Nintendo's Splatoon Raiders is receiving a warm reception from players following its launch last week. While pre-release excitement did not match certain other first-party titles, user reception on review aggregate sites has pushed the game into rare territory.
According to Kotaku, the Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive sits in seventh place on Metacritic's all-time highest user-rated games list at the time of writing. With a user score of 9.3/10 derived from more than 700 ratings, the title also ranks as the top user-rated Nintendo game on the platform and the second-highest user-rated release of 2026 behind Resident Evil Requiem.
Quick Facts
- Platform: Nintendo Switch 2 (exclusive)
- Release Date: July 23, 2026
- Price: $59.99 / £49.99 ($49.99 / £41.99 on eShop)
- Metacritic User Score: 9.3/10 (based on 700+ ratings)
This early momentum is notable given that the release removes the series' traditional core competitive multiplayer experience in favor of a heavy single-player and cooperative focus. In Nintendo Life's review, which awarded the game a 9/10, critics called it the best single-player entry in the franchise while highlighting robust multiplayer options for teaming up against Salmonids.
Player response on Nintendo Life mirrors the critical praise. A recent reader poll indicates that nearly 50% of respondents rate the game an "excellent" 9/10, while roughly 25% awarded it a perfect score. Alongside its digital and physical sales success—including a strong debut on the UK charts—the early player scores point to a successful transition for Nintendo's fresh take on the franchise.