Splatoon Raiders Becomes Highest User-Rated Nintendo Game on Metacritic

The reception for Splatoon Raiders has shifted from modest pre-release expectations to a dominant performance on review aggregates. While the title removes the core competitive multiplayer experience central to previous entries, users have responded with overwhelming praise. According to Nintendolife, the game is currently the second highest-rated release of the year, trailing only Resident Evil Requiem.

Metacritic Records and Ranking Discrepancies

The game’s ascent on Metacritic has been rapid, though different reports highlight slight variations in its exact standing due to the site’s update lag. One source reports the game is in seventh place with a score of 9.3/10 based on over 700 ratings. However, Forbes notes that the actual page shows a 9.4/10, which would move it to the second-best user-reviewed game of all time, surpassed only by Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 at 9.5.

This surge places Splatoon Raiders above legendary titles. It has outperformed The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, which holds a 9.2 user score, as well as The Witcher 3 and The Last of Us. Despite this, it remains behind a few anomalies, including Disney’s Cory in the House.

Shift to Single-Player Looter Shooter Mechanics

The game represents a significant departure for the franchise, pivoting toward a looter shooter format. Players take on the role of a mechanic working with Deep Cut, a trio of swashbuckling musicians, to explore the Spirhalite Islands. The gameplay focuses on raiding islands for treasure, customizing characters, and using mechanical gadgets and ink-weapons to fight waves of Salmonids.

“HUNT FOR TREASURE IN A WILD ADVENTURE! In this single-player-focused game, play as a mechanic working with Deep Cut—a trio of swashbuckling musicians—and venture out into the mysterious Spirhalite Islands! Customize your character, kit yourself out with mechanical gadgets and ink-splattering weapons and take on waves of enemy Salmonids as you raid the islands for treasure.”

Nintendo official synopsis, via Forbes

While the experience is single-player focused, it retains social elements. Nintendo Life’s review gave the game a 9/10, describing it as the best single-player Splatoon and noting that it includes incredibly robust multiplayer options for anyone wanting to splat some Salmonids with friends and family.

User Sentiment vs. Critic Reception

There is a visible gap between how the general public and professional critics view the title. While users are pushing the game toward an all-time record, the critic score is more reserved. Forbes reports that the critic score currently sits at 81, based on 73 reviews.

A Nintendo Life poll showed that nearly 50% of respondents rated the game as an excellent 9/10, with almost 25% awarding it a perfect score.

Switch 2 Hardware and Ecosystem Ties

Splatoon Raiders serves as a primary driver for the new hardware, as it is a Switch 2 exclusive and is not available on the original Switch. This exclusivity has made the game a tempting purchase for those who have not yet upgraded their consoles.

Nintendo is leveraging the game’s popularity through its rewards ecosystem. The company has released limited-time icon elements inspired by the game, which users can redeem using My Nintendo Platinum Points.

Award Prospects and Long-term Stability

The game’s current trajectory has led some observers to predict a major win at the end of the year. Pocket Tactics suggests that Splatoon Raiders is positioned to win Family Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2026.

However, the stability of these scores remains a point of analysis. While the game has a few hundred reviews, it is being compared to titles like Clair Obscur, which has 26,000 reviews securing its position. Whether the current 9.3 or 9.4 score holds as the sample size grows will determine if Splatoon Raiders maintains its status as the top user-rated Nintendo game of all time.