Nintendo just dropped a massive Direct for Splatoon Raiders, and it is safe to say this isn’t your usual turf war. Launching exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2 on July 23, this game leans heavily into a single-player, treasure-hunting action loop that looks incredibly addictive.
You play as a mechanic teaming up with the chaotic energy of Deep Cut—Shiver, Frye, and Big Man—to raid the mysterious Spirhalite Islands. Here is the massive gameplay breakdown you need to know.
The Loop: Raiding and Looting
The core of the game is all about venturing into the islands, mining crystals, diving into dungeons, and fighting off aggressive Salmonids to secure massive treasure. You aren’t totally alone out there, either. A member of Deep Cut will accompany you in a customizable Exploration Bot that helps sniff out hidden loot.
The enemy variety is getting a major upgrade this time around:
- Lesser Salmonids: Weak on their own, but they will absolutely swarm you if you get careless.
- Boss Salmonids: Beefier targets that require actual strategy. Defeating them nets you a Mega Power Egg to fuel your Bot.
- Seasoned Salmonids: Literally covered in salt. The saltier they are, the harder they fight.
Pick Your Playstyle: The Three Tanks
Instead of just choosing a weapon, your entire playstyle is dictated by three distinct tank types, each allowing you to equip unique mechanical gadgets that you can upgrade over time. With over 100 weapon variations to find as loot drop-rewards, the build variety is going to be wild.
| Tank Type | Playstyle Focus | Key Gadgets |
| Speed Tank | High mobility, quick hit-and-run tactics, and fast evasion. | Blast Boot (high-speed dashes), Dash Bomb, and the returning Booyarang. |
| Power Tank | Brute force, crowd control, and breaking enemy shields. | Splatchet (wide-sweeping melee slash), Splatellites, and the ground-coating Spinwheel. |
| Tactical Tank | Methodical control, defense, and long-range setup. | Shot Pot (automated turret), chainable Bombloons, and the high-damage Tether Wail laser. |
Between runs, you will head back to your hideout ship where the Deep Cut crew helps you out. Shiver runs the Gadget Workshop, Frye handles weapon upgrades, and Big Man catalogs your discoveries. You can use your hard-earned salvage to permanently boost your attack power, health, and unlock a third gadget slot for your tanks.
Difficulty, Outfits, and Multiplayer
Splatoon Raiders is built to be a fully fleshed-out solo campaign, but you don’t have to go it alone. You can tackle the entire story with up to three friends via online or local wireless play. There is even a “Call for Help” feature if you are playing solo and just need a random player to jump in and help you clear a brutal room.
If you are worried about the challenge, Nintendo is including three difficulty modes: Tourist (casual story mode), Raider (normal), and Survivalist (for veterans). The loot rewards stay the same regardless of what you choose, but the Salmonids get way more aggressive on higher settings.
Naturally, freshness still matters. You can unlock slick new outfits by completing island challenges, tapping older Splatoon amiibo, or picking up the newly announced Splatoon Raiders amiibo figures.
What to Do Right Now
July 23 is right around the corner, but the hype starts now. Nintendo announced a few ways to pass the time:
- Splatfest: A special crossover Splatfest is hitting Splatoon 3 from July 10 to July 12.
- Comics: You can read Deep Cut’s Island Misadventures daily on the Nintendo Today smart device app to get the backstory leading up to the game.
- Hardware: New Deep Cut-themed Joy-Con 2 controllers will drop on the same day as the game.