Nintendo has never been afraid to take one of its biggest franchises in an unexpected direction. Splatoon began life as a colourful multiplayer shooter built around turf control rather than kill counts, quickly becoming one of the company’s most distinctive modern series. Over the years, the single-player campaigns have grown more ambitious, but competitive play has always remained the beating heart of the experience. Splatoon Raiders changes that philosophy entirely, shifting its focus towards exploration, progression, loot hunting and cooperative action while retaining everything that makes the series unmistakably Splatoon.
At first glance, the move seems risky. Replacing Turf Wars with an expedition-based action RPG could easily have stripped away the identity that helped the franchise flourish. Instead, Nintendo has managed something rather impressive. Rather than abandoning its foundations, Splatoon Raiders builds upon them, using familiar movement, vibrant presentation and playful humour as the basis for an adventure that feels both fresh and surprisingly natural.
The result is a game that confidently expands the universe beyond competitive arenas. Whether you’re venturing into mysterious ruins alone or teaming up with friends to battle monstrous Salmonids, Splatoon Raiders delivers an adventure packed with personality, satisfying progression and just enough mystery to keep you venturing back out for one more expedition.
Gameplay
The biggest change comes from the structure itself. Gone are the short competitive matches that defined the series, replaced by lengthy treasure-hunting expeditions across the Spirhalite Islands. You play as a customisable mechanic working alongside Deep Cut, setting out from a mobile hideout ship before descending into sprawling environments filled with enemies, hidden relics and valuable resources.
Despite the shift in genre, movement remains wonderfully familiar. Swimming through your own ink still feels as smooth and intuitive as ever, allowing battles to flow with remarkable speed. Traversing cliffs, weaving through enemy attacks and covering terrain with colourful ink remain among Nintendo’s greatest gameplay achievements, and Raiders wisely leaves that formula almost untouched.
Combat expands considerably thanks to a vast arsenal of weapons and gadgets. With well over a hundred weapon variations available, experimentation quickly becomes part of the experience. Some favour aggressive close-range assaults, while others excel at keeping dangerous Boss Salmonids at a safer distance. Every discovery has the potential to reshape your approach, especially when paired with the game’s flexible gadget system.
The three tank types provide another welcome layer of tactical choice. Speed Tanks encourage constant movement, quick escapes and lightning-fast attacks. Power Tanks reward players willing to charge directly into overwhelming enemy groups, while Tactical Tanks lean towards careful positioning with deployable turrets, laser support and explosive traps. None feels objectively stronger than the others, which makes swapping between them feel rewarding rather than necessary.
What truly elevates the gameplay is the freedom to customise every gadget. As expeditions grow more challenging, collecting upgrade components shifts from an optional activity to an addictive pursuit. Increasing damage, extending gadget duration, or adding entirely new effects lets players gradually build a loadout that genuinely reflects their preferred style of play.
It creates an immensely satisfying progression loop. Every successful expedition feeds directly into the next, making even failed attempts worthwhile, since weapons and salvage remain with you after defeat. There’s always another upgrade waiting around the corner, another weapon worth testing, or another gadget combination begging to be experimented with.
The Spirhalite Islands Reward Curiosity
Rather than merely serving as backdrops for combat, the Spirhalite Islands encourage genuine exploration. Every biome feels distinct, with volcanic landscapes, forgotten ruins, underground caverns and mysterious facilities where unusual rules can suddenly alter your equipment or available abilities.
Hidden throughout these areas are Spirhalite crystals, Salmonid Relics and secret treasures that reward players willing to stray from the obvious route. Exploration rarely feels like padding because discoveries almost always contribute to meaningful progression. Whether you’re unlocking new crafting materials or uncovering mysterious relic powers, curiosity consistently pays dividends.
The dungeons prove especially memorable. Descending further beneath the islands brings increasingly dangerous encounters while maintaining an atmosphere of mystery that’s often absent from the series’ previous campaigns. Nintendo has successfully transformed Splatoon’s colourful world into somewhere that feels genuinely worth investigating.
