Nintendo's Splatoon Raiders launches as looter‑shooter on Switch 2

Splatoon Raiders, Nintendo’s first spin‑off in the Splatoon series, arrives on July 23 as a Switch 2 exclusive. Unlike earlier titles that emphasized competitive multiplayer, the game is built around single‑player and four‑player co‑op raids on the Spirhalite Islands, where players hunt treasure with the aid of a robot explorer. The core mechanics retain the series’ ink‑based combat while introducing looter‑shooter elements: loot collected upgrades weapons, gadgets and abilities, and a customizable load‑out lets players choose from blasters, rollers, sniper rifles and various gadget types.

The campaign follows the musical trio Trio Triglio and a customizable “Macchinista” who can be an Inkling or Octoling, navigating puzzle‑filled levels and battling Salmonoid enemies. Players can call in allies from the in‑game band Deep Cut for powerful attacks and use the robot to reach new areas. The Switch 2 version offers sharper visuals and a new cooperative mode that blends the story focus of previous single‑player missions with the horde‑style action of Salmon Run. Early previews praised the fresh direction while noting the game still feels like a remix of established Splatoon gameplay.