Splatoon Raiders is out on Switch 2 — But still no couch co-op

Splatoon goes solo — and skips the couch

🍄 This story is part of our Nintendo Brand Hub — our Switch 2, Zelda and Mario coverage, from a family that plays co-op.

Nintendo dropped Splatoon Raiders on the Switch 2 today (23 July 2026), and it’s the swerve fans have wanted for years: a proper single-player campaign instead of a multiplayer-first arena shooter. The Deep Cut trio crash-land on the tropical Spirhalite Islands after a storm, you play their mechanic, and you raid Salmonid-infested islands for treasure and gear. On paper, this is the most approachable Splatoon yet.

Why it matters for dads

We sank a lot of hours into Splatoon 2 on the family Switch, so this launch had our full attention. And the campaign looks built for the way dads actually play — in stolen 30-minute windows. It runs on persistent progression: gear you earn in one raid carries into the next, your Hideout Ship keeps upgrading, and there are over 100 weapons to grind. GameSpot clocks the post-game past 40 hours. That’s a game you can dip in and out of without a comms headset or a ranked ladder wrecking your Tuesday evening.

Here’s the frustrating part, and it’s the gripe Splatoon has never fixed: there’s still no couch co-op. Raiders technically has four-player co-op, but “local” here means local wireless — every player needs their own Switch 2 and their own copy of the game. No split-screen, no single-console play, and no GameShare to lend a copy. So the one thing a lot of us wanted — handing a kid a Joy-Con and clearing a raid together on one screen — still isn’t on the table. To play Raiders side by side, you’re looking at a second console and a second €50 game. For something this clearly designed for chilled-out, cooperative island-looting, that’s an open goal missed.

What’s next

The solo campaign is the reason to buy in, and it needs no subscription — Nintendo Switch Online only kicks in for online co-op, not the main game. We’ll put real hours into it before any verdict lands. If you want the hardware context first, our Switch 2 review covers whether the console earns its keep, and our family Switch games guide rounds up the titles that genuinely work for game night. And if same-couch play is your dealbreaker, our Halo split-screen guide is a reminder of how good shared-screen co-op can still be.

Does Splatoon Raiders have couch co-op?

No. Splatoon Raiders has four-player co-op, but only online or via local wireless — each player needs their own Switch 2 and their own copy of the game. There is no split-screen or single-console couch co-op.

When did Splatoon Raiders release and what does it cost?

Splatoon Raiders launched on July 23, 2026, as a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, priced at $49.99 digital and $59.99 for the physical version.

Is Splatoon Raiders worth it for families?

As a solo campaign it looks great for dip-in-dip-out play, and the single-player mode needs no subscription. But playing together locally means buying a second console and a second copy, so plan for that before you promise a co-op night.