In a remarkable achievement that has sent ripples through the gaming community, Splatoon Raiders has claimed the highest user score rating of any Nintendo game on Metacritic. The single-player spinoff of Nintendo’s beloved ink-splattering franchise has accomplished what many thought impossible: outranking decades of beloved Mario titles and the globally dominant Pokémon series in the eyes of players worldwide. This unprecedented success marks a significant milestone not just for the Splatoon franchise, but for Nintendo’s approach to expanding its intellectual properties into new genres and gameplay experiences.

Currently sitting at number seven on Metacritic’s prestigious list of best games of all time by user score, Splatoon Raiders has positioned itself among gaming’s most revered titles. The game has surpassed legendary entries including The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and its acclaimed Hearts of Stone DLC, Naughty Dog’s emotionally devastating The Last of Us, and even Nintendo’s previous user score champion, The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. For context, Majora’s Mask has held its position as a fan favorite for over two decades since its original Nintendo 64 release in 2000, making Splatoon Raiders’ achievement all the more impressive in the annals of gaming history.

A New Chapter for the Splatoon Franchise

The Splatoon series first burst onto the scene in 2015 as Nintendo’s answer to the competitive shooter genre, offering a family-friendly alternative that emphasized territory control through colorful ink warfare. What began as a multiplayer-focused experiment on the Wii U has evolved into one of Nintendo’s most successful new franchises of the modern era. Splatoon Raiders represents a bold departure from the series’ multiplayer roots, delivering a comprehensive single-player experience that has clearly resonated with both longtime fans and newcomers alike. The game received a perfect score of ten in professional reviews, with critics praising its inventive gameplay mechanics, charming world-building, and the seamless translation of Splatoon’s signature style into a solo adventure format.

The development team at Nintendo appears to have struck gold by recognizing that the Splatoon universe had untapped potential beyond competitive multiplayer modes. By crafting a narrative-driven experience that maintains the series’ distinctive aesthetic while introducing new gameplay elements, they’ve created something that appeals to a broader audience. This strategic expansion mirrors Nintendo’s successful approach with other franchises, such as the transition of Mario into various sports, puzzle, and role-playing games over the decades.

The Competition Remains Fierce at the Top

Despite its impressive ranking, Splatoon Raiders still has formidable competition above it on Metacritic’s all-time list. The game sits behind Clair Obscure, CD Projekt Red’s The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine expansion, and the atmospheric horror classic Silent Hill 4: The Room. Perhaps most surprisingly, the top spot continues to be held by Disney’s Cory in the House game, a result that many in the gaming community attribute to internet culture and coordinated user voting rather than genuine critical assessment. This quirk of Metacritic’s user-driven scoring system highlights both the strengths and potential vulnerabilities of crowdsourced game ratings, where passionate communities can significantly influence rankings for better or worse.

The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine, released in 2016, has long been considered one of the greatest expansions in gaming history, offering dozens of hours of content that many felt could stand alone as a full game. Its presence near the top of user rankings reflects the lasting impact CD Projekt Red made on the industry before the controversial launch of Cyberpunk 2077. Meanwhile, Silent Hill 4 has experienced a renaissance of appreciation in recent years, with horror enthusiasts revisiting the 2004 title and recognizing its unique contributions to psychological horror gaming.

What This Means for Nintendo’s Future

Splatoon Raiders’ success sends a clear message to Nintendo about the viability of expanding its newer franchises into different genres and formats. The company has historically been cautious about its intellectual properties, but this triumph may encourage more experimental projects that take beloved characters and worlds in unexpected directions. Industry analysts suggest that Nintendo’s willingness to take creative risks with Splatoon could serve as a template for future endeavors with other modern franchises like Arms, Ring Fit Adventure, or even the recently revitalized Pikmin series.

For players and critics alike, the game’s reception validates what many have long believed: that Nintendo’s newer properties have just as much potential for greatness as the legendary Mario and Zelda franchises that built the company’s reputation. As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, Splatoon Raiders stands as proof that innovation and quality craftsmanship can achieve recognition that rivals even the most established giants in the industry.