Splatoon is trading turf war for a proper adventure. Splatoon Raiders, a single-player-focused spin-off in Nintendo's ink-soaked shooter series, launches exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 on July 23, 2026. Where the mainline games have always been built around competitive multiplayer, Raiders flips the formula into something more personal and story-driven.
Welcome to the Spirhalite Islands
Set on the remote Spirhalite Islands, Raiders casts you as a mechanic who teams up with Shiver, Frye, and Big Man - the trio better known as the chart-topping group Deep Cut - to explore the islands in search of their hidden valuables. Standing in the way are the ever-hungry Salmonids, the franchise's fan-favorite menace, here repurposed as the core threat of a full adventure.
Play It Your Way - Solo or With Friends
Nintendo is leaning into accessibility. Raiders offers three difficulty levels - Tourist, Raider, and Survivalist - that you can switch between at any time, so newcomers and series veterans can both find their groove. And while it's built as a single-player experience, you're not locked out of company: up to three other players can join online or via local wireless, and you can call them in for backup when a stage gets tough.
Weapons, Upgrades, and Style
A weapon upgrade system and a suite of player customization options round out the package, giving the run-based island expeditions a sense of progression and personality that fits right in with Splatoon's fashion-obsessed identity. For a series that has spent a decade as one of Nintendo's premier multiplayer franchises, Raiders is a genuinely fresh swerve - and an early showcase for what the Switch 2 can do with the formula. Mark July 23 on your calendar.
