Splatoon Raiders, the first spin-off in the Splatoon series, is a single-player-focused action-adventure for Nintendo Switch 2, released July 23, 2026. It debuted at number one in Japan, holds a Metacritic user score of 9.3, and has been followed by a survey, a manga, and a cross-game weapon tie-in.
Splatoon Raiders is the first spin-off in Nintendo's Splatoon series, shifting from the franchise's competitive multiplayer roots to a single-player, PvE-focused adventure. Announced through a series of Directs and trailers, the game launched July 23, 2026, on Nintendo Switch 2. It follows a new protagonist, a mechanic, who joins the Surimi Alliance on the Uzushio Islands to hunt treasures and fight Salmonids. The game features over 100 weapon types, a parts-based build system, three tank types, and supports up to four-player co-op locally or online.
Reception has been strong. The game debuted at number one on Japan's rankings, selling 474,684 copies in its first week, nearly triple the second-place title. Its Metacritic user score of 9.3 is the highest among Nintendo games, ahead of The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, with a media Metascore of 81. Reviews praised the single-player focus, buildcrafting depth, and co-op options, while noting a thin story and missing visual customization.
Nintendo has supported the game with cross-media promotions. A 4-panel manga, 'Surimi Alliance Chakapoco Distress Log,' serialized on the Nintendo Today! app from June 23 to July 22, and a manga adaptation by Sankichi Hinodeya began in Coro Coro Comics on July 15. A PET Shooter Replica weapon was added to Splatoon 3, requiring save data from Splatoon Raiders. An Inside reader survey found 48.5% of 553 respondents said a PvE-exclusive Splatoon is great, 31.1% said it met expectations, and 20.4% found it lacking.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every fact links the story it came from.
Structured graph also available as JSON at /public/entities/splatoon-raiders.
CC BY 4.0.
When a claim about Splatoon Raiders was confirmed, debunked, or disputed against open-web sources. The record stays even after a claim drops off the facts list.
Inside ran a satisfaction survey for the Nintendo Switch 2 title Splatoon Raiders, released in July 2026, and collected 553 votes across three response levels. The top answer, 'A PvE-exclusive Splatoon is also great!', took 48.5% of the vote. 'It met my expectations' drew 31.1%, while 'This one was a bit lacking' received 20.4%.
Nintendo announced on August 14 that a new weapon, the PET Shooter Replica, will be added to Splatoon 3 for the Nintendo Switch. The weapon reproduces the PET Shooter that appears in the spin-off title Splatoon Raiders. Its performance matches the Splattershot Collab, with the Splat Bomb as the sub weapon and Triple Tornado as the special weapon. The PET Shooter Replica is scheduled to be implemented ahead of the Summer Nights festival, which runs from August 22 to August 24. To obtain it, players must apply a future update and have save data that has cleared the main story of Splatoon Raiders. The weapon is not tied to the festival, so players who meet the save data condition can receive it from the lobby terminal at any time after implementation. The announcement also noted that gear distributed during past Summer Nights events remains available through the in-game news feature, the Squid Research Lab, by launching Splatoon 3 from the relevant news articles.
Anime News Network reviews Splatoon Raiders for Nintendo Switch 2, a single-player-focused entry in the multiplayer shooter series. The review praises the mission-based campaign, buildcrafting depth, and co-op options, while noting the story is thin and visual customization is missing.
Inside is running a reader survey on Splatoon Raiders, the series' first PvE-only spin-off released July 23, 2026. Players choose among three responses: the PvE Splatoon is great, it met expectations, or it falls short. Votes are cast via the official Inside X account.
Game Spark reviews Splatoon Raiders for Nintendo Switch 2, a spin-off that turns the series' single-player Hero Mode into a standalone loot shooter. It pits Salmonids as enemies, replaces sub weapons with customizable gadgets, and adds a parts-based build system. The review details the three tank types and their gadgets, calling the game a potential milestone for the genre.
Splatoon Raiders, the first spin-off in Nintendo's Splatoon series, released July 23 for Nintendo Switch 2. Its Metacritic user score of 9.3 is the highest among Nintendo games, ahead of The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask at 9.2. The media review Metascore sits at 81.
