This is looking really very good.

[SIZE=24px]Game Information[/SIZE]

Game Title: Splatoon Raiders

Platforms:

Nintendo Switch 2 (Jul 23, 2026)

Trailer:

[b]Review Aggregator[/b]:

OpenCritic - 83 average - 83% recommended

[SIZE=24px]Critic Reviews[/SIZE]

CGMagazine - Jordan Biordi - 8.5 / 10

Splatoon Raiders is proof positive the series can evolve past its competitive multiplayer roots, creating a fun and engaging ARPG experience that’s hard to put down.

COGconnected - Jaz Sagoo - 85 / 100

More importantly, it proves that Splatoon can thrive beyond its competitive roots, creating an adventure that’s every bit as colourful, inventive and addictive as its multiplayer counterpart.

Console Creatures - Bobby Pashalidis - 8 / 10

Splatoon Raiders is a genuinely great twist on the Splatoon formula. Going in, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but as I left the tutorial, I knew this was a game that I find far and above more my preference than the mainline games. It might not have the deepest story, but what Splatoon Raiders does have is a sense of adventure, and the island hopping in search of treasure does just enough with its story and characters to keep you entertained through to the credits.

Digitally Downloaded - Matt Sainsbury - 4 / 5

Fans will find the story elements fun, and the narrative carries the same attitude as the previous Splatoon titles, but there’s still so little of substance there.

Digitec Magazine - Domagoj Belancic - German - 3 / 5

Splatoon Raiders is a solid looter shooter with brilliant core gameplay. Blasting enemies with ink, swimming through it, and aiming with precise gyro controls feels fantastic. A wide range of weapons, gadgets, perks, and mods also encourages experimentation. Unfortunately, repetitive level design and increasingly grind-heavy progression drain much of the initial excitement. Its drab, dated visuals also fall short of what I expect from a Switch 2 exclusive. Splatoon fans may still enjoy it, but newcomers are better off starting with Splatoon 3.

Enternity.gr - Nikitas Kavouklis - Greek - 8.5 / 10

Splatoon Raiders manages to maintain the high standards of this successful franchise.

Eurogamer - Christian Donlan - 4 / 5

This series offshoot is a hectic, often overwhelming delight.

Eurogamer.pt - Bruno Galvão - Portuguese - 4 / 5

Splatoon Raiders does exactly what Splatoon has always done: deliver instant fun in a colorful shooting festival. Your reflexes and understanding of the mechanics are constantly put to the test in an ingeniously simple design that celebrates Nintendo’s philosophies, as interpreted here by its newest generation.

Everyeye.it - Domenico Musicò - Italian - 8 / 10

Splatoon Raiders is ultimately a valuable addition to the series’ larger picture, a shift in perspective but not in identity; it’s a complementary experience that enhances the saga’s imagery while also pointing to a new direction.

GAMES.CH - Benjamin Braun - German - 83%

Whether playing solo or with others in co-op mode, we had a blast with “Splatoon Raiders” thanks to the spectacular mass battles, diverse weapons, cool gadgets, and motivating crafting and other upgrade options.

GameSpot - Steve Watts - 8 / 10

Splatoon Raiders shows a new degree of flexibility for the franchise, with a single-player campaign that’s much more satisfying than its past attempts to inject a story campaign into the main games.

Gameliner - Nils Hoogervorst - Dutch - 3.5 / 5

Splatoon Raiders is Splatoon through and through: the core gameplay, controls, and movement are as enjoyable as ever, while tanks, gadgets, and a Monster Hunter-inspired structure add a fresh twist. However, beneath that solid foundation, repetitive missions, uninspired level design, and a lack of standout moments keep it from leaving a lasting impression.

GamersGlobal - Hagen Gehritz - German - 7.5 / 10

Splatoon Raiders got great shooter qualities. It’'s a perfect game for turning my head off after a long day and just splat away. But I would be more happy, if I could raid a treasure island that got more moments that stick out besides cool boss fights and well made cutscenes that are few and far between.

