While fans are naturally curious about the eventual arrival of Splatoon 4, Nintendo has decided to take us on a detour that feels less like a spin-off and more like a massive leap forward for the popular series that has been strictly multiplayer until now. I recently went hands-on with Splatoon Raiders, and if you’ve ever found yourself losing hours to Salmon Run or the Side Order expansion, you’re going to want to pay close attention.
The first thing that hits you isn’t the ink; it’s the fidelity. Playing in docked mode on the Switch 2, Splatoon Raiders is a visual masterclass.
The Spirhalite Islands are breathtaking, rendered with a level of detail and lighting complexity that simply wasn’t possible before. The ink has a luscious, tactile sheen, and even when the screen is absolutely swarming with salt-encrusted Salmonids, the performance remains rock-solid. It’s the kind of “fresh” that only the Switch 2 console can provide.
A Fresh Perspective on the Splatlands Lore
The setup is classic Splatoon charm: the Deep Cut crew (Shiver, Frye, and Big Man) are hunting treasure on the mysterious Spirhalite Islands when a massive storm wrecks their chopper.
You step into the boots of The Mechanic, initially the pilot, but quickly the linchpin of a new base of operations. You travel around the islands seeking out treasure and taking out enemies with your ink in what feels like a new experience for a Splatoon game, but still very familiar.
What makes Raiders so compelling is its focus on the solo experience. Yes, there is a fantastic co-op component through online and local co-op; that being said, the game feels built from the ground up as a rewarding single-player adventure. It captures that sense of exploration and progression that made the series’ previous expansions so beloved, but expands it into a full-scale “raid” loop that feels entirely new.
Customisation Beyond the Ink Tank
The Mechanic is easily the most customisable protagonist in the series’ history. The gear system has been completely overhauled, introducing three distinct Ink Tanks: Speed, Power, and Tactical. During my time, I gravitated toward the Power Tank, which turns your ink into a heavy-hitting force of nature.
The real game-changer, however, is the separation of Gadgets from your main weapon. Without being tethered to a specific sub-weapon, the loadout possibilities are endless. I fell in love with the Splatchet—a brutal close-range Gadget that lets you shred through Salmonid swarms with satisfying weight.
Whether you’re placing turrets for crowd control or launching spinning-top projectiles for ranged pressure, the tactical depth here is staggering. You can even create your own gadgets, mixing and matching parts to create something truly unique. I didn’t get much time to play around with this mechanic, but I’m excited to explore it more when the full game releases.
Character-wise, there is a depth to making your character look and feel exactly how you want them to. I didn’t get a whole lot of time to explore this, but I could see that the menus definitely offered many options for your Inkling to feel unique.
Bringing the Big Guns
You don’t have to raid alone, either. Early on, you discover an Exploration Bot that allows a member of Deep Cut to join you as a “Bot Buddy.” Bringing Shiver, Frye, or Big Man along isn’t just for the banter; they provide vital mobility boosts and massive “Showstopper” specials that help mow down multiple enemies that stand in your path.
The raids themselves are beautifully varied. Some missions feel like classic Splatoon platforming stages as you hunt for treasure, while others send you drilling deep underground in a race against the clock. These subterranean raids are intense, requiring you to harvest Power Eggs from Salmonid hordes to fuel your descent.
It’s a frantic, addictive loop that keeps you moving, especially when the Boss Salmonids start showing up in “bad dream” combinations that test every Gadget in your arsenal.
Better Together, But Great Alone
While the solo play is the star of the show, the 4-player co-op session I joined proved that Raiders is just as fun with friends. It’s a more relaxed, cooperative take on the Salmon Run formula.
Loot is shared, and the collective pool of lives means you succeed or fail as a team. Taking down a cluster of Boss Salmonids with a coordinated squad felt empowering, but I never felt like the game was “missing” something when I went back to my solo raids.
Thoughts So Far
Splatoon Raiders is a brilliant change of scenery for the franchise. It’s a gorgeous, deep, and lore-heavy experience that gives the spotlight to our favourite idol groups while offering a brand-new way to play. Whether you’re in it for the “next-gen” graphics or the thrill of the hunt, this is one raid you won’t want to miss when it drops later this month.
Check out a brand new Nintendo Direct for Splatoon Raiders below, showing off a whole lot more gameplay.
Splatoon Raiders will be released on Nintendo Switch 2 on July 23rd.
Featured header image provided by the publisher.
