Splatoon has built its reputation on frantic competitive multiplayer, so it was something of a surprise when Nintendo pivoted the series toward a cooperative, exploration-driven spin-off with Splatoon Raiders. Released exclusively on Switch 2 on July 23, the game has spent its opening weeks proving that pivot was the right call, holding steady atop the console’s eShop sales charts even as strong competition from other titles has closed in.
A Different Kind of Splatoon Adventure
Rather than dropping players into Turf War or ranked battles, Splatoon Raiders casts them as an Inkling or Octoling working as a mechanic, journeying alongside the members of Deep Cut into the unexplored Spirhalite Islands. The structure leans heavily into gear customization and gadget building, with players upgrading weapons and equipment as they push deeper into the islands’ mysteries. Nintendo built in three adjustable difficulty tiers, Tourist, Raider, and Survivalist, that can be switched at any time and affect only combat encounters rather than the loot players can earn, a design choice aimed at letting series newcomers and veterans play at their own pace without being locked out of content.
Built for Co-op, but Flexible About It
Up to four players can team up either locally or online, with the game scaling its challenge based on how many people are in a session, including encounters with the series’ recurring Salmonid enemies making an appearance on the islands. That flexibility, playable solo or in a full four-player squad, has been a big part of the game’s early appeal, giving it a different rhythm from the strictly competitive multiplayer that defines the mainline Splatoon games. Community reaction since launch has been largely positive, with players responding well to the shift toward a more relaxed, loot-and-explore structure layered over the series’ signature ink-based traversal.
Holding Off Xenoblade Chronicles 2’s Late Charge
The clearest sign of the game’s staying power came in the eShop charts for the week of August 2, where Splatoon Raiders held onto the top spot despite a serious push from Xenoblade Chronicles 2, whose Switch 2 upgrade pack drove a surge in sales that nearly overtook it. That the RPG’s upgraded rerelease came within striking distance is notable on its own, but Splatoon Raiders hanging on speaks to just how much sustained interest the spin-off has generated since its debut. On the community side, momentum has carried into real-world events as well, with launch party gatherings, including one held in Houston shortly after release, keeping the game’s social side alive outside the eShop numbers.
With competitive Splatoon esports still humming along in the background, evidenced by the Splatoon 3 North American League wrapping its 2026 season with playoffs in June, Raiders’ success shows Nintendo doesn’t need to lean exclusively on ranked ink battles to keep the franchise’s momentum going. If anything, the spin-off’s chart performance suggests there’s real appetite for the series to keep exploring formats beyond its competitive roots.