Nintendo is often accused of relying on familiar structures and franchises, cycling the likes of Mario, Zelda and Pokémon into what feels like an endless loop. In many ways, that is somewhat accurate, but if you were around during the dying days of the Wii U, you may remember that Nintendo put a lot of time and effort into a new IP known as Splatoon.
Designed to fill a huge gap in Nintendo’s library with a decent online shooter, Splatoon was an unexpected hit for the console back in 2015. It was a big turn for Nintendo, and it paid off. Since then, the Inklings have been a permanent part of the Nintendo team. They’ve been featured in the likes of Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros., which shows how much faith Nintendo has placed in this build.
Now, with the Switch 2 well into its second year, the Inklings are back with Splatoon Raider. Designed primarily for a single-player experience, Splatoon Raiders is a great summer game for the Switch 2. If you’re looking for something new to check out and spend some time before the onslaught of fall releases, and you own a Switch 2, Splatoon Raiders will be a game to jump into right away.
Raid, Upgrade, Repeat
The main concept of Splatoon Raiders is very simple. You are trapped in a chain of islands surrounded by water, and with no clear way to get home, you must attack the islands and find the treasure that will help you get back. Each raid can be played as many times as you like, as the drops and loot in each run are random.
Get more loot and materials, and you can upgrade your weapons to make each run more rewarding. It’s the core gameplay loop of Splatoon Raiders, and it’s honestly one of the most fun I’ve had with the game this year. It’s really addictive, as I found myself wanting to raid higher levels more often to get better loot.
New high-level raids also appear earlier and more often, so you can adjust your challenge accordingly. I found that the game will easily allow you to feel like you can do anything, as it allows you to feel strong in the first game. Like me, you may find yourself feeling confident enough to tackle a high-profile attack. And if you’re good enough, it’s easy to smash that high-level attack.
It’s also easy to find yourself in the center of your greatest power right now, and there’s no shame in it. If you can punch above your weight, so to speak, the satisfaction of completing one of these high-level raids is incredible. Once you clear the gauntlet challenge that ends with the boss, an impressively sized game map opens up.
It’s actually a much bigger, more involved game than I think I expected. There are many raids to experience, and many things to collect. The way you smoothly move from your ship to attack, then back to your ship to advance and continue, is incredibly intoxicating in the way it hooks you.
Easy and Satisfying
Nintendo may not be known for shooters, but the shooting mechanics in Splatoon Raiders are amazing. The feedback and impact feels great, as the ink you shoot from your weapon blends everything around you in a deeply satisfying way. Enemies also react to being hit in fun and cute ways.
Shooting is so much fun, in fact, that I found myself looking forward to getting out of the tutorial stages once I realized how much fun it was. All I wanted to do was shoot, and the deeper you get into the game, the more fun it gets. As you upgrade your Inkling, you’ll be able to attach gadgets to your weapon that equate to species special moves.
All of these are very satisfying to use. Pulling them out in conjunction with your normal shooting is a must, and the way they animate next to the effect they have is amazing. The overall customization is also fun, as you can dress up your Inkling in a variety of adorable outfits and upgrade your ship. Every part of what you do in Splatoon Raiders is designed to make sure you can play the game the way you want, and look the way you want to, which is great to see.
It’s the core gameplay loop of Splatoon Raiders, and it’s honestly one of the most fun I’ve had with the game this year.
Another minor wrinkle is that, no matter how far you get in the game, the raids end up feeling the same from start to finish. It’s all fun, and the big shots make sure everything feels good, but it starts to feel like a bit of a drag as you go along. It has a lot of fun, interesting ideas, but it also gives it all at once in the first hour instead of spreading it out over the eight hours it took me to get through the game.
As you unlock more islands and raids, you’ll also encounter more difficult maps to choose from. These sometimes revolve around platforming or some sort of wave-based challenge, but almost all of them just feel like filler content in a game that already has a bit of a pacing problem. If you’re just brutally forcing the attack to the end, you probably won’t notice it, but I found it to be a bit of a waste of both my time and game resources.
You’re a Kid Now, You’re a Squid Now
Aesthetically, Splatoon Raiders is a slam dunk on every possible level. Inkling’s music and voice design are extremely good, and many of the characters on your ship retain the signature Splatoon attitude that makes it stand out from Nintendo’s vast library.
It’s also a visual treat, as this is one of the best-looking games you can get on the Switch 2 right now. The environments are beautiful, and the bright, vibrant colors are simply amazing to look at. It looks incredible whether you’re playing docked or handheld, and the performance is excellent. Vibrant, colorful games that run smoothly are always amazing to see.
The feedback and impact feels great, as the ink you shoot from your weapon blends everything around you in a deeply satisfying way.
The impact of the ink on the ground and surrounding areas is also as neat as ever, ebbing and flowing in a frighteningly realistic way. This is the best looking game in the franchise, and you can tell that the teams within Nintendo are getting a firm handle on how to get as much performance as possible out of the Switch 2.
This is a game that may have flown under the radar this year, but it’s one you should make time for. As summer winds down, and I look towards the imminent wave of the first and third major Switch 2 games coming later this year, I can’t help but feel that Splatoon Raiders is going to be one of the best games I’ve played this year.
Splatoon Raiders is a beautiful, fast-paced shooter that looks and feels great to play. The shooting systems are lovely, and each attack feels like a piece of intense fun. Some of the optional challenge maps feel like bloat, and there’s a certain sense of familiarity that creeps in as you go, but Splatoon Raiders is still an amazing experience you’ll want to check out if you own a Switch 2.
- Released
-
July 23, 2026
- The ESRB
-
Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence
- Publisher
-
Nintendo
- A very fun gameplay loop
- Cool customization options
- The shooting feels outstanding and impactful
- Visual management and display of the Switch 2
- Handsome actors
- You feel a little lonely in the middle
- Some challenging attacks are frustrating
