Splatoon Raiders review – Nintendo’s inky shooter fades to grey

Why This Matters

Key context: <p><strong>Nintendo Switch 2</strong><br>The single-player offshoot of the quirky and colourful multiplayer series is disappointingly run-of-the-mill</p><p>Splatoon is among Nintendo’s most ingenious inventions of the last decade: a series of shooting games whose paint-splattered turf war nature means being bad at shooting is just as valuable as – if not more so than – being good. It is also blessed with an abundance of personality, with vibrant characters, a richly imagined world, and a hipness that the competition can only dream of achieving. Unfortunately, Splatoon Raiders makes it difficult to remember all of this.</p><p>The first spinoff in the ink-soaked franchise, Splatoon Raiders is advertised as a single player-focused entry in this primarily multiplayer series. While this is true enough – one can play through the entire game solo just fine – Raiders is clearly best enjoyed cooperatively with up to three others. Players start each session on a hideout ship where they can upgrade their equipment and tweak their play style before heading out on bite-sized repeatable missions, and this structure is tailor-made for teaming up with friends or helping out strangers (the game lets you do either), as each person works towards creating their ultimate squid-kid avatar of chaos.</p><p>Splatoon Raiders is out 23 July; £41.99</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/games/2026/jul/21/splatoon-raiders-review-nintendo-switch-2">Continue reading...</a> This development from The Guardian highlights ongoing changes in the sector.