Splatoon Raiders

Splatoon Raiders takes the ink-splatting chaos of the Splatoon universe and twists it into a cooperative heist shooter. Developed and published by Nintendo exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2, this spinoff casts players as a crew of Inklings and Octolings pulling off high-stakes raids against the Octarian army. Instead of Turf War, teams of four infiltrate fortified bases, crack security systems, and steal treasure while fending off waves of enemies. The core movement and ink mechanics remain, but now you can slide under laser grids, hack drones with your Splatana, and carry loot back to an extraction point. Each raid plays out like a miniature Ocean's Eleven, with multiple paths, optional objectives, and a ticking clock that keeps the pressure on. The game launches on July 23, 2026, and marks the first time the series has stepped away from its traditional multiplayer focus. Early previews suggest a blend of Splatoon's signature style with the tension of a stealth-action game.

The story follows Deep Cut, Shiver, Frye, and Big Man, after their ship crash-lands on the mysterious Spirhalite Islands during a freak storm. You play as a scrappy mechanic who must hunt down treasures across fractured coastlines, hidden ruins, and salvage sites to make the group's island stay more comfortable. The treasures are guarded by aggressive Salmonids, who attack on sight. Your hideout ship serves as a central hub, and you can level up and customize upgrades to fit your play style. Weapons can now drop from defeated enemies, creating a loot system where you find and collect new gear during raids. Gadgets replace traditional sub-weapons, each with independent cooldown timers, including a continuous ink-firing turret, a blade that slices through enemies, and a spinning ink barrier. The Exploration Bot, piloted by a Deep Cut member, accompanies you, attacks automatically, launches you into the air, and can perform special ink attacks. [edit]

At its core, Splatoon Raiders keeps the familiar ink mechanics: you can morph between humanoid and cephalopod forms, swim through ink-covered surfaces, and use ink-splatting weapons. But the structure is entirely different. Instead of Turf War, you and up to three others infiltrate fortified bases, crack security systems, and steal treasure while fending off waves of Salmonid enemies. Each raid has multiple paths and optional objectives, and a ticking clock maintains pressure. Gadgets replace sub-weapons like bombs, each with independent cooldown timers. Examples include a continuous ink-firing turret, a blade that slices through enemies, and a spinning ink barrier. You can use multiple gadgets together. Weapons can drop from defeated enemies, introducing a loot system where you collect new weapons and equipment during raids. The Exploration Bot, piloted by a Deep Cut member, accompanies you, attacks automatically, launches you into the air, and can perform special moves like unleashing ink attacks. You can level up and customize upgrades to fit your play style. Motion controls are supported. [edit]

Deep Cut's ship crash-lands on the Spirhalite Islands after a freak storm. You play as a customizable Inkling or Octoling mechanic who works alongside Shiver, Frye, and Big Man to raid the islands for treasure. The treasures are guarded by aggressive Salmonids, who attack immediately when approached. Your hideout ship serves as a central hub, and you venture out across fractured coastlines, hidden ruins, and salvage sites to uncover the islands' mysteries. The story unfolds through daily comics leading up to launch and a special Splatfest in Splatoon 3 tied to the game's theme. [edit]