Before starting this review, I have to admit that I had never played a Splatoon game before this one, so I truly had no idea what to expect. I knew the series was known for its colorful ink-based combat and competitive multiplayer, but that was about the extent of my experience.

That made Splatoon Raiders a pleasant surprise because it was not at all the kind of game I expected. As the first entry in the series to place a greater focus on a dedicated single-player experience rather than PvP multiplayer, it offers something that feels approachable for newcomers while still making full use of the personality and mechanics that have made Splatoon so popular.

Gameplay

Splatoon Raiders is essentially a raid-style looter shooter in which you embark on treasure raids, defeat enemies, and gather resources, equipment, and upgrades. As you progress through the map, the raids gradually become more difficult—at least to an extent—and you will need to improve both your character and equipment to keep up.

The looting feels incredibly rewarding. Whenever I unlocked a new weapon type, I immediately wanted to jump into another raid and try it out. More importantly, the progression never became unbearably grindy. You are not expected to spend six hours farming the same resources just to purchase a single upgrade. Simply playing through the game usually gives you what you need, which is exactly how progression should work in a game built around short, replayable missions.

Upgrading your equipment is also a large part of the fun. There are three different ink tanks that essentially function as three different character builds. Each tank comes with its own selection of gadgets and abilities, nudging you toward a specific playstyle without completely restricting which weapons you can use.

My favorite was the Tactical Tank, which offers gadgets suited to a sniper or scout-like approach. Its abilities include a deployable turret, bombs, and a powerful multishot attack. It was perfect for controlling an area, attacking enemies from a distance, and planning encounters before diving into the chaos.

The Power Tank feels much more like an aggressive melee build. It pairs naturally with weapons such as the paint roller and paintbrush, allowing you to rush directly into groups of enemies. Its abilities include a forward slicing attack, a paint-powered boost, and a move that surrounds your character with spinning clouds of ink. That final ability lets you charge into large crowds and play as aggressively as possible.

The Speed Tank feels closer to a mobile midrange attacker. Its starting gadget allows you to leap into the air and create a damaging ink splash when you land, while another ability functions almost like a boomerang. It may not hit with the same immediate force as the Power Tank, but its mobility makes it much easier to move between enemies and escape dangerous situations.

Each tank has its own strengths, and I appreciate that they all feel useful in different scenarios. There were several raids that I initially failed, only to return with a different tank and successfully complete them. Your selection is not merely cosmetic—it genuinely changes how you approach a mission.

The game also does an excellent job of keeping its raids from becoming stale. New enemy types are introduced regularly, and there are plenty of boss fights scattered throughout the campaign. I never reached a point where I groaned because the game was throwing the exact same encounter at me again.

More than anything, Splatoon Raiders is addictive. The raids are short, bite-sized pieces of content that do not require long play sessions. You can pick it up whenever you have a little downtime, complete a few missions, and still feel like you made meaningful progress.

At the same time, it is the perfect game for showcasing the on-the-go appeal of the Nintendo Switch 2. The raid structure works wonderfully in handheld mode, whether you are playing through one mission or accidentally spending several hours chasing new weapons and upgrades.

This is a great new entry in the series and an even better starting point for someone who has never played Splatoon before.

Graphics and Design

I absolutely love how colorful Splatoon Raiders is. Every location is overflowing with bright ink, creative environmental details, and the strange sense of style that the series is known for. Even when several enemies and attacks fill the screen at once, the action remains energetic and visually satisfying.

The game’s environments also benefit from the ink mechanics. Watching a relatively clean area become completely covered during a battle makes every encounter feel more dynamic. Your attacks leave an immediate visual impact on the world, making even smaller fights feel chaotic and rewarding.

Character customization is another highlight. There are plenty of options for changing your appearance and creating a character that feels like your own. Combined with the different weapons, tanks, gadgets, and upgrades, the game gives you a strong sense of personalization without overwhelming you with unnecessary systems.

The menus and upgrade screens are similarly polished. Information is presented clearly, and switching between equipment is easy enough that experimenting with a new build never feels like a chore. The overall presentation is playful, stylish, and filled with personality.

Feedback

My biggest issue with Splatoon Raiders is its difficulty scaling. I eventually felt the need to switch to the harder difficulty because once you become overleveled, much of the challenge disappears.

Attempting a raid while underleveled can be tense and exciting. You have to pay attention to enemy attacks, use your gadgets effectively, and make smart decisions about when to push forward. However, entering a Level 8 raid at Level 10 usually means you will completely mow through the enemies, especially once you have unlocked the right upgrades.

I wish there were more dynamic scaling to keep earlier raids engaging. The game does include more difficult missions, but replaying an earlier level before finishing the campaign rarely provides much resistance. That makes revisiting completed raids less interesting unless you are testing a new weapon or looking for specific resources.

The tank system helps alleviate this problem because experimenting with a different playstyle can add some variety, but it does not completely solve the lack of challenge. An optional level-scaling system or additional mission modifiers could have made replaying raids much more rewarding.

Final Verdict

Splatoon Raiders was an unexpected delight and a fantastic introduction to a series I had somehow avoided until now. Its satisfying looting, varied weapons, distinct tank builds, colorful presentation, and bite-sized raid structure make it incredibly easy to pick up and difficult to put down.

The difficulty scaling could use some improvement, particularly when replaying earlier missions after becoming overleveled. However, that issue never completely took away from how enjoyable the core gameplay is. Switching between tanks, testing newly unlocked weapons, and facing a steady stream of new enemies kept me invested throughout the adventure.

For longtime fans, Splatoon Raiders offers a different way to experience the series’ signature ink-based combat. For newcomers like me, it provides an accessible starting point that does not require any previous knowledge of the franchise.

Whether you play for a few raids during your downtime or settle in for a much longer session, Splatoon Raiders is an addictive and surprisingly substantial single-player experience that feels perfectly suited for the Nintendo Switch 2.

Splatoon Raiders is available now exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2.

New to the series or looking to get more out of your raids? Be sure to check out our Splatoon Raiders Beginner Tips guide for helpful advice before jumping in, then take a look at our Best Tank guide to find the loadout that best matches your preferred playstyle.