Splatoon Raiders comes exclusively to the Nintendo Switch 2 on Thursday, July 23, with reviews from media worldwide sharing a mostly positive response. Splatoon Raiders is the first official spin-off of Splatoon franchise, as players take on the role of a mechanic and assist the Deep Cut trio from Splatoon 3 on a new adventure.
The upcoming launch of Splatoon Raiders comes almost four years after the arrival of Splatoon 3. Splatoon Raiders was first revealed via the Nintendo Today app in June 2025, just days after the Switch 2 hit store shelves. Unlike the numbered entries in Splatoon series so far, Splatoon Raiders is primarily a single player experience. A set of new Switch 2 Joy-Con 2 controllers based on Shiver and Frye from Deep Cut will also arrive on July 23rd.
Splatoon Raiders delivers fun gameplay for what it offers
Two days before Splatoon Raiderslaunch on Switch 2, the review embargo has been lifted. As of this writing, Metacritic scores for Splatoon Raiders has developed positively based on 65 critic reviews so far. Splatoon Raiders has a “Generally Favorable” score of 80 on Metacritic, with OpenCritic giving a strong overall score of 81 along with a 71% critic recommendation. The highest reviews so far have come from media outlets like Pocket Tactics and TechRadar Gaming, who said that Splatoon Raiders was an exciting and welcome addition to the Switch 2's growing lineup of exclusive first-party titles.
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Pocket Tactics (Holly Alice) – Score: 10/10
Splatoon Raiders of-fish-ally deserves our seal of approval as a great game in the franchise. Whether you go it alone or with the help of other players, scavenging for loot and mining ore has never been so much fun, thanks to the variety of weapons and gadgets you can equip to blast enemies out of existence. Plus, you get to hang out with Deep Cut, which is always a fun time.
TechRadar Gaming (Dashiell Wood) – Score: 10/10
Splatoon Raiders is a wonderful solo reinvention of the popular multiplayer series filled with cleverly designed missions and endlessly engaging progression system. Backed by the franchise's fantastic shooting mechanics, it's a fresh and exciting adventure that should be in every Nintendo Switch 2 owner's library.
Game Informer (Brian Shea) – Score: 8.75/10
While Splatoon's single player content has always been underrated, Splatoon Raiders makes it impossible to ignore, shining a bright light on the often dormant side of the series.
Destructoid (Scott Duwe) – Score: 8.5/10
Splatoon Raiders is a looter 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 hunting, and satisfying gameplay make it one of my favorite 2026 games so far.
Eurogamer (Christian Donlan) – Score: 8/10
This series spin-off is a fast-paced, often overwhelming delight.
Despite the positive reception Splatoon Raiders also receives sharp criticism from some reviews. The Guardian gave Splatoon Raiders a rating of 4/10, stating that the game was a “run-of-the-mill” experience. Giant Bomb's review stated that while Splatoon Raiders offers plenty of content for players to dive into, some of the boss battles felt more like damage sponges rather than puzzles to figure out. Overall, the common points of praise for Splatoon Raiders focused on gameplay, weapon loading and visual appeal. While Splatoon Raiders will air at midnight Eastern on July 23rd, players in the Pacific time zone will be able to access the game at 9:00pm on July 22nd.
In comparison, Splatoon Raiders' review score was not far from what was given to Star Fox in July. Star Fox currently has a Metacritic score of 81, just one point ahead Splatoon Raiders. As Star Fox before that, Splatoon Raiders is currently priced at $50 on the Nintendo eShop, with physical copies priced at $60. Because the Switch 2 also includes expensive $80 titles like Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave and Mario Kart WorldThe $50 price point is a solid starting point for players looking to get in Splatoon franchise.
Splatoon Raiders will arrive on one of the busiest Switch 2 launch dates yet. July 23 will also include games such as Final Fantasy 10/10-2 HD Remaster, Avatar Legends: The Fighting Gameand Disgaea Mayhem arriving on Nintendo's current generation systems. It remains to be seen how Splatoon Raiders will hold its own against other titles coming to Switch 2 throughout the year.
- Released
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23 July 2026
- ESRB
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All 10+ / Fantasy Violence
- Developer
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Nintendo EPD
- Publisher
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Nintendo
