Splatoon Raiders review – Loot, paint, shoot, enjoy

I did not expect Splatoon Raiders to be the game that finally got me into looter shooters. But here we are.

Nintendo’s famously multiplayer series has pivoted into a solo or co-op adventure for the Switch 2, and it’s honestly good. Our review of the Nintendo Switch 2 noted the console’s hardware was ready for more ambitious games, and this is that.

Why This Matters

This is a big shift for Splatoon. The franchise has always been about turf wars and online mayhem. Splatoon Raiders takes that paint-spewing chaos and turns it into a loot-driven grind loop. Think Borderlands meets Splatoon, but with less screaming and more squids.

And it works. The game puts you on an archipelago called the Spirhalite Islands, where your plane crashes. You and the band Deep Cut have to rebuild your way home by shooting and looting Salmonid enemies across raids. It’s delightful.

How We Got Here

Nintendo has been quietly expanding the Splatoon world for years. Splatoon 3’s final update introduced more lore, but the core was still multiplayer. Splatoon Raiders feels like a natural evolution, taking the Salmon Run mode and stretching it into a full campaign.

The story is thin. Cute dialogue, but it’s a backdrop for the real fun: looting. Over 100 weapons with different rarities, random drops, and a build-crafting system that lets you tweak everything from paint tanks to bot buddies. You’ll find giant paintbrushes, rollers, and even a bow that sprays paint horizontally.

“The core gameplay loop of entering an area, slaying Salmonids with your weapons and abilities in concert, and completing your objectives is just plain fun.”

That’s the review’s central point. The loop is satisfying. Learning combos, teaming up with AI bot Deep Cut members, bouncing off their heads to get above enemies—it’s silly and smart.

Key Detail

There is one minor gripe. You cannot change your loadout mid-raid. Even if you pick up a shiny new weapon, it’s locked until you return to base. That’s frustrating when you find something better mid-mission.

But the replay value is high. Replaying older raids on higher “Spicy” difficulty for XP and materials is encouraged. The variety of raid types helps—exploration, time attack, boss fights—so it doesn’t feel like a chore.

What’s the Bigger Picture?

Splatoon Raiders is a sign that Nintendo is willing to take its IP into new genres. The best co-op games on Switch 2 list is growing, and this one stands out. It’s also a smart move for the looter shooter market, which has been dominated by Destiny and The Division. Nintendo’s family-friendly approach could pull in a new audience.

For hardcore Splatoon fans, there’s enough lore and familiar characters. For newcomers, it’s a low-stress entry point. The difficulty ramps up, but you can always grind for better gear.

What’s Next

Splatoon Raiders is out now on Switch 2. If you’ve been eyeing the looter shooter genre but bounced off the grittier options, this is worth a shot. Just don’t expect to change your loadout mid-raid. You’ll have to live with your choices.