Nintendo has launched Splatoon Raiders, a new expansion that introduces a single-player, looter-shooter style campaign to the series [1].

This shift marks a significant departure for the franchise by prioritizing a dedicated solo experience. By evolving the existing Salmon Run mechanics into a progression-based system, Nintendo aims to provide more flexibility and a more satisfying narrative structure than previous titles offered [1, 2].

The expansion was showcased during a hands-on demo at an event in New York City a few weeks before the official review period [6]. Gaming outlets, including GameSpot and PCMag, have noted that the new format changes how players interact with the world. The gameplay focuses on varying objectives and gear acquisition, mirroring the looter-shooter genre [2, 3].

"Splatoon Raiders shows a new degree of flexibility for the franchise, with a single‑player campaign that’s much more satisfying than its past attempts to inject a story campaign into the main games," a GameSpot reviewer said [1].

Other critics highlighted the clever adaptation of the series' established modes. An MSN reviewer said that the game builds upon Salmon Run modes in a clever way, resulting in a looter-shooter with varying objectives [2]. PCMag also noted that the solo missions are compelling enough to potentially overshadow the series' traditional multiplayer focus [4].

The expansion runs on the Nintendo Switch, a console first released in 2017 [5]. Review roundups published in July 2026 describe the addition as an incredibly compelling evolution of the brand [7].

"Nintendo's upcoming squid game veers the series into looter‑shooter territory, and I dig what I've seen so far, based on a hand‑on demo," a PCMag reviewer said [3].

“Splatoon Raiders shows a new degree of flexibility for the franchise”

By integrating looter-shooter elements, Nintendo is attempting to capture a broader audience that prefers single-player progression over purely competitive multiplayer. This strategy leverages the established 'Salmon Run' loop to create a sustainable gameplay cycle, potentially extending the lifecycle of the Nintendo Switch library by diversifying the genre appeal of one of its most successful intellectual properties.