Geeks & Com - Anthony Gravel - French - 8.5 / 10

Splatoon Raiders successfully expands the Splatoon universe with a content-rich adventure that blends exploration, customization, and satisfying loot-driven progression. Its colorful world, strong sense of discovery, and polished gameplay make it feel like a natural evolution for the franchise. While a few repetitive moments prevent it from reaching its full potential, it’s an excellent spin-off that proves Splatoon can thrive beyond competitive multiplayer.

Gfinity - Alister Kennedy - 9 / 10

I was disappointed Splatoon Raiders was revealed as a single-player spin-off, but I was dead wrong. It is incredible, playing like a brilliant mix of Ratchet & Clank meets Helldivers that hooked me instantly. Teaming up with the Deep Cut crew, the loop of raiding Salmonid hordes for loot and upgrades is deeply satisfying. The overhauled movement adds a sense of verticality that the main games desperately need, and progression actually feels rewarding rather than a slow grind. Even with a more atmospheric than catchy soundtrack, this is an absolute must-play. Take it from a skeptic: Splatoon Raiders might just be the best game in the whole franchise.

Giant Bomb - Mike Minotti - 3.5 / 5

After rolling credits, Splatoon Raiders made it clear that there is still a good amount of post-game content to check out. I just don’t feel much of a drive to play more. I had fun drowning all of those salmonids in ink. But just like them, I’ve had my fill.

Glitched Africa - Marco Cocomello - 9 / 10

Splatoon Raiders is the PvE-focused Splatoon adventure fans have been waiting for: a fast, colourful, and remarkably deep shooter packed with satisfying loot, flexible builds, inventive levels, and the series’ unmistakable charm. Its frantic Salmonid battles and rewarding raid loop kept me chasing one more upgrade long after I should have stopped, while its solo campaign proves Nintendo can make Splatoon shine just as brightly outside of PvP. Whether playing alone or eventually with friends, this is one raid well worth joining.

Hobby Consolas - Álvaro Alonso - Spanish - 87 / 100

Nintendo has pulled off a game that’s pure addiction . You always want to complete everything, find everything, and keep playing to complete more and find more.

IGN - Logan Plant - 9 / 10

Splatoon Raiders is an incredibly well-designed action RPG with an expertly executed loop. Its deep customization, challenging battles, and sheer variety make it the best Splatoon campaign yet and one of the top games on Switch 2.

IGN Italy - Arturo Perrotta - Italian - 8 / 10

Splatoon Raiders is an excellent spin-off that centers the experience around a fun gameplay loop and a high level of challenge, all enhanced by excellent performance.

IGN Spain - Marcos Catalán - Spanish - 8 / 10

Ultimately, it’s much more than just a tutorial that’s been expanded. Splatoon Raiders is a fully-fledged game in its own right and will appeal to fans of the main series as well as those who were clamouring for more single-player content, although we can also explore it with others if we wish.

Loot Level Chill - Adam Cook - 9 / 10

An exceptionally entertaining single player adventure, Splatoon Raiders is expertly designed, full of content, and just a fantastic time.

Nintendo Blast - Farley Santos - Portuguese - 7 / 10

Splatoon Raiders delivers the fast-paced, satisfying combat the series is known for, with a solid selection of weapons, gadgets, and customization options that make battles against Salmonid hordes enjoyable. However, its campaign becomes repetitive, underuses its most interesting mechanics, and relies heavily on grinding, which hurts the overall pacing. While it lacks the creativity of previous entries, the game remains an entertaining and content-rich experience, particularly for players interested in tougher challenges or multiplayer, making it a competent, if somewhat uninspired, addition to the Splatoon universe.

Nintendo Connect - Alexander Lönnendonker - German - 87%

Deep Cut finally has their own game, delivering an entertaining, quintessentially Splatoon take on a loot-level-optimize gameplay loop that should hit the spot for many — and might even convince newcomers to check out the main games.

