Ahead of its July 23 release, Splatoon Raiders unveiled its core gameplay and overall content in a dedicated Nintendo Direct.

As the first spin-off in the Splatoon series, the game follows the Deep Cut trio and a new protagonist, the Mechanic, as they crash-land on the Saltspire Islands and hunt for various 'treasures' while battling Salmonids.

Various 'Salmonids' Encountered During Treasure Hunts'

Each stage in the game features diverse natural environments and terrain, where players will encounter dangerous Salmonids. These Salmonids gather around treasures and will attack on sight. Defeating them is the key to reaching the treasure.

The core gameplay of Splatoon Raiders involves treasure hunting: defeating aggressive Salmonids to collect various items and precious treasures.

There are many types of Salmonids. Smallfry Salmonids use various attack methods, such as wielding spoons, frying pans, or tongs, or bouncing around on springs. They are particularly bothersome because they attack in groups.

Boss Salmonids are more formidable than their smaller counterparts. For instance, the Steelhead, which is perfectly protected from the front, must be hit with ink to be downed, creating an opening for attack. Other bosses include the high-HP, high-attack Maws, the flying, tornado-creating Winged Salmonid, and the Smoker, which protects other Salmonids by generating smoke.

Defeating a Boss Salmonid drops a Golden Salmonid Egg. These eggs provide the energy the Mechanic's rig needs to excavate treasure. One Golden Salmonid Egg is equivalent to 100 regular Salmonid eggs.

Geek' Salmonids are even trickier to deal with. For example, the Flat Steelhead uses a sturdy shield and performs massive roller attacks. Others include the Thick-Tongued Salmonid, which fires a massive sonic laser, and the Towering Pillar, which attacks with three lasers. These appear to offer more engaging strategic challenges.

Weapons, Gadgets, and Tanks

In Splatoon Raiders, weapons are just as important as treasure hunting itself. You can deal damage by firing ink from your tank, and when you run out, you can submerge to refill. There are over 100 weapons to discover, which can occasionally be obtained by defeating Salmonids.

Equipment can be changed at the Clan Hall ship. Weapons have levels, and higher levels mean greater power. You can even find unique weapons with special powers.

Gadgets are equipment designed to help you deal with large numbers of Salmonids. These powerful tools allow for various attacks, and you can equip up to two at a time. Since gadgets have a cooldown after use, timing is crucial.

You can equip your chosen gadgets to the tank on your back. There are three types of tanks: Speed Tank, Power Tank, and Technical Tank, each supporting different types of gadgets.

The Speed Tank can be equipped with gadgets like the Assault Shoes, which allow you to dash forward and slam the ground or make a quick escape; the Dash Bomb, which explodes while dashing; and the Jet Boomerang, which stays in the air for a set time before returning.

Gadgets for the Power Tank focus on high damage. These include the Slash Slasher, which can attack a wide area including shields; the Ink Satellite, which attacks Salmonids with rotating ink while painting the ground; and the Spin Wheel, which paints while spinning and knocks away any Salmonids it touches.

Finally, the Technical Tank supports gadgets like the Helper Port, which automatically attacks targets when placed; the Connect Balloon, which can be linked together and detonated all at once when shot; and the Pulling Laser, which creates a laser tether between you and the device, dealing continuous damage to any Salmonids caught in between.

Gadgets can be customized using Gadget Parts. You can enhance them with parts that increase damage, size, or provide other unique functions. Each part has a cost, allowing for flexible combinations as long as you stay within your cost gauge limit. Gadget Parts can be obtained by defeating Salmonids, and some are quite unique.

Stages and Character Growth

Splatoon Raiders features a variety of stages, including open areas where you collect eggs to excavate treasure, stages swarming with Salmonids, challenge stages with restricted equipment, and deep underground ruins to explore.

The Mechanic can grow in several ways. Even if you fail to clear a stage, you keep the EXP, weapons, and items you collected. As you accumulate EXP, you level up and grow stronger.

You can add various facilities to your Clan Hall ship using loot. In the Mechanic Room, you can tune your tank to increase attack power or HP. As you gain proficiency, your tank becomes more powerful, and you can unlock features like equipping an additional gadget.

The Gadget Workshop allows you to develop new gadgets, while the Storage can be used to upgrade weapons or dismantle unwanted ones for materials. Murch organizes the information you gather from treasure hunts. You can also construct various other facilities on the ship.

Other Features to Enjoy

The game includes various features to enhance the treasure hunting experience. You can unlock different designs for the Mechanic's gear by meeting adventure conditions. Tapping Splatoon series amiibo provides special gear designs, and new Raiders amiibo will also offer exclusive gear.

You can choose the game's difficulty level at any time. Changing the difficulty only affects the strength of the Salmonids, not the items you obtain, allowing you to play at a pace that suits you.

Communication play is also supported. While you can play solo, up to four players can join together via internet or local wireless. You can form a group with friends or people who know your password to adventure and progress through the story together.

There is also a 'Help Signal' feature that allows you to receive assistance from random players. Even if you are playing alone, sending a signal allows someone to provide temporary help via the internet. Note that once a stage is cleared, the Help Signal is unavailable for a short time. Conversely, you can go to help others and receive rewards for doing so.

Beyond this, there are many other elements, such as special treasures known as 'Salmonid Relics' and endless underground areas to explore.

Splatoon Raiders, the new spin-off featuring the Mechanic and the beloved Deep Cut trio, officially launches on Nintendo Switch on July 23.