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Splatoon Raiders early reviews arrive for Nintendo's solo spin-off

gamingJul 21, 20261073,136

Splatoon Raiders' early reviews landed with critics praising its tight action RPG loop, deep customization, and challenging encounters while also flagging some rough edges and familiar beats. Players and creators have zeroed in on the Spirhalite Islands' Salmonids and their strange new evolutions, and on Deep Cut members Shiver, Frye, and Big Man as the emotional center of the solo campaign. Conversations also revolve around the absence of Nogami beyond tiny pixel art and an interview revealing a middevelopment design shift after the team questioned whether invading Salmonid turf felt right. Amid the mix of high scores and a few dissenting takes, the moment is defined by fans celebrating the cast and the game’s new loot-driven focus.

Splatoon North America
@splatoonnamirror.bsky.social

Only 3 days until the #SplatoonRaiders adventure begins! The Spirhalite Islands are flush with ferocious Salmonids, including some with strange new evolutions. Are you ready to tackle them?

37845d ago
Caleb Simmons (inkboy24)1

Don’t have a Switch 2, unfortunately.

Nintendo of America [Twitter/X Mirror]
@nintendousa.bsky.social

Three new amiibo figures featuring the members of Deep Cut arrive July 23! With breezy island looks for their #SplatoonRaiders adventures, these Shiver, Frye, and Big Man amiibo can easily be displayed together with their interconnecting bases.

38646d ago
Kelly J. Klar, Pharm.D2

I don't know but, to me, it doesn't really look like their bases are "interconnecting", but rather they can get really close to each other without anything blocking anything. 🫤

Ash
@santanaelchan.bsky.social

I like this portion from the Ask the Developers interview with the Splatoon Raiders staff Believe in the children! Nintendo is famous for having devs that have been around for decades, but they're also very open to hiring young blood and fostering new talent. That's important!

23945d ago
IGN
@ign.com

Splatoon Raiders is one of the top games on Switch 2. Our review: https://bit.ly/3RqdkBp

13545d ago
Quoting this
SHZ26

Hard to contain my excitement for Raiders, especially with reviews like this coming out. It’s as Destiny-esque as I could ever hope the series to be; basically a looter-shooter with build-crafting and endless replayability. Multiplayer, stat-maxxing, loot-hoarding…can’t wait for Thursday!!

Splatoon North America
@splatoonusna.bsky.social

Three days until you can take on the Salmonids of the Spirhalite Islands... #SplatoonRaiders

10346d ago
Giovanni Colantonio
@marioprime.bsky.social

In 2015, Splatoon asked “what would a Nintendo shooter look like?” In 2026, Splatoon Raiders updates the question to “what would a Nintendo looter shooter look like?” A surprisingly deep action RPG about the joy of mess making. Can’t stop playing this one. My review. www.polygon.com/splatoon-rai...

9645d ago
Abram Buehner4

Great review! I was particularly excited to see you make the Vampire Survivors comparison, as I was curious if any of that spirit might animate the game. Can't wait to get my copy

Mundane Pixels ☕2

I'm unreasonably excited for this one

Ashley Schofield is looking for work! 🐉2

excited to dig into the lore. i hope the bear shows up

Ciro Continisio1

Splatoon is a godsend of a series

Anderson1

Thanks for your review 🫡

Quoting this
Giovanni Colantonio52

Really looking forward to this game going live so I can spend launch weekend fielding Help beacons from players and arriving in their game as a literal God. Just doing shit they can’t yet perceive of. I yearn to flex.

Nic McConnell6

As a Splatoon Enjoyer (and dad of a younger Splatoon Enjoyer), this makes me very happy to hear.

Tomas Franzese6

It amazes me how much Nintendo has killed it this summer with lower tier IP (Splatoon, Yoshi, Star Fox, Rhythm Heaven) while PlayStation and Xbox continue to play a "who can be worse" challenge while not releasing anything. Nintendo is still flawed, but this shows how much more competent they are.

Darcy Dee4

Ugh I'm so excited for this.

Logan Plant
@loganjplant.bsky.social

Splatoon Raiders is an amazing action RPG. It has fantastic new powers with crazy upgrades, tough battles that force you care about your build, and a huge variety of fun level types. This is the best Splatoon campaign and one of the top Switch 2 games. My review is up now, on @ign.com!

8345d ago
Logan Plant13

Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBG4... Read: www.ign.com/articles/spl... Podcast: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qCP...

