Splatoon Raiders: The First Review Scores Are In – Here's How Well Nintendo's New Shooter Spinoff Performs

Just two days before release, the review embargo for Splatoon Raiders has lifted – and the initial reactions from the gaming press are impressive. Based on around 65 reviews, the Metacritic score currently stands at 80 points, while OpenCritic even awards 81 points and the 'Strong' rating. A full 71 percent of reviewers would recommend the game.

Splatoon Raiders is the first third-person shooter spinoff in the series and is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2. Instead of the familiar Turf War mode, the game focuses on cooperative missions for up to four players, both online and locally. It also features extensive character customization and plenty of appearances by the popular virtual band Deep Cut.

However, outliers in the scores also indicate that not everyone is convinced. While outlets like Pocket Tactics and TechRadar Gaming awarded top scores, The Guardian notably deviates with a mere 4 out of 10 points. Overall, however, a clearly positive sentiment prevails.

• Metacritic: 80 points (“Generally Favorable”)
• OpenCritic: 81 points (“Strong”), 71 percent recommendation
• Four-player co-op, playable online and locally
• Extensive character customization included
• Release: July 23, 2026, exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2

For those eagerly anticipating release day, there's certainly reason to be hopeful: Splatoon's foray into third-person shooting doesn't seem to be an experiment gone wrong.

Source: OpenCritic, GameRant