Deep Cut Finally Steps Into the Spotlight
One of the game’s greatest strengths is how effectively it develops Deep Cut. Shiver, Frye and Big Man were already memorable personalities in Splatoon 3, but Raiders finally gives them room to breathe beyond music performances and brief story appearances. Their interactions with the player feel warm, humorous and surprisingly heartfelt, helping transform the hideout ship into more than just another upgrade menu.
Each member contributes meaningfully to progression. Shiver oversees gadget crafting, Frye handles weapon upgrades and material conversion, while Big Man catalogues discoveries and supports research. These aren’t simply menu interfaces wearing familiar faces. They become genuine companions whose personalities gradually shine as the adventure unfolds.
The Exploration Bot deserves praise as well. More than just a mechanical helper, it plays an active role in locating treasure, supporting combat and reinforcing the sense that you’re part of a functioning expedition rather than a lone adventurer.
Salmonids Have Never Been More Dangerous
Longtime fans will already know the Salmonids as formidable opponents, but Splatoon Raiders gives them an impressive evolution. Standard enemies remain dangerous through sheer numbers, constantly threatening to overwhelm careless players. Boss Salmonids offer satisfying encounters that reward learning attack patterns rather than relying purely on superior equipment.
Then there are the wonderfully bizarre Seasoned Salmonids. It’s an idea that perfectly captures Nintendo’s playful creativity. These tougher variants arrive literally coated in salt, becoming increasingly resilient and forcing players to fully utilise gadgets, movement and teamwork.
The escalating variety of enemies keeps encounters engaging throughout the campaign. Rather than relying solely on inflated health bars, each new enemy encourages slightly different tactics, ensuring battles rarely become repetitive despite the game’s heavy emphasis on combat.
Cooperative Play Adds Even More Longevity
Although the campaign is enjoyable as a solo adventure, cooperative play makes it even more entertaining.
Joining friends online or via local wireless naturally creates opportunities for specialised builds to complement one another. One player may focus on crowd control while another concentrates on high-damage attacks or defensive support. The result is a far more strategic experience than simply having multiple players firing ink in the same direction.
The Call for Help feature is another thoughtful addition. Solo players never feel isolated, thanks to the ability to temporarily summon assistance during difficult raids. Equally rewarding is answering another player’s request, which creates a subtle sense of community that fits comfortably within the game’s cooperative philosophy.
Difficulty options also deserve recognition. Tourist, Raider and Survivalist each provide meaningful differences without locking away content. Casual players can comfortably enjoy the story, while veterans seeking tougher encounters have every opportunity to test their carefully crafted builds.
Presentation
Visually, Splatoon Raiders remains every bit as stylish as its predecessors. The expressive character animations, vibrant ink effects and imaginative creature designs leap off the screen with remarkable confidence. Every environment bursts with colour without ever becoming visually overwhelming, preserving the clean readability that has always been one of the franchise’s strengths.
Performance is equally impressive. Even during chaotic encounters packed with Salmonids, gadgets and ink explosions, the action remains fluid and responsive. Nintendo clearly understands that smooth gameplay is essential when movement is such a core part of the experience.
The soundtrack deserves particular praise. Blending energetic battle themes with adventurous melodies, it perfectly captures the excitement of exploration while retaining the quirky musical identity fans have come to expect. Combined with excellent sound design and charming voice performances, the entire presentation feels polished from beginning to end.
Verdict
Splatoon Raiders could easily have been little more than an experimental side project. Instead, it confidently expands the series into new territory while preserving the qualities that made Splatoon special. The satisfying expedition structure, rewarding progression systems and meaningful customisation ensure that every return trip to the Spirhalite Islands feels worthwhile.
Its greatest achievement is proving that Splatoon can thrive outside competitive multiplayer. Exploration, crafting and cooperative adventures fit surprisingly naturally alongside ink-based movement and colourful combat, creating an experience that feels like a genuine evolution rather than a simple spin-off.
While players who live exclusively for Turf Wars may initially miss the competitive focus, Splatoon Raiders stands proudly on its own merits. It offers an adventure rich in charm, packed with rewarding discoveries and bursting with the joyful creativity that Nintendo consistently delivers. More importantly, it leaves you eager to set sail once again, wondering what treasure might be waiting beyond the next colourful horizon.
