Nintendo Switch 2 Splatoon Raiders Set Released Today
The positive reception from a loot shooter specialist suggests Nintendo is successfully expanding the Splatoon franchise into a genre that appeals to a core Western audience, potentially broadening the series' reach beyond its traditional competitive shooter base.
Key Facts
- The Nintendo Switch 2 Splatoon Raiders Set launched on July 23, 2026, priced at 64,980 yen.
- Splatoon Raiders is the first spin-off in the Splatoon series, a stage-clearing action shooter with hack-and-slash elements supporting up to four-player co-op.
- The game features over 100 weapon types and a growth system where players upgrade weapons and gadgets by collecting treasures from defeated Salmonids.
- Nine tracks from Splatoon Raiders, totaling 30 minutes of music, were added to the Nintendo Music service on launch day.
- The game holds a Metacritic Metascore of 81 as of July 23, 2026.
Reporting from 4 sources: GAME Watch (Impress), ASCII.jp, Automaton, Denfaminicogamer.
Nintendo released the "Nintendo Switch 2 (Japanese, Domestic Only) Splatoon Raiders Set" on July 23, 2026, for 64,980 yen. The bundle includes a Switch 2 console with Light Blue and Light Red Joy-Con 2 controllers, a dock, and a download code for the game "Splatoon Raiders." The game itself, the first spin-off in the Splatoon series, is a stage-clearing action shooter with hack-and-slash elements, supporting up to four-player co-op. It is set in the Uzushio Archipelago, where players control a mechanic protagonist alongside the music unit Surimi Union to fight Salmonids and collect treasures. The game features over 100 weapon types, a growth system, and local and online multiplayer. A separate physical version costs 7,480 yen, and a download version costs 6,480 yen. Nine tracks from the game, totaling 30 minutes of music, were added to the Nintendo Music service on the same day. Overseas reviews have been positive, with a Metascore of 81 on Metacritic, and a review by loot shooter expert YouTuber Skill Up compared the game to "DOOM," "Borderlands," and "Destiny."
The bundle includes a Switch 2 console with Light Blue and Light Red Joy-Con 2 controllers, a dock, and a download code for the game. The Amazon.co.jp exclusive version adds a Splatoon Raiders cushion and a Nintendo Switch 2 logo microfiber cloth.
Skill Up, a YouTuber known for loot shooter expertise, compared the game to "DOOM," "Borderlands," and "Destiny." He cited enemy variety, including the armor-guarding "Teppan" and long-range "Megamori Tower." He praised the game for avoiding common loot shooter pitfalls: weapons like rollers and umbrellas change playstyles significantly, and drops are less frequent but more valuable. Gadget upgrades offer simple, impactful changes rather than incremental stat boosts. Equipment from other classes drops regardless of equipped gear, encouraging experimentation. Mission types include dungeon-like stages, boss rushes, and puzzle-based gimmick stages.
The game is set in the Uzushio Archipelago. The protagonist is a mechanic who works with the music unit Surimi Union. Salmonids have uniquely evolved across locations ranging from volcanic areas to snowy regions. The game supports up to four-player co-op, with Salmonid levels automatically adjusted to match participating players. Over 100 weapon types are available, each with levels and special effects. The mechanic can level up and adjust tanks to increase health and attack power.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 4 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- GAME Watch (Impress) 「Nintendo Switch 2 スプラトゥーン レイダース セット」が本日発売
- ASCII.jp Switch 2を持ち運ぶならこれしかない！ ケースも充電もスタンドも全部入り
- Automaton 『スプラトゥーン レイダース』、ルートシューター専門家からも高評価で海外で注目浴びる。『Borderlands』で『DOOM』なところがあるとして
- Denfaminicogamer 新作『スプラトゥーン レイダース』の一部楽曲が「Nintendo Music」に配信。本日発売となる『スプラトゥーン』シリーズ初のスピンオフ、最大4人協力にも対応したアクションシューティングゲーム