Splatoon Raiders is the perfect shooter if you're sick of sweaty multiplayer matches

Date:
Tue, 30 Jun 2026 14:20:00 +0000

Description:
Splatoon Raiders is set to deliver the single-player Splatoon experience that Ive been waiting for.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter I love every part of Splatoon ... Except actually playing it a problem the upcoming Splatoon Raiders might just fix.

In my eyes, the series art style is one of the best in Nintendos incredibly strong catalog. It has an attractive urban fantasy world populated by adorable, squid-like characters that feels both modern and fresh. The bright, shiny colors give everything a decidedly Gen Z vibe one thats further reinforced by the fashionable street clothes available for your in-game character to wear. The concept of a third-person shooter all about ink is wonderfully original too, and I adore how the pristine blank stages are gradually smothered in your teams colourful ink as matches progress. The problem, at least for me, is how incredibly sweaty the player-versus-player (PvP) side of the game inevitably becomes. Both Splatoon 2 and Splatoon 3 offered me a few weeks of fun around launch, but after a while it started to feel like the only people I matched up against had thousands of hours in the game and could destroy me in a flick of a wrist with the twitchy motion controls. Latest Videos From Watch full video here:

A skill issue, perhaps, but I know that Im not alone, and it seems like Nintendo has cottoned on as well. While Splatoon 3 offered a single-player campaign, it wasnt the most exciting, but the developer has clearly taken everything it learned from creating it, alongside the games roguelike Side Order DLC, and poured it into this new Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive .
Splatting solo (Image credit: Nintendo) After playing for a few hours at a recent preview event, I can already see that Splatoon Raiders is shaping up
to be the ultimate experience for those who, like me, are enamored with the series but just arent cut for competitive online play. Everything that I enjoyed in the main games is here, starting with the character creator. You may like The 27 best Nintendo Switch games in 2026 Pokmon Champions first impressions: approachable competitive excellence Mouse P.I. for Hire on Nintendo Switch 2 review: a neat boomer shooter let down by poor performance

You can choose to be either a squid-like Inkling or Octoling (an alternate species introduced in the Splatoon 2 expansion), with a few body types and hairstyles to flick through. The designs are all fantastic and aggressively on-trend.

I particularly appreciated the cute bangs available if you choose an
Octoling, decked out in shiny plastic charms like a Fairy Kei model. Your options are limited at first, but theres a decent roster of great-looking outfits to unlock and further customize your look as well. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Nintendo) (Image credit: Nintendo) (Image credit: Nintendo) The character you create is an anonymous mechanic, trapped on a remote island with Shiver,
Frye, and Big Man (the iconic television hosts from the in-game Deep Cut broadcasts that trigger every time you log in to Splatoon 3 , who it turns
out also moonlight as a team of treasure hunters) after an expedition gone awry.

This island serves as your hub world, offering a little firing range and various stations where you can upgrade your gear. The base itself can be upgraded too, adding new targets to the firing range, unlocking new types of gear upgrades, and even introducing a little arcade cabinet where you can
play charming retro-style mini games.

While I pored over every little detail, youre only meant to spend a little
bit of time here in between replayable missions. These drop you into surrounding islands to fight off waves of Salmonids the rabid fish creatures from the other games Salmon Run co-op modes. What to read next The 26 best Nintendo Switch 2 games to play right now Rhythm Heaven Groove is on track to become my favorite Nintendo Switch release of 2026 I spent a month with the ModRetro M64 and I think theres no better way to play your classic Nintendo 64 games

The shooting is as satisfying as ever, with all the most important weapon types of Splatoon 3 returning from the rapid-fire Splattershots and Dualie Squelchers to long-range options like the Jet Squelcher and Splat Charger. Fighting fishy foes (Image credit: Nintendo) There's a good level of enemy variety, with a good selection of basic grunts to mow down on top of some
more advanced, and surprisingly tricky, types. I also spotted a handful of
new arrivals, like the massive Salty Tongue a huge, fat salmon that slides around the battlefield on a bed of evil goo and takes a good few shots to beat. Defeated foes drop glowing orange eggs, charging a gauge for a devastating special attack.

Most levels are quite large and open, with your main goal being to recover upgrade material and hidden treasures throughout. A compass guides you
towards the available objectives, though eagle-eyed explorers will spot a small number of hidden detours filled with extra loot.

As in the main games, spraying on the ground coats it with a layer of bright slime that you can quickly swim through in a squid form while replenishing your tank of inky ammunition a mechanic now used for platforming challenges to break up the fights against enemy waves. These are paired with fun little segments that see you surfing across water or floating through the air on
wind currents.

Its clear that Splatoon Raiders is intended to be more approachable than the multiplayer games. It offers three difficulty levels and isnt particularly punishing if you do die: you retain most of what youve collected and can thus invest it in upgrades to make your next run easier. Theres co-op too, which lets you tackle the levels of the campaign with up to three friends if you really need a the added hands.

Im eager for a second helping when Splatoon Raiders drops on July 23, 2026. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/gaming/nintendo-switch/splatoon-raiders-is-the-perfe ct-shooter-if-youre-sick-of-sweaty-multiplayer-matches


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