Splatoon Raiders Reviews
Splatoon Raiders does exactly what a good spin-off should do: it respects the essence of the franchise while introducing enough new ideas to justify its existence.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
There's a lot of positive things that can be said about this spinoff, like the frantic and fun action. But the end result could have been also so much better.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Splatoon Raiders is a solid PvE-only title from the franchise. The shooter gameplay flows smoothly here as well, with support for both stick and motion controls. Enemies are varied and the levels offer good diversity.
Review in German | Read full review
Splatoon Raiders is a colorful third-person shooter with paint instead of bullets. The game is well-executed and promises a lot of fun for both young and older players.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
I firmly believe that this is the best Splatoon title since the very first. It’s got degrees of complexity and madness that the most hardened minmaxer can appreciate, but it’s also crazy approachable in presentation, explanation and fun. It lets you focus on what you want: what weapons, how your base looks, your fashion and your burgeoning relationship with Shiver. This becomes your game. And, as such, it’s easily one of my favorites of the year.
Splatoon Raiders, for the most part, does what it sets out to do. Whether it will be a successful entry point for players who want to start inking everything in sight, I cannot say, but it should be. There is an interesting experience in here, collecting long-forgotten treasures and bursting Salmonids. This is also a great game to play with friends, which you really need. The issue is the game never grabbed me the way I was hoping it would. Some points were downright frustrating, and not in a challenging way.
Splatoon Raiders successfully reinvents the series with rewarding cooperative gameplay, satisfying progression, and excellent performance. Repetitive environments, limited incentive to experiment with its broader toolkit, and a weak narrative prevent it from reaching the creativity and variety of the mainline games.
Splatoon Raiders shines when it mixes the spirit of Salmon Run with action RPG progression, co-op support and a constant hunt for better loot. It does not need a complex story to hook you, because its pace, challenge and technical polish work extremely well.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Splatoon Raiders feels like a natural evolution for the series. Rather than simply delivering another multiplayer-focused package with a short campaign attached, Nintendo has fully embraced what made those previous single-player modes enjoyable and expanded them into a complete adventure. The exploration is rewarding, the progression keeps you constantly unlocking exciting new toys, and the familiar ink-based gameplay remains every bit as entertaining as ever. Will it convert players who have never enjoyed Splatoon? Probably not. If the core shooting mechanics have never appealed to you, Raiders is unlikely to change your mind. Likewise, players who only ever cared about competitive multiplayer may still prefer the mainline entries. But if, like me, you’ve always found yourself wishing Nintendo would make a proper single-player Splatoon adventure… Well, this is exactly that. It’s colourful, funny, packed with personality and incredibly easy to lose yourself in for both quick sessions and longer evenings. Add in flexible difficulty options, satisfying progression and Nintendo’s usual level of polish, and you’ve got a fantastic new direction for the franchise. I genuinely loved my time with Splatoon Raiders, and I sincerely hope this isn’t the last time Nintendo lets the series venture into dedicated single-player territory. For me, this is an easy recommendation.
Splatoon Raiders proves that breaking from the norm can produce something unique for a franchise that might have easily relied on iteration. This bold move adds dimension to the Splatoon universe and sets the stage for further spin-offs. Raiders, alone or with friends, is a vivid, satisfying, and shockingly rich adventure that fits alongside Nintendo's best recent releases.
Splatoon Raiders is yet another surprising first-party addition to the Nintendo Switch 2’s catalogue. Its mission-based hunt for gold and power might not be for everyone, but Nintendo’s first step into the looter shooter space is confident and robust.
A bold first spin-off that hits the mark right on target. Although held back by a forgettable script and repetitive environments, *Splatoon Raiders* makes up for it with a solid, addictive, and surprisingly layered PvE framework. It’s a game that forgoes narrative twists to offer hours of tactical challenges, captivating and thoroughly immersing anyone who decides to give it a chance.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Splatoon Raiders proves that a spin-off doesn’t necessarily have to live in the shadow of the main series; on the contrary, it stands on its own as a solid experience that works perfectly even without the cornerstones that made the franchise famous in the first place. With a more polished and cinematic narrative, an extremely engaging gameplay loop, and a surprisingly well-executed and addictive looter shooter structure, the game easily becomes much more than just a passing diversion while we wait for Splatoon 4. In short, Splatoon Raiders is fun, surprisingly deep, and one of the best titles available on the Nintendo Switch 2, and we can confidently say it will be one of the games that keeps us entertained all summer long.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Splatoon Raiders is a solid entry in the series, but in my opinion, it’s designed solely for fans and won’t be able to draw in anyone from outside the series. However, if you loved the previous Splatoon games, you’ll feel right at home here—just without the intense competition.
Review in Polish | Read full review
The latest Splatoon title eschews its multiplayer DNA for a single-player spinoff that is, in many ways, a more compelling package than the series that spawned it.
Through laser sharp design in its progression and combat mechanics, Splatoon Raiders offers one of the best shooter campaigns of the year. It takes all of the learnings from its predecessors and expertly adapts them to an addictive looter shooter that’s packed to the gills with content and wrapped in a delightfully endearing package.
Splatoon Raiders had me hooked on the treasure hunt. While there’s repetitiveness to the formula, the game had me saying “just one more” constantly. For the prize hoarders like myself, Splatoon Raiders really puts the “loot” in looter shooter.
Splatoon Raiders is a winning bet when it comes to spin-offs – and beyond – as it successfully applies the franchise’s formula to a more linear experience, underpinned by a storyline which, whilst not exactly phenomenal, is satisfying enough to carry me through the 11 hours until the credits roll. The addictive and satisfying gameplay, the constant sense of progression with every raid completed (or not), the excellent optimisation and a final challenge that firmly seals the mark of quality are more than enough reasons to justify a visit to the Spirhalite Islands. It’s a title with a simple core, but one that’s executed superbly, easily captivating fans of the genre without leaving the curious behind – a game I consider to be my favourite Switch 2 title of 2026 so far.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
With an addictive gameplay loop and excellent performance on Switch 2, Splatoon Riders hits the mark by reinventing the franchise with a memorable solo campaign, falling short only due to the lack of Brazilian Portuguese localization and limited outfit customization.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
As a newcomer to the franchise, Splatoon Raiders has managed to draw me deeper into the game than I’d expected. It challenges you to constantly tweak your load-out, but not to the point of tedium. The mix of raids and dungeons provides just the right dopamine rush, making it hard to put Splatoon Raiders down. It takes you on a colourful adventure that’s perfect as a quick bit of fun. A must-play to add to your list.
Review in Dutch | Read full review