Splatoon Raiders Might be the Most Fun Switch 2 Game Yet

July 31, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Splatoon Raiders is a looter shooter built around missions that last two to seven minutes, and it might be the most fun the Nintendo Switch 2 has to offer right now. The hosts of The Besties are nearly unanimous: the game solves the pacing problems that plague most loot-driven games, and it makes the Splatoon formula work in a single-player context for the first time.

The Mission Structure Solves the Looter Shooter Problem

The core design insight of Splatoon Raiders is that it avoids the "wandering between things to do" problem that drags down open-world looter shooters. Each mission is a self-contained level that lasts between two and seven minutes, and each one has a distinct geographic layout or enemy pattern. One mission might be a long platforming corridor like a Mario level; another might be a three-wave horde mode in an open field; a third might be a bowling alley where enemies surge toward you from one direction. This variety forces the player to learn different enemy types and to use the full arsenal of Splatoon weapons in ways the multiplayer game never demands. The paint roller, for example, is mediocre against a single big enemy but devastating against a dense crowd of weak ones. The game is designed to use every part of the Splatoon formula.

Build Crafting and Hybrid Classes

Continue reading the full summary in the app — free to try.

Read Full Summary →

Free • No credit card required

Listen to Audio Summary Open in App

Never miss an episode of The Besties

Get every new episode summarized in your inbox — free, ~5 minutes to read.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

What you'll learn

1 (04:16) **Introducing Splatoon Raiders: A Co-op Looter Shooter** - The hosts welcome listeners and set up the episode's main topic: Splatoon Raiders, a new Switch 2 exclusive that abandons PvP for a PvE looter-shooter experience.
2 (05:23) **Why Splatoon Raiders Works: The Mission Structure** - The core of the game is a clever, bite-sized mission design that avoids the tedium of open-world travel and forces players to learn the game's systems.
3 (09:34) **The Build-Crafting and Class System** - The game introduces a deep, Destiny-like class and customization system that forces constant re-evaluation of your loadout.
4 (11:27) **Minor Disappointments: Hub World and Base Customization** - The hub world and base-upgrading systems are underdeveloped, feeling like a missed opportunity for deeper customization.
5 (14:22) **Multiplayer Limitations: No Split-Screen and Clunky Matchmaking** - The game's cooperative and online features have frustrating restrictions that hinder local and social play.
6 (17:04) **The Biggest Bummer: Cosmetic Customization is Downgraded** - The game significantly reduces the depth of character fashion, a core appeal of the Splatoon franchise.
7 (19:46) **The Gameplay Feel is Everything** - Despite its flaws, the moment-to-moment gameplay is incredibly satisfying, creating a "scratching" sensation that makes it the most fun Switch 2 exclusive.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

The guys are back again to talk about the magic and wonder of Splatoon Raiders, a game that finally made us all agree that Splatoon is really kinda awesome. We've also got some reader mail to dive into and whether we can actually find someone who inverts their horizontal axis.

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!