Nintendeal
@nintendeal.com

Here's what the Splatoon Raiders inside box art and game card look like

9445d ago
Shinobi602
@shinobi602.bsky.social

Splatoon Raiders | Reviews 9 - IGN 9 - Gfinity 9 - TheSixthAxis 9 - Nintendo Life 8.5 - CGM 8.5 - Press Start 8.5 - Destructoid 8 - VGC 8 - Gamespot 8 - Eurogamer 8 - Screen Rant 8 - GamesRadar 7 - Gameliner 7 - Giant Bomb 7 - GameReactor 6 - Metro 6 - Digitec 4 - Guardian MC: 80 OC: 79

7745d ago
ODU Monarch '031

I could perhaps justify in my mind the two outlets that gave a 6, but a 4 from the Guardian...? Give me a break.

Quoting this
Chloe "in ✈️ Brighton" Adams20

The UK papers hate it so I'm guessing it has a trans character in

Joshua Rivera
@jmrivera.bsky.social

I was not as into Splatoon Raiders as others seem to be. It just feels like a lesser version of Splatoon www.theguardian.com/games/2026/j...

6245d ago
Joshua Rivera23

some people are shocked by the score and I get it because no one uses the whole scale but what score are you supposed to give a game that bores you

Joshua Rivera7

This does not feel like a single player game either. It’s clearly a co-op shooter advertised that way to not scare people away. Playing it solo feels like the worst way to play it!

XanaGear2

As someone who has booted up Splatoon 3 over the last couple years exclusively to play Salmon Run I think I'm going to enjoy this one quite a bit. Competitive multiplayer and the campaign never really hooked (heh) me. Salmon Run is the best horde mode ever made, great game.

SketchByZo2

A 40 though? I don't believe any game is made for anyone, but idk I think the actual score came across as a shock. This typically falls in range for games that have bugs, glitches, game-breaking issues, etc?

퓨̸크̸ Games 'n Junk - Puke2

Godspeed, on this here Internet For Parasocial Relationships 🫡

swazza-bay.bsky.social1

Just read ur review and it’s shit. The whole point of raiders is that it’s supposed to be different from the mainline games which is why it’s called a “spinoff”. It’s videos different too to fit the “raiders” vibe similar to arc raiders and their post apocalyptic way of crafting weapons.

Chris Schilling
@schillingc.bsky.social

Splatoon Raiders: more thoughts in print in a few weeks' time, but it might just be my favourite Switch 2 exclusive to date. A thrillingly chaotic, endearingly thrifty adventure with some of the best homebrew videogame weapons in years. Up there with Octo Expansion as peak singleplayer Splatoon.

6745d ago
Ste Pickford4

Thanks Chris, you’ve just cost me £45.

Psi/Ben2

Chris I was already excited but you have turned that up to 11 my man. Bloody love Splatters!

新膣エヴァンゲリオン1

ooooooh now that's a sentence that'll sell me

Game Informer
@gameinformer.com

Though Splatoon’s single-player content has always been underappreciated, Splatoon Raiders makes it difficult to ignore, shining a bright light on the series’ oft-slept-on side. Our review: gameinformer.com/review/splat...

A screenshot of Splatoon Raiders
6145d ago
Chris Scullion
@scully1888.bsky.social

I didn't get along with the Splatoon games because I have no interest in multiplayer, but I'm a wee bit obsessed with Splatoon Raiders. As I say in my review, it may be a one trick-pony, but it's a thoroughbred. Here's 1,500 words on the fella:

5545d ago
DealbreakerJ1

“it may be a one trick-pony, but it's a thoroughbred.” Terrific stuff 👏

Brian Shea
@brianpshea.bsky.social

I’ve reviewed every Splatoon game for Game Informer, and Splatoon Raiders now has the highest score out of all of them. I really enjoyed my time with it!

5945d ago
Eurogamer
@eurogamer.bsky.social

Splatoon Raiders is another example of Nintendo's eternal youth when it comes to design - it's got the same apocalyptic simplicity as Donkey Kong Bananza. Our review: www.eurogamer.net/splatoon-rai...

Splatoon Raiders screenshot from a trailer showing two inklings fishing against a blue sky. Eurogamer 4/5
5745d ago
3 sources
theguardian.comSplatoon Raiders review – Nintendo’s inky shooter fades to greyvgc.newsSplatoon Raiders review: A challenging, all-out action game that’s well worth 50 squid | VGCthesixthaxis.comSplatoon Raiders Review – A treasure trove of splatting and looting | TheSixthAxis

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