Splatoon 3, developed and published by Nintendo, is a hybrid platformer and shooter that replaces the violence usually found in the latter's multiplayer with colorful statements of ink on landmarks - more graffiti than gunshot. The series is known for its unique aesthetic and its vibrant level design, both of which make a triumphant return, and it's safe to say that Splatoon 3 is the most refined variant of the franchise's splatter-filled gameplay. It's a game that could've taken a few more innovative measures or risks to really cement its identity when set up alongside its predecessors, but it's also comfortable, familiar, and fun thanks to its hesitancy to do so.

Splatoon 3 follows the player character - either an Inkling or Octling, depending on their choice at the beginning of the game - as they seek to restore power to Splatsville, a new location that replaces Inkopolis as the game's main hub. The single-player campaign is once again a hidden gem, full of underappreciated and clever writing, and remains one of the best reasons to play Splatoon. Level design is smart, with plenty of puzzles to go around, and the way the game slowly ramps up the difficulty of its platforming goes hand-in-hand with getting reps in the multiplayer modes. In my experience, nothing was ever too challenging, but it was often well worth diving into a singleplayer level as a warmup before trying my hand at some multiplayer.

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That said, multiplayer in Splatoon 3 is going to be the major reason most people engage with the game, so it'll be a focus right at launch. Turf Wars are as fun as they've ever been, with a wide range of weapons and levels to keep players engaged for hours. Contrary to the general easy pace of singleplayer, the floor-to-ceiling for player skill in multiplayer is pretty cavernous - there were plenty of times I was thoroughly outplayed by someone with a better grasp on the game's mechanics and movement, and it felt encouraging rather than disappointing. Mostly, the same charm that colorized earlier iterations of Splatoon is present once again in Splatoon 3, which means less salty moments and more appreciation for the cool maneuver that just resulted in you getting dunked on by something like a well-timed Squid Surge, a mechanic that leaves lots of room for great aerial mobility.

Splatoon 3 Alterna Introduction

Turf Wars are the most familiar, but they're not the only returning mode. Salmon Run makes its return from Splatoon 2, and contains the same frenetic pacing and encouragement towards strategic coop that it did previously. As Splatoon 3's "zombie" style gameplay, it serves as a great option for friends looking to avoid player vs. player and is another mode that seems easy to lose hours to given the right group. Anarchy Battles are the solo grinder's option for multiplayer online, with rankings and competition promised. This was pretty difficult to get a feel for leading up to launch given the smaller player pool, but in theory nothing should have changed much, and given the superb feel of controls and design that are present in the other modes, it would be surprising if anything was different here.

One of the best and only noticeably large innovations in Splatoon 3 is its customization features, which now extend to banners, player characters, emotes, and Tableturf cards, the latter being a game mode in and of itself. Tableturf has players inking a shared board with different patterns along a set number of turns, with the winner being the player who controls more of the board space with their color of ink at the end. It's nowhere near as deep feeling as The Witcher 3's Gwent or a proper card game like Legends of Runeterra, but it's another feature that feels well-thought-out and flashy.

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Splatoon 3 Boss

Controls are fairly straightforward in Splatoon 3, though the difference between the styles and docked or handheld mode are night and day. Motion controls are fun and intuitive in docked mode, but unwieldly and difficult in handheld; it's highly recommended that you switch motion controls off in handheld, unless you're willing to sit in an upright position for hours staring down at a screen held exactly chest-high. The music and art design of Splatoon 3, on the other hand, are anything but straightforward. The character designs that litter the streets of Splatsville are incredibly fun to examine, and the city itself has nooks and crannies that are always a delight to get to know better.

Really, there's very little to dislike about Splatoon 3. It's a game that knows itself well, never threatening to get too lost in the subtleties of its post-apocalyptic tones in its single-player narrative or in the skill requirements needed to compete in its multiplayer modes. This is a game that's very accessible, and although it doesn't reinvent much and will be impressively familiar to anyone who has played Splatoon or Splatoon 2, that's not necessarily a bad thing. In not straying too far from what made its predecessors so compelling, Splatoon 3 has carved a niche for itself that makes it one of the better online options on Nintendo Switch, and the legitimacy and longevity of modes like Turf War has now been properly proven. Hopefully Splatoon 3's community keeps the multiplayer component alive and well for years to come, because the series deserves even more entries if they're going to be this fun every time around.

Splatoon 3 Boss Fight

Splatoon 3 releases on September 9, 2022 for Nintendo Switch. Screen Rant was provided with an advance digital download code for the purpose of this review.