A Unique Series Expedition Awaits, Splatoon Raiders Readies for a July 23 Release

by William Hernandez April 21, 2026

The playable character in Splatoon Raiders riding on top of Big Wave, dealing damage to Salmonids in the process.

Nintendo hasn’t been all that shy about using the Nintendo Today app to announce important news, and the early Tuesday reveal of Splatoon Raiders’ July 23rd release date demonstrates their total faith in that strategy.

The latest trailer is our first in-depth look at the game, a proper showcase of the single-player action that’s to come. Splatoon Raiders has looked promising from the start, but getting some actual insight into the gameplay and direction has definitely left a greater impression overall. Raiders clearly has the same charm as the main series Splatoon games — only replacing the dense urbanism for a much more natural setting.

Focused around a Salmon Run-like gameplay loop, Splatoon Raiders will have players going treasure hunting, fending off Salmonids wherever they go. The relics that can be found have a monetary value, but they can also come with equippable combat and movement skills. It’s not currently apparent what money will be useful for, but customization is certainly a big part of the game.

The main gameplay loop of Splatoon Raiders will have players fending off Salmonids in waves as they pursue treasures and relics.

From the trailer, we know that gadgets, at the very least, can be tinkered with. All kinds of different enhancements can be equipped, limited only by the number of slots and their individual skill costs. Beyond that, it seems like players will also be able to change their weapon, bot buddy, clothing style, and ink tank all to their liking. You’re fully free to play Splatoon Raiders however you want.

What’s interesting is that gadgets like the Splatchet have to be crafted, so it seems like there will be more to adventures than just the relic rewards. The trailer gives the impression that dungeons may only be completed once, but perhaps there is a system to help grind for resources. Delving deeper into the mysterious Spirhalite Islands is the ultimate goal, but I doubt the campaign will be wholly linear.

Tinkering with your gadgets in Splatoon Raiders can help customize them to your specific needs or tastes.

Though not present in the trailer, the Splatoon team has confirmed that players will be able to adventure with others in Online Play or Local Play. Splatoon Raiders has advertised a strong single-player-focused experience — and it certainly is designed around having just one player — but the difficulty will adjust relative to the number of players active. This honestly wasn’t an expected addition, but it is a very welcome one.

Priced at $49.99/$59.99 USD (digital and physical, respectively), Splatoon Raiders shows off Nintendo’s new commitment to cheaper digital releases. It won’t be the first to come out, but Raiders seems to solidify the idea that this pricing system truly aims to benefit consumers more than anything else. Launching July 23, 2026, don’t sleep on this promising Splatoon spinoff!