Splatoon Raiders Is Out This Week: Why You Shouldn't Ignore Nintendo's Weirdest Shooter

In Valorant or BGMI, you are constantly fighting against recoil. In Splatoon, the ground itself is your primary weapon.

Why does every shooter we play in India have to involve military guys in tactical vests screaming toxic slurs into voice chat?

If you ask the average gamer in Mumbai or Delhi what they play, it’s always the same: BGMI on their phone, Valorant on PC, or maybe Call of Duty on a PS5 if they have the budget. When I tell people I’ve been playing a game where you shoot bright neon ink out of a giant bucket to swim through walls, they look at me like I’ve lost my mind.

But Splatoon Raiders is coming out this week on the Nintendo Switch, and if you’ve ignored this franchise because it looks like a cartoon made for toddlers, you’re missing out on one of the most mechanically demanding shooters on the market.

I bought my Switch originally for Zelda, but I ended up importing a physical copy of Splatoon 3 from a seller in Mumbai for nearly ₹4,800 because Nintendo doesn't officially exist here. I expected a casual, colorful distraction. Instead, I got my face wiped for three straight hours by Japanese players who moved like they were on hyper-speed. It is not a baby game.

What Exactly Is Splatoon Raiders?

If you haven't been keeping up with the trailers, Splatoon Raiders takes the core mechanics of the main series—covering the ground in ink to swim through it, reloading by hiding in your own color, and using high-mobility weapons—and pivots it into a co-op, PvE raid-style format. Think of it as Nintendo's answer to Helldivers 2, but with squids and ink rollers.

You and three other players get dropped into hostile territory to secure resources, fight aggressive creature waves, and extract before you're overwhelmed.

For a mobile-first gaming audience in India that is obsessed with survival and squad-based coordination, this loop should feel incredibly familiar. The difference is the movement. In Valorant or BGMI, you are constantly fighting against recoil and holding angles. In Splatoon, the ground itself is your primary weapon. If you don't paint the floor, you can't move. If you don't paint the walls, you can't escape. It forces you to think about spatial control in a way no traditional military shooter does.

The Real Pain of Being a Nintendo Player in India

Let’s talk about the friction, because buying and playing this game in India is a massive chore.

First, there is the price. Splatoon Raiders is launching at standard pricing, which translates to $60 USD on the US eShop. Since we don't have an Indian regional eShop, you have to buy US eShop gift cards from third-party sites like Play-Asia, which usually costs around ₹5,200 after conversion fees. If you want a physical cartridge, you have to wait weeks for local importers to bring it in, and they will absolutely charge a premium.

Second, and more importantly, is Nintendo’s prehistoric online infrastructure.

Nintendo still relies heavily on peer-to-peer networking. If you are playing from India on a high-ping connection, or if your local broadband provider has strict NAT type settings, you are going to suffer. In Splatoon 3, getting disconnected mid-match was a regular occurrence for me. When you do disconnect, the game treats it as if you rage-quit and locks you out of matchmaking for ten minutes. It is incredibly frustrating, and I fully expect Splatoon Raiders to have the same lobby connection issues at launch. You will need a solid, wired LAN connection to your Switch dock if you want a stable experience.

Is It Worth Your Money?

If you already own a Switch and you’re tired of the same old competitive loops, this is a no-brainer. The co-op focus of Splatoon Raiders means you don't have to sweat against global pros just to enjoy your evening. It is fast, chaotic, and completely different from anything you can play on a PC or PS5.

But if you don't own a Switch yet, is this the game to buy one for? Probably not on its own. You're better off starting with Tears of the Kingdom or Super Mario Odyssey.

My recommendation: Wait. Let the launch week pass so players in India can test how the netcode holds up on our local ISPs. If the servers are stable and matchmaking doesn't drop every three games, then pull the trigger. It’s time we played a shooter that doesn't require a military helmet.