Splatoon Raiders Review: Loot Shooter Spin-Off Rebuilds the Series' Single-Player Formula
The review positions Splatoon Raiders as a deliberate genre experiment, taking the series' solo mode and fusing it with loot shooter mechanics, which could set a new direction for both Splatoon and the genre.
Reporting from 1 source: Game Spark.
Game Spark reviews Splatoon Raiders for Nintendo Switch 2, a spin-off that turns the series' single-player Hero Mode into a standalone loot shooter. It pits Salmonids as enemies, replaces sub weapons with customizable gadgets, and adds a parts-based build system. The review details the three tank types and their gadgets, calling the game a potential milestone for the genre.
The review opens by framing Splatoon Raiders as a spin-off that extracts the single-player Hero Mode and rebuilds it as a loot shooter, with Salmonids from Salmon Run as the enemy force. The core change is the equipment system: sub weapons are gone, replaced by gadgets mapped to the L, R, and A buttons, and the available gadgets depend on which of three tank types you pick: Speed, Power, or Technique.
Speed tanks get mobility tools like the Kachikomi Shoes, which launch the player forward and upward with a landing blast. Power tanks favor direct damage, such as the Zubatto Slasher, a melee attack that pierces armor and knocks back groups. Technique tanks lean on placement gadgets, including the Suketto Pot turret and the Tsunagaru Balloon, a chain of floating mines that scale in explosion power.
The loot shooter identity comes from the parts system. Gadgets drop parts during stages that modify their behavior, from extending attack range to increasing jump distance or stock, and players fit these parts within a limited cost budget. The review suggests this build depth could make the game a new milestone for loot shooters.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.