‘Splatoon Raiders’ Review: 28 Eggs Later

August 12, 2026 - 03:10

Nintendo's latest attempt to stretch its ink-splatting franchise into new territory, Splatoon Raiders, is a surprisingly addictive looter shooter that understands the core loop of "one more run" better than most. The premise is simple: you and up to three other Inklings dive into procedurally scrambled zones, blast through waves of salmonid-like foes, and collect gear and weapon mods that drop like candy. The shooting feels fantastic, with the series' signature gyro aiming and ink-switching mechanics translating well to a more chaotic, loot-driven structure. Every weapon has a distinct personality, and watching a rare drop pop out of a boss chest is genuinely thrilling.

However, the shine wears off when you start noticing the world around you. The level design is the biggest letdown. Most stages are recycled corridors and flat arenas that feel like they were stitched together from leftover assets. There is very little verticality or clever use of the ink mechanics that made the mainline games so clever. You will see the same broken bridge and the same three-story warehouse over and over, just with different enemy spawn points. It gets drab fast, and the lack of visual variety makes long sessions feel like a chore despite the strong combat.

The progression system is generous, though. You are constantly unlocking new perks or cosmetic shells for your character, and the daily challenge modifiers keep things fresh enough to pull you back in. But the story mode is thin, and the endgame relies too heavily on grinding the same few boss fights. It is a solid time sink for fans of the genre, but it feels like a spin-off that needed a bit more time in the oven to match the polish of its parent series.