Splatoon Raiders Launches Today on Nintendo Switch 2 — Metacritic 81 and What the Scores Actually Mean

Splatoon Raiders launches today — July 23, 2026 — exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2. Reviews went live two days ago, and the verdict lands clearly in "recommended" territory: Metacritic 81 (65 critic reviews), OpenCritic 83 (74% recommend). For context, that puts the franchise's first-ever official spin-off on par with the original Splatoon (81) and just two points behind Splatoon 2 and 3 (both 83).

What the score doesn't tell you: this is not the Splatoon you know. And depending on what brought you to the series, that distinction matters.

• ▶Sources: Game Rant — Splatoon Raiders review round-up · Nintendo — Ask the Developer Vol. 22 · Eurogamer — Developer interview

At a Glance

What Kind of Game Is This

Splatoon Raiders reframes the franchise's DNA around a single-player-first PvE loop. You play as a Mechanic partnering with Deep Cut — the trio of Shiver, Frye, and Big Man from Splatoon 3 — across the Spirhalite Islands, a mysterious archipelago of underground environments and loot-filled dungeons. The objective is to explore, shoot enemies, and collect gear in an upgrade-driven progression system.

Think looter shooter with Nintendo production values: the ink mechanics stay intact but competitive Turf War and ranked play are absent. Co-op options are available, but the single-player campaign is the backbone.

Nintendo EPD Producer Seita Inoue described the creative starting point in the official Ask the Developer interview:

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"We thought it might be interesting to create something with a slightly different approach to gameplay, where you can really savor the action on your own." — Seita Inoue, Producer, Nintendo Ask the Developer Vol. 22

The game's early prototype was closer to a base defence game before it evolved into what director Yoshihiko Ito called a "faster spin-off with a strong sense of action."

Official Trailer

Splatoon Raiders Overview Trailer — Nintendo of America (published July 21, 2026)

Review Score Breakdown

What critics agree on: the shooting mechanics translate brilliantly to PvE, the loot-and-upgrade loop creates genuine momentum, and the Deep Cut story integration is satisfying fan service. Where criticism emerges: the boss fights occasionally feel like stat sponges rather than puzzle encounters, and the genre pivot away from multiplayer feels like a loss to a vocal minority of reviewers.

Destructoid's Scott Duwe summarized the mainstream consensus well:

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"Splatoon Raiders is a looter shooter wrapped in Nintendo's kid-friendly world, but it's not to be slept on. While not as deep or complex as some other games in the genre, its charm, loot chase, and satisfying gameplay loop make it one of my favorite games of 2026 so far." — Scott Duwe, Destructoid

The Guardian's 4/10: A Fair Warning, Not a Verdict

The Guardian is the sharpest outlier in the round-up, and it represents a real concern worth flagging rather than dismissing. As reported in multiple review aggregations, the publication's argument is that the shift from competitive multiplayer to single-player PvE strips away what makes Splatoon uniquely compelling in the first place.

That's a coherent critique for a specific audience. If your entry to Splatoon came through Turf War, Salmon Run, or ranked competitive play, Raiders is a genuinely different product. The 80-point majority of reviews don't make the 4/10 wrong for that player profile — they're measuring different things.

Giant Bomb's review lands in the same neighborhood, noting that boss fights lean toward damage absorption rather than tactical design. Neither review claims Raiders is a bad game; both claim it's not the game certain players want.

Community Reaction

The broader reaction online has followed a recognizable pattern. Players who came to Splatoon for its ink-based action and visual energy have embraced Raiders. Those who invested hundreds of hours in ranked competitive modes are more reserved — not hostile, but clear-eyed that this doesn't replace the game they want.

Switch 2 early adopters have pushed back positively on the $49.99 price point compared to the platform's $79.99 flagships like Mario Kart World. At $50, Raiders sits in the same bracket as Star Fox (which launched this month at Metacritic 81), and the consensus is that the price-to-content ratio holds.

There is no meaningful backlash campaign. The response from the Splatoon fandom is more "interested but watching" than enthusiastic on day one — partly because the spin-off was confirmed without a numbered sequel alongside it.

Platform Table

This is a Switch 2-only title. No cross-buy, no backwards compatibility to Switch 1. It requires Nintendo Switch 2 hardware.

Buying Guide

Buy it if:

• ▶You own a Switch 2 and want a polished single-player experience from Nintendo's own studio
• ▶You enjoy looter shooters (Destiny, The Division) but prefer Nintendo's accessibility and production style
• ▶You're a Splatoon 3 player who wants more story time with Deep Cut
• ▶You're building a Switch 2 library and $50 feels like the right entry point — it's cheaper than the platform's $80 titles

Think twice if:

• ▶Your love of Splatoon is built on Turf War and ranked competitive play — Raiders has none of that
• ▶You're waiting for a numbered Splatoon 4 sequel; this is explicitly a side story
• ▶You're not a Switch 2 owner and were considering buying the hardware solely for this title

Also launching today on Switch 2 (for comparison):

Among today's Switch 2 launches, Raiders is the clear critical standout.

Switch 2 Launch-Day Extras

Nintendo is releasing limited Joy-Con 2 controllers themed around Shiver and Frye from Deep Cut on the same day as Raiders. These are cosmetic accessories and sold separately.

If you're a Splatoon 3 player, note that a Raiders-themed Splatfest collaboration ran July 10–12 in Splatoon 3, giving existing players a preview of the world and characters before today's launch.

GamePeak Verdict

Splatoon Raiders earns its 81 honestly. For a franchise's first spin-off in a completely different genre, landing alongside the scores of the mainline series is a genuine achievement. Nintendo EPD hasn't shipped a failed experiment — they've shipped a competent, enjoyable looter shooter with the distinctive energy that makes Splatoon recognizable.

The question to answer before buying is a simple one: are you here for the ink action and world, or specifically for the competitive multiplayer that defined the numbered entries? If it's the former, Raiders is a safe recommendation at $50. If it's the latter, this is the wrong game.

GamePeak Pick: 4/5 — Recommended for Switch 2 owners who want quality solo content

Review scores current as of July 23, 2026 — Metacritic aggregation ongoing and may shift as additional reviews are submitted