Nintendo Life - Alex Olney - 9 / 10

Splatoon Raiders may be missing the series’ iconic Turf War, but what we have here is possibly the most variable and exciting game the series has ever offered. Regardless of your skill level or personal play styles, the game is able to cater to practically any taste, and all whilst delivering one of the most enjoyable gameplay loops on the console.It looks good, runs fantastically, and you can play practically the whole thing with friends if you wish. Not only that, but Nintendo’s flogging it for a bargain price. It may not push any boundaries within the genre per se, but it’s difficult to find anything negative to say about it, it really is a must-play for almost anyone.

PPE.pl - Wojciech Gruszczyk - Polish - 8 / 10

Splatoon Raiders proves that the world of Splatoon works just as well outside of online competition. Nintendo has created an incredibly satisfying action game with very well-designed progression, although it lacks greater mission variety and a more engaging story. If you enjoy fast-paced combat, character progression and the distinctive atmosphere of this series, the Japanese developers’ latest release should provide you with plenty of fun.

SECTOR.sk - Michal Korec - Slovak - 8.5 / 10

Splatoon Raiders is a partially refreshing spin-off with new gameplay aimed at rich loot, fast combat system and vast customization making this hunt for treasure refreshing even after 15 hours. The co-op or multiplayer components’cannot be denied, but if you want to honor your Splatoon skills in different ways, this is one charming title to do so.

Shacknews - Ozzie Mejia - 8 / 10

Is Splatoon Raiders groundbreaking? No. Is it the best in its class? Also, no. I’ve played better, deeper, and more involved looter shooters out there. Having said this, I found a fun charm in Splatoon Raiders and it all comes from this universe that Nintendo has built.

Spaziogames - Andrea Maiellano - Italian - 8 / 10

Splatoon Raiders pulls off the hardest trick of all: turning one of Nintendo’s most iconic multiplayer series into a single player adventure without losing its identity. The gameplay remains incredibly fun, the progression is surprisingly deep, and the customization system offers far more freedom than expected. Exploring the Spirhalite Isles and the constant hunt for new gear make every mission enjoyable, while co-op adds extra longevity without overshadowing the game’s single player nature.

Stevivor - Steve Wright - 6 / 10

By removing Turf War and transitioning to something pretty close to a first-person shooter, Nintendo has taken what makes the franchise unique and discarded it with Splatoon Raiders.

TheSixthAxis - Stefan L - 9 / 10

Splatoon Raiders is great. Putting more of a focus on solo and co-op for this game has led to an adventure with a really satisfying progression as you level up, grind stages for experience and gear, and build up your loadout to tackle the next big challenge.

Tom’s Guide - Anthony Spadafora - 4.5 / 5

Splatoon Raiders successfully trades competitive PvP for an addictive, looter-shooter loop packed with bite-sized raids, deep crafting, and thrilling co-op. While a few late-game missions hit mild repetition, the top-tier movement, gorgeous Switch 2 visuals, and rock-solid 60 fps performance keep the momentum going strong. Whether you’re playing solo or with friends, it’s a phenomenal spin-off that no Splatoon fan should miss.
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TryAGame! - Guillaume Dreher - French - 9 / 10

Nintendo succeeds, once again, its bet on a solo adventure for the license carried by the Tridenfers. Splatoon Raiders offers a dynamic adventure, with a bluffing tactical depth and a significant choice of weapons. If we add to this a bestiary inspired by multiple dangers and a curve of controlled difficulty, we obtain a captivating gaming experience that will please both novices and regulars of the license.

Video Chums - A.J. Maciejewski - 8.7 / 10

Splatoon Raiders is such a fun action platformer that it’s really hard to put down, especially as you keep unlocking new features and gadgets that make the incredibly entertaining combat even more personal and engaging. Plus, it’s so stylish that you’ll feel cool just for playing it. 🦑

WellPlayed - Jade Stevenson - 10 / 10

You know you’ve hit gold when your biggest criticism of a game is that you just wanted more. Between the fast-paced, technical gameplay, the depth of the build mechanics, and the irreverent design that underpins the Splatoon series, this is an experience that’s shockingly hard to fault. Go play it.