By Maddie Fisher Published Jul 27, 2026, 10:00 AM EDT Maddie is a Contributor at DualShockers covering JRPGs, survival horror, arcade games, retro gaming, shooters, and features. She has been writing about games professionally since 2011, with more than a decade of experience across lists, reviews, guides, and games journalism. Before joining DualShockers, Maddie contributed to WhatCulture , GameRant , and NowLoading , and has written extensively about games across multiple websites over the years. She is also a writer, journalist, and game developer, bringing both editorial experience and development perspective to her coverage. Sign in to your DualShockers account Nintendo is often accused of relying on familiar properties and franchises, cycling through the likes of Mario , Zelda and Pokémon on what feels like an endless loop. In a lot of ways, that's 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 brand-new IP known as Splatoon . Designed to fill the massive gap in Nintendo's library for a decent online shooter, Splatoon was a surprise hit for the console back in 2015. It was a pretty big swing for Nintendo, and it paid off. Since then, the Inklings have become a permanent part of Nintendo's pantheon. They've featured in the likes of Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. , showing just how much faith that Nintendo has put into this property. Now, with the Switch 2 well underway into its second year, the Inklings are back with Splatoon Raiders . Designed primarily as a single-player experience, Splatoon Raiders is the big summer game for the Switch 2. If you're looking for something new to check out and put some time into before the onslaught of fall releases, and you've got a Switch 2, Splatoon Raiders is going to be a game to dive into immediately. Raid, Upgrade, Repeat Close The core concept of Splatoon Raiders is quite simple. You are stranded on a chain of islands surrounded by water, and with no clear way to get home, you've got to raid the islands and find treasure that will help you get back. Each raid can be played as many times as you want, as the drops and loot for each run are random. Get more loot and materials, and you can upgrade your weapons in order to make each run more rewarding. The core gameplay loop of Splatoon Raiders, and it's honestly some of the most fun I've had with a game this year. It's genuinely so addictive, as I found myself wanting to take on higher level raids more often in order to get better loot . New raids that are at higher levels also appear early and often, so you can adjust your challenge accordingly. I found that the game will very easily let you feel like you can accomplish anything, as it lets you feel quite sturdy in the early game. Like me, you may find yourself feeling confident enough to tackle a high-level raid. And if you're good enough, it's easy to actually smash those high-level raids. It's also easy to find yourself in a raid that's just too strong for you at the moment, which there's no shame in. If you do manage to punch above your weight, so to speak, the satisfaction of completing one of those higher level raids is incredible. Once you clear a gauntlet challenge that ends with a boss , more of the game's impressively sized map opens up. It's honestly a far bigger, more involved game than I think I was anticipating. There are a lot of raids to experience, and a lot of materials to gather in them. The way you smoothly go from your ship to a raid, then back to your ship in order to upgrade and keep going, is so incredibly intoxicating in the way it hooks you in. Simple and Satisfying Close Nintendo may not be known for shooters , but the shooting mechanics in Splatoon Raiders are stupendous. Feedback and impact feels excellent, as the ink that you fire from your weapon coats everything around you in a deeply satisfying way. Enemies also react to being hit in such fun, charming ways. The shooting is so fun, in fact, that I found myself desperate to get out of the tutorial stages once I realized how good it felt. All I wanted to do was shoot, and once you're deep in the game, it becomes even more enjoyable. As you upgrade your Inkling, you'll be able to affix gadgets to your weapon that equates to a special move of sorts. These are all tremendously satisfying to use. Busting them out in conjunction with your regular shooting is a must, and the way they are animated alongside the impact they have is fantastic. Customization as a whole is also enjoyable, as you can dress your Inkling up in a variety of adorable costumes 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 doing it, which is cool to see. The core gameplay loop of Splatoon Raiders, and it's honestly some of the most fun I've had with a game this year. One slight wrinkle is that, no matter how far into the game you get, the raids do ultimately kind of feel the same from beginning to end. It's all enjoyable, and the hefty shooting ensures that everything feels fun, but it does start to feel like a bit of a drag the further you get on. It has a lot of fun, interesting ideas, but it also sort of gives them to you all at once in the first hour instead of spreading them out over the course of the eight hours it took me to clear the game. As you unlock more islands and raids, you'll also come across optional challenge maps. These sometimes revolve around platforming or some sort of wave-based challenge, but nearly all of them just feel like filler content in a game that already has a slight pacing issue. If you're just brute forcing through the raids to the end, you likely won't notice, but I did find them to be a bit of a waste of both my time and the game's resources. You're a Kid Now, You're a Squid Now Close Aesthetically, Splatoon Raiders is a slam dunk on every possible level. The music and design of the Inkling's voices are outrageously cute, and a lot of the characters on your ship maintain that signature Splatoon attitude that makes it so unique among Nintendo's vast library of properties. It's also something of a visual treat, as this is one of the best looking games you can find on the Switch 2 right now. The environments are beautiful, and the bright, vivid colors are just wonderful to look at. It looks incredible whether you're playing docked or handheld, and the performance is spectacular. Vibrant, colorful games that run this well are always just wonderful to see. Feedback and impact feels excellent, as the ink that you fire from your weapon coats everything around you in a deeply satisfying way. The effect of the ink splatting onto the ground and environments is also just as neat as it ever has been, oozing and flowing in a frighteningly realistic way. This is easily the best looking game in the franchise, and you can tell that the teams inside Nintendo are really getting a rather strong handle on how to get as much performance as possible out of the Switch 2. This is a game that may fly under the radar this year, but it's one that you should absolutely make some time for. As the summer starts to wind down, and I look towards the imminent wave of huge first and third-party Switch 2 games coming later this year , I can't help but feel like Splatoon Raiders will be one of the best games I've played this year. Closing Comments Splatoon Raiders is a gorgeous, brilliantly fast-paced shooter that looks and feels excellent to play. The shooting systems are lovely, and each raid feels like a bite-sized chunk of energetic fun. Some of the optional challenge maps feel a bit like bloat, and there's a certain sense of familiarity that creeps in the further you go, but Splatoon Raiders is still a stellar experience that you'll want to check out if you have a Switch 2. 9 /10 Splatoon Raiders Reviewed on Nintendo Switch 2 Like Follow Followed Action Adventure Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 86% Released July 23, 2026 ESRB Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence Developer(s) Nintendo EPD Publisher(s) Nintendo 5 Images Close Where to play Close WHERE TO PLAY DIGITAL PHYSICAL Multiplayer Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op Franchise Splatoon Genre(s) Action , Adventure Platform(s) Nintendo Switch 2 Expand Collapse Pros & Cons Immensely enjoyable gameplay loop Cool customization options Shooting feels outstanding and impactful A visual treat and showcase of the Switch 2 Charming cast of characters Feels slightly monotonous towards the middle Some challenge raids are frustrating Close
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