kids become tomorrow’s collectors!

9. Threezero 1/6 Scale Collectible Figures (~2016)

Threezero released a series of 1:6 scale (12-inch) TMNT figures with incredible realism and detail. They were display-worthy pieces for serious collectors, complete with swappable hands, weapons, and painstaking paint apps. Initially retailing for a few hundred dollars each, they’ve since shot up in value on the secondary market. Today, some of these Threezero figures fetch around $450–$500 apiece when they surface for sale. For example, Threezero’s hyper-detailed Bebop and Raphael figures have been valued around $480 each. If you were lucky enough to snag the Threezero Turtles or villains back then, grab a slice to celebrate as you’ve got some of the hottest modern TMNT collectibles in your lair.

8. NECA Cartoon 8-Pack (SDCC 2017 Exclusive)

By the late 2010s, nostalgia for the classic 1987 cartoon was at a fever pitch. NECA answered the call with an ultimate collector’s box set: an 8-pack of cartoon-accurate TMNT figures released as a San Diego Comic-Con 2017 exclusive. This set included all four Turtles in their animated glory, plus Shredder, Krang, and two Foot Soldiers, packaged in a retro-style carrying case. NECA made a limited number available for pre-order, but they sold out in about a minute each day. Originally priced around $200, the set now commands a hefty premium whenever one pops up on eBay, commonly in the $350–$500 range. The NECA cartoon figures have since been released in retail two-packs, but this commemorative 8-pack remains highly coveted.

7. NECA 2012 SDCC Exclusive “Movie Turtles” Autograph Set

This set featured the four 6-inch Turtle figures modeled after the original 1990 live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film, with each figure’s package hand-signed by the actors who performed the Turtle voices! Limited to Comic-Con attendees, only a small number were produced and it’s now effectively a unicorn on the secondary market. In fact, this NECA Turtle four-pack (with signatures) is valued around $1,000 today. That’s if you can even find one for sale. As a piece celebrating the Turtle’s cinematic debut, it’s both a center-piece collectible and a slice of Turtle history.

6. Mail-Away “Mutation” Turtles (1989)

In 1989, Playmates offered a special mail-away promotion: translucent green “mutation” versions of the original Turtles, as if they were mid-transformation from pet turtles to ninjas. Kids had to mail in proofs-of-purchase, often from cereal or Chef Boyardee offers, to get these exclusive figures. The promotion was brief, and very few were ever distributed. Fast forward to now, and they’ve become ghosts on the market. On the rare occasion one surfaces in intact condition, collectors pounce at the opportunity to own them. In fact, an unopened Mutation Michelangelo mail-away recently sold at auction for over $2,000.

5. Original 1988 Playmates Ninja Turtles (First Wave)

The first edition Turtle figures that started it all remain a cornerstone of any TMNT collection. Back in summer 1988, Playmates released the original lineup: the four Ninja Turtles along with allies like Splinter and April, and villains Shredder, Bebop, Rocksteady, and a Foot Soldier. Because they were produced in large numbers, loose used figures are easy to find. But mint-on-card examples of the 1988 releases? Those are a different story. Sealed in their blister packs with all accessories and unpunched hang cards, they’ve become quite valuable over time. In fact, some of the rarest and most valuable TMNT figures today are those very first 1988 editions in pristine condition. They can sell for hundreds of dollars each now if unopened. Beyond monetary value, they carry immense nostalgic weight. The sculpts, the iconic card art, the “Heroes in a Half Shell” logo are pure nostalgia fuel. 

4. Shogun Shoate (1994)

By 1994, Playmates was deep into wild and creative character designs to keep TMNT fresh. Enter Shogun Shoate, one of the most menacing late-line figures. He only ever appeared briefly in the Mirage comics, but as a toy he has a huge presence. Unfortunately for fans, Shogun Shoate hit shelves when turtle popularity was waning, so he saw a very limited release. Fewer kids bought him, meaning few survived into collectors’ hands. Today this T-rex warrior is fiercely sought-after. A complete Shogun Shoate can go for upwards of $1000 if it’s still sealed on the card. Even loose, he commands a hefty sum due to scarcity. With his samurai weapons and shiny metallic armor, Shoate represents the bonkers creativity of ’90s TMNT at its best, and one of the hottest TMNT collectibles you can hunt down.

3. Hot Spot (1993)

Kids in 1993 had no idea who Hot Spot was, so he warmed pegs only briefly. But his short run is exactly why he’s red-hot in the collector market now. Hot Spot came geared up with a fire hydrant backpack, axe, and dalmatian-themed gear, making him one of the more whimsical and detailed late-line figures. Collectors are willing to shell out serious cash for this pooch. Even loose figures have sold in the four figures, and a mint Hot Spot on card has netted well over $1,100 online. He often goes hand-in-hand with Scratch (next on our list) as a must-have duo of rare 1993 mutants.

2. Scratch the Cat (1993)

If there’s one figure that’s always mentioned in hushed, reverent tones by Ninja Turtle collectors, it’s Scratch. This anthropomorphic prison cat came out in 1993 as part of the “Warriors of the Forgotten Sewer” series. Like Hot Spot, Scratch never featured in the cartoon, and he hit at the tail end of the toy line when interest was dwindling. Over the years, he’s become arguably the most famous TMNT “grail” figure. Prices have climbed to insane levels with even loose Scratch figures have sold for around $2,200, and boxed/mint specimens have gone north of $3,000 on the secondary market. Some high-grade examples have fetched even more at auction. He represents the peak of rarity from the original Playmates era. If you’re lucky enough to score this felonious feline, you’ve clawed your way to the top of Turtle collecting.

1. Undercover Turtles (1994 “Secret Agent” Series)

The Undercover Turtles put the four Ninja brothers in fabric trench coats and fedoras, masquerading as private eyes/spy guys. These were essentially deluxe variants of the Turtles, each with a real cloth trenchcoat. Playmates only made this full Undercover set for one wave, and by ’94 the turtle craze was winding down, so not many kids ever saw these on shelves. Today, the Undercover Turtles are legendary collectibles. Each comes with character-specific accessories like in Leonardo’s case, a special gold collector coin. Finding all four in mint condition is like hitting the jackpot and will cost as much as a jackpot, too. Undercover Leonardo is the priciest of the bunch, since his gold coin was unique; a sealed Leo has sold for over $5,000 on eBay, and even the others can fetch a couple grand each in package. In fact, Undercover Leo has recently topped lists as the single most expensive Ninja Turtle figure ever. If you have one (or all four) of these in your collection, consider your Turtle cred firmly established and that you’ve mastered the art of the collectible ninja.

As the auction sales and sold-out releases show, Turtle Power lives on in the collecting world. Whether you’re hunting a rare vintage mutant or pre-ordering the newest digital exclusive, it’s a totally tubular time to be a Turtle collector. Cowabunga, and happy hunting!

_{Everything you read here is written by fans, for fans. This article was created by VeVe and is not officially affiliated with or approved by any licensor. All content referenced belongs to their respective rights holders.}