The Nintendo Switch 2 in my opinion one of the best handheld consoles on the market. This is a device that punches well above it’s weight and delivers some amazing experiences in even some of the most hungry games. When we think of the Splatoon franchise, our minds immediately jump to frantic multiplayer turf wars and brightly coloured competitive arenas. But what happens when you take that ink-flinging action and pivot to a dedicated, single-player-focused action role-playing game? Splatoon Raiders attempts to answer exactly that. Stepping away from the traditional competitive format, this spin-off invites players on a tropical treasure hunt that mixes familiar third-person shooting with deep, satisfying customisation.
The Story: High Seas and High Debt
Leaving the bustling streets of Splatsville behind, Splatoon Raiders whisks you away to the remote and mysterious Spirhalite Islands. The narrative shifts focus, placing you in the boots of a highly resourceful mechanic rather than a standard street kid. You are not alone on this journey; you are joined by the beloved musical trio Deep Cut (Shiver, Frye, and Big Man) who make their return from Splatoon 3.
The premise is straightforward but sets up the stakes perfectly. Splatsville has found itself buried in an enormous amount of debt, and your crew is hunting for ancient relics and undiscovered treasures to help pay it off. After a violent hurricane causes your helicopter to crash land on the recently resurfaced Spirhalite Islands, you are forced to build a makeshift base out of your wrecked ship. The plot provides plenty of room for charming interactions with the members of Deep Cut as you gradually uncover the island’s secrets and face off against massive, hostile creatures known as Salmonids. The story is a swashbuckling ride that effectively fleshes out the wider lore of the series without taking itself too seriously.
Mechanics: Gadgets, Gear, and Big Bosses
At its core, Splatoon Raiders translates the series’ fluid movement and shooting into a structured action-RPG format. The biggest shift is the introduction of a flexible and highly customisable “gadget” system. As the mechanic, you rely on a variety of mechanical tools, traps, and ink weapons to survive the island’s escalating threats.
What the game does exceptionally well is utilise the upgraded processing power of the Nintendo Switch 2. The environments are expansive and organic, feeling like a massive step up from the concrete stages of previous entries. This extra processing power also allows the game to throw massive hordes of Salmonid enemies at you without a hint of performance slowdown. The combat peaks during the large-scale encounters; taking down a giant, three-headed boss like the Salmonarch with the help of Deep Cut piloting an Exploration Bot feels genuinely epic and rewarding.
The game also offers a cooperative mode for up to four players locally or online. The co-op dynamically scales the difficulty based on how many players are present, which is a smart design choice. Yet, adding random players into your session can sometimes disrupt the flow of a carefully planned raid, turning a tactical treasure hunt into a disorganised free-for-all. Additionally, while the gadget system offers plenty of player choice, the core mission structure can occasionally feel repetitive during longer play sessions, leading to minor criticisms regarding a lack of late-game innovation.
The Comparison
If you are trying to figure out if this game will hold your attention, think about the titles you already enjoy. If you spent countless hours defending against aggressive waves of enemies in the Salmon Run mode of previous Splatoon titles, this game takes that exact concept and expands it into a full-fledged, story-driven adventure. Plus, if you appreciate the addictive loot-gathering and progression loops of games like the Borderlands series, or the colourful, gadget-heavy combat of the Ratchet & Clank franchise, you will find a lot to love here. It successfully marries cartoonish action with satisfying RPG progression.
Final Verdict
Splatoon Raiders is a pleasant surprise that proves Nintendo’s ink-based universe has plenty of stories left to tell outside of competitive multiplayer. The move to a single-player, story-driven format works beautifully, and exploring the tropical ruins alongside Deep Cut is consistently entertaining. While the co-op can get messy and the mission loop occasionally feels familiar, the overall charm, fluid gameplay, and robust customisation make it a standout title for the Switch 2.
Verdict: Recommended.
