Splatoon Raiders Review: Nintendo's Ink-Based Extraction Shooter Reorients the Franchise

Introduction Splatoon Raiders represents a notable tonal shift for the Splatoon franchise, emphasizing a single-player, extraction-style loop built on the series’ signature ink mechanics. The Splatoon series, developed by Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development (Nintendo EPD), began on Wii U in 2015 and continued on Nintendo Switch with Splatoon 2 in 2017 and Splatoon 3 in 2022. Splatoon Raiders preserves the franchise’s distinctive visuals and movement while experimenting with mission structure, loot progression and cooperative options. Overview and Core Design Where Splatoon 3 was widely viewed as a polished evolution of existing multiplayer ideas, the reviewer found it enjoyable yet familiar—solid in campaign and multiplayer but not boldly different. In contrast, Splatoon Raiders adopts an extraction-shooter design: players accept missions, explore islands, collect resources and return to a base to craft and upgrade equipment. That shift gives the series a new loop without abandoning the core of what makes Splatoon feel unique. Rewritten statements from the review The reviewer summarized their feelings about Splatoon 3 by saying that, while the title delivered satisfying multiplayer rounds and a competent campaign, it left them wanting a bolder change in direction. With Raiders, Nintendo appears to answer that desire by leaning into expedition-style gameplay and single-player progression while retaining the franchise’s hallmark ink-based traversal and colorful presentation. Gameplay, Progression and Customization Splatoon Raiders retains third-person, ink-centric shooting: players move faster through their own ink, climb walls and deploy a variety of familiar weapon archetypes such as Splattershot-style guns and long-range chargers. The game layers a loot and upgrade system over this foundation—weapons have experience-based levels and a star-tier system that grants bonus abilities, while gadgets accept modular parts that can change behavior or add effects. Players also equip artifacts that alter tank perks and balance playstyles across speed, power and tactical ink tanks. Mission variety includes linear point-to-point stages, open areas focused on collecting Power Eggs to access Spirhalite Shards, and time-limited challenges that demand fast combat and resource gathering. Companions from the Deep Cut ensemble accompany the player in Exploration Bots that aid navigation and combat, and cooperative raids support up to four players. Conclusion Splatoon Raiders reframes the franchise around a progression-driven extraction loop while preserving the franchise’s charm: ink-based movement, playful weaponry and bright, stylized environments. For fans of Splatoon and players interested in extraction shooters, Raiders offers a substantial, replayable experience that broadens what Nintendo’s IP can do without discarding its core identity.