Well, it finally happened. After years of holding back, Nintendo finally took the plunge and made a looter shooter. In typical Nintendo fashion, though, they didn’t just copy what everyone else was doing—they somehow managed to outdo much of the competition by taking the genre in a different direction. Instead of building the experience entirely around endless multiplayer grinding, Splatoon Raiders places its biggest emphasis on a robust single-player adventure while still offering optional online features for those who want to team up. The result is one of the most addictive games I’ve played in years. More than once, I sat down intending to play for an hour, only to realize eight hours had somehow disappeared. It’s an exciting glimpse at what the future of the Splatoon series could look like. While it certainly isn’t without flaws, none of them ever overshadowed just how much fun I had from beginning to end.
At its core, Splatoon Raiders succeeds because Nintendo understands what makes a looter shooter satisfying. Every mission offers something meaningful to chase, whether it’s stronger gear, useful resources, or upgrades that make future expeditions even more rewarding. That constant sense of progression creates a gameplay loop that’s incredibly difficult to walk away from. Rather than relying on endless grinding for its own sake, the game constantly rewards exploration and experimentation. The ink-based combat that defines the Splatoon series transitions beautifully into this new genre, making movement just as important as aiming. Swimming through ink, flanking enemies, and using the environment to your advantage keep every encounter engaging. New weapons and equipment encourage trying different builds instead of sticking with the same loadout, making each discovery feel worthwhile. Before long, I found myself saying “just one more mission” over and over again, only to realize an entire evening had slipped away. It’s an incredibly rewarding gameplay loop, and few looter shooters execute it this well.
Nintendo’s decision to make Splatoon Raiders a single-player-first experience is what truly separates it from the competition. While online co-op is available, it never feels like the main attraction, allowing the campaign to maintain a much stronger pace than many modern live-service games. You’re free to experience everything at your own speed without feeling pressured to rely on other players to progress. Visually, the game is exactly what fans would expect from Splatoon. The colorful environments are packed with personality, character animations remain expressive, and the soundtrack perfectly complements every battle and exploration segment. The story, however, is simply alright. It serves its purpose by giving players a reason to keep moving forward and includes the quirky humor the series is known for, but it never becomes the driving force behind the adventure. Thankfully, the gameplay is so consistently entertaining that the narrative never needs to carry the experience on its own.
The game’s shortcomings are relatively minor but still worth mentioning. The biggest issue is its uneven difficulty curve. Most encounters strike a satisfying balance between challenge and fun, but every so often, the game throws a fight or challenge your way that feels significantly harder than everything surrounding it. Those sudden spikes can be more frustrating than rewarding, briefly interrupting the otherwise excellent pacing. Matchmaking is another odd aspect of the game. Finding other players isn’t always as quick or seamless as expected, especially when compared to multiplayer-focused looter shooters. However, the more I played, the more I realized this was intentional. Nintendo clearly designed Splatoon Raiders so players would never feel dependent on online matchmaking to enjoy the game or make meaningful progress. Instead, co-op feels like an optional bonus rather than a requirement, making the overall experience much more welcoming for solo players.
Splatoon Raiders proves that Nintendo can successfully step into a completely different genre without sacrificing what makes its games special. Rather than chasing industry trends, the studio created a looter shooter that emphasizes fun, accessibility, and player freedom over endless live-service obligations. The addictive progression system, satisfying combat, polished presentation, and strong single-player focus make it incredibly easy to lose hours exploring its world. While the story never rises above being simply good, the occasional difficulty spikes can become frustrating, and matchmaking feels unconventional at times, none of those issues significantly diminish the overall experience. This is one of the most enjoyable games I’ve played in years and an exciting glimpse at what the future of Splatoon could become. If Nintendo continues building on this foundation, the series has an incredibly bright future ahead.
Score: 9 out of 10
Reviewed on Nintendo Switch 2