SPLATOON RAIDERS: SALMON RUN GROWS INTO A LOOTER SHOOTER
8.0 of 10 bananas. Nintendo turned Salmon Run into a full looter shooter: bite size raids, a hundred plus weapons, deep builds, and online co-op. Critics found it addictive and smooth on Switch 2. Three biomes, recycled enemies, and late game repetition keep it from the top shelf.
By the Alpha. Full review. Updated Nov 14 2026.
Honest note: This is not a fresh hands-on playtest. I built this verdict from critic reviews, player reviews, the store listing, and the official game pages linked below. If I put real hours in on stream, I will update the score and say so.
Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2 only. Released July 23 2026, developed and published by Nintendo. Tom's Guide lists it at 49 dollars digital and 59 dollars physical. The Amazon button is the US Switch 2 physical edition, Game only. I could not confirm from the listing whether it is a full game card or a game-key card.
Get Splatoon Raiders for Switch 2 on AmazonStore check, Nov 14 2026: new copies on offer, sold and shipped by Amazon.com, at 59.00 dollars. The digital version is cheaper on the Nintendo eShop, about 49 dollars per Tom's Guide. Prices and sellers change, so look before you pay.
Sit with me a moment. I have watched young gorillas rage quit Splatoon ranked over one bad match. Splatoon Raiders is Nintendo's answer for that kid: no rival team, no rank, just you, a few friends, and a tide of angry fish. Critics call it a mess, and they mean it as praise.
What It Wants To Be
A single player looter shooter with optional online co-op, built out of Splatoon 3's Salmon Run. You run short raids from a shantytown base, collect weapons with levels, stats, and perks, craft upgrades, and grow a weak Inkling into a one squid wrecking machine. Polygon compares it to Borderlands and Diablo.
What Works
Tom's Guide gave it an Editor's Choice for an addictive loop, great movement, and a rock solid 60 fps on Switch 2. TechRadar called it a wonderful solo reinvention with smart missions and over a hundred weapons. Forbes scored it 8.5 and praised a spooky look and solid 4K at 60 performance. Polygon's reviewer was still playing past 30 hours. Wccftech says credits take about 12 hours, with plenty of endgame after.
What Breaks
Listen well. Wccftech says it can feel one note, with only three main biomes and few new Salmonid types. Polygon found the early hours simple, with enemies barely tweaked for a new style of game. Tom's Guide and TechRadar both flag repetition and grind later on. Forbes called the level design uninspired and noted no voice acting and limited customization. And there is no competitive multiplayer at all, so ranked fans should keep Splatoon 3.
Who Should Play
Play it if you love Salmon Run, co-op loot games, or want a gentler Splatoon for a younger player. Skip it if you came to Splatoon for team battles, or if loot grinds bore you.
STRENGTHS
- Addictive raid loop
- Great movement and shooting
- Solid 60 fps on Switch 2
- Online co-op
HONEST COSTS
- Only three main biomes
- Repetition later on
- No competitive multiplayer
- Physical costs 10 more than digital
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