Nintendo's Splatoon Raiders, the first spin-off in the Splatoon series, debuted at number one on Japan's video game rankings for the week of July 20-26, according to Famitsu data compiled by Anime News Network. The Nintendo Switch 2 title sold 474,684 copies in its first week, nearly triple the second-place game's weekly total. Rhythm Heaven Groove held steady at number two with 78,355 copies, bringing its cumulative total to 674,592. Tomodachi Life remained in third place with 23,468 copies, pushing its lifetime sales past 1.5 million. The rest of the top five included Powerful Pro Baseball 2026-2027 at number four and Mario Kart World at number five. The chart also saw new entries from Shochiku Games' Yog-Sothoth's Yard at number 12 and MAGES.'s Otonari no Tenshi-sama ni Itsu no Ma ni ka Dame Ningen ni Sareteita Ken Memorial Vacation at number 14, both released on July 23. Long-running titles continued to appear, with Minecraft at number eight and Splatoon 3 at number 11. The list, sourced from Famitsu, covers software sales across all platforms in Japan for the specified week.
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."
Game Spark and Inside published their weekly roundups of new game releases for the week of July 20-26, 2026, covering both Japan and North America. The most prominently highlighted titles include Splatoon Raiders for Nintendo Switch 2, DragonSword: Awakening for Windows PC, and KAZUMA KANEKO'S TSUKUYOMI for Windows PC. Splatoon Raiders and DragonSword: Awakening are both scheduled for July 23, while KAZUMA KANEKO'S TSUKUYOMI launches July 24. Other notable releases mentioned in the opening of the Inside article are FINAL FANTASY X/X-2 HD Remaster (Nintendo Switch 2, July 23), SD Gundam G Generation Eternal (Windows PC, July 22), and Vampire (Windows PC, July 22). The lists also include dozens of smaller indie titles across multiple platforms including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. Both outlets note that release dates are subject to change.
Nintendo's Splatoon Raiders, the first standalone spin-off in the series, launches July 23, 2026 on Nintendo Switch 2. A June 30 Direct showcased the action-adventure flow on the Uzushio Islands, including combat with weapons and gadgets, base upgrades, and four-player co-op. The game follows a new protagonist, Mechanic, teaming with the Surimi Alliance to hunt treasures. With less than three weeks to release, the full scope of the adventure is now visible.
Nintendo streamed a Direct video for Splatoon Raiders, a single-player spinoff for Nintendo Switch 2 launching July 23. The preview showed treasure hunting gameplay, enemies including Salmonids, over 100 weapon variations, three tank types, facilities, outfits, stages, and four-player multiplayer. A manga adaptation begins July 15.
Nintendo announced on June 29 that a dedicated Direct for Splatoon Raiders, the first spin-off in the Splatoon series, will air on June 30 at 23:00 JST. The broadcast will run approximately 15 minutes and deliver detailed information on the Nintendo Switch 2 title. Splatoon Raiders is set on the mysterious Uzushio Islands and follows a new protagonist, a mechanic, who joins the Soremi Alliance in a treasure-hunting adventure. The game is an action shooter with RPG-like leveling and weapon customization, supporting one to four players locally or online. It is scheduled for release on July 23, 2026, priced at 7,480 yen for the physical version and 6,480 yen for the download version. The Direct comes less than a month before launch, suggesting a final marketing push before release.
Anime News Network went hands-on with a preview of Splatoon Raiders, a single-player-focused third-person platforming shooter from Nintendo. The game casts players as a customizable mechanic exploring the Spirhalite Islands for materials while fighting Samonid enemies. The preview showed a variety of weapons and gadgets, with the core ink-shooting and traversal mechanics intact.
Nintendo has begun serializing a 4-panel manga titled 'Surimi Alliance Chakapoco Distress Log' for the upcoming Switch 2 game 'Splatoon Raiders' on the official Nintendo Today! app. The manga will be updated daily for one month from June 23 to July 22, depicting the survival life of the Surimi Alliance and the Mechanic after crash-landing on the Uzushio Islands.
The July issue of Shogakukan's Coro Coro Comics magazine announced that Splatoon Raiders, a new single-player spinoff game in the Splatoon series, will receive a manga in the magazine's next issue on July 15. Sankichi Hinodeya, the writer and artist of the Splatoon and Splatoon 3: Splatlands manga, will also work on this manga. The game launches for the Switch 2 on July 23.
Nintendo showed a new trailer for Splatoon Raiders during a Nintendo Direct livestream, detailing the single-player spinoff's mechanics. The game launches July 23 on Nintendo Switch 2, alongside three new amiibo of the Deep Cut band members Frye, Shiver, and Big Man.
HORI announced a line of Splatoon Raiders-themed peripherals for Nintendo Switch 2 on June 3, including a wireless controller, headsets, a USB hub stand, and storage bags. The Wireless Horipad TURBO features TMR sticks and clear materials with ink and squid designs. Most items launch July 23, with the in-ear headset arriving summer 2026.