Splatoon 3 is here, and with it the opportunity for players around the world to jump into the latest entry in Nintendo’s unique Switch-exclusive multiplayer team-based third-person shooter. It’s a series that’s earned notoriety for its unique blend of cool and family-friendly team battles between Inklings with a love of flinging paint and a desire to wear the coolest street fashion they can find.
Since the game’s humble origins during Nintendo’s lulls of the Wii U era the franchise has grown to become one of Nintendo’s biggest titles, with new releases being practically an event at home in Japan and a much-anticipated experience for fans around the world. Something about its unique blend of action with a healthy dose of style points has really resonated with people, and for good reason!
Nowhere is this more apparent than in the company’s home country of Japan. Beyond the Nintendo Switch itself being sold out everywhere, you have everything from Splatoon plushies to Splatoon curry, and any collaboration you can think of in between. This release feels like an event.
Still, if you’re someone whose knowledge of this Nintendo franchise starts and ends with the image of squid kids spraying ink at one another and want to know more, or just someone wanting to understand everything new with this latest entry in the series, here’s everything you need to know to jump into the Big N’s next hit game.
What is Splatoon 3?
Splatoon is Nintendo’s take on the third-person team shooter. After the first game’s release as a major hit on the underperforming Wii U in 2015, the game appealed to audiences thanks to its unique paint mechanics that tasked players with painting the arena in their team’s color in order to gain control over the map, rather than simply killing your enemies. Following Splatoon 2’s launch in 2017, Splatoon 3 is the latest game in this franchise.
Players take control of squid-kid hybrid characters known as Inklings and Octolings and play in matches known as Turf War. The unique squid-like characteristics of these characters allow them the ability to swim through their own paint, turning your team’s coverage over the map into an additional method of traversing the maps.
The aim of the game’s signature mode, Turf War, is to be the team to cover the most ground within a variety of contained arena within a short 3-minute time limit. Whichever team covers the most ground within the time limit is the winner.
In Splatoon 3, these battles are taking place in the remote desert-like setting of the Splatlands, where Inklings and Octolings take part in paint battles in the ruins that exist outside of the city. The Splatlands also act as a hub world where you can learn about what stages are available to play online against other players, as well as buy weapons and clothing containing unique abilities that allow you to customize your Inkling or Octoling avatar and gain an advantage in online play.
What multiplayer modes are available in Splatoon 3?
There are a total of five different online multiplayer modes in Splatoon 3. One of these modes is available to all players, while the other four modes are only accessible in online ranked play.
Turf War is the mode available to everyone, and is also the mode used in Splatfests. In this mode, two teams of four players will face against one another in a three-minute match where the goal is to cover more ground within the arena with your colored ink within the time limit.
Beyond Turf War are four different objective-based modes that are played in Ranked Mode. The first of these is Rainmaker. In this mode, the aim of the game is to take possession of a special weapon known as the Rainmaker and, after bringing the weapon to each checkpoint situated around the map, carry the weapon to the goal in your opponent’s area to win the match. In order to succeed, players must work together in order to protect the player with the Rainmaker and make effective use of the Rainmaker’s unique offensive capabilities in order to carry the weapon to the goal.
In Splat Zones, there are one or two active zones in the middle of the map, and the aim of the game is for one team to take control of all available zones and protect them until their points count down from 100 to 0. The winner is the team who brings their points to 0, or, if no team is able to do so within five minutes, the winner will be the team with the fewest points.
Tower Control in Splatoon 3 requires teams to take control over a moving tower and ride this tower in order to take it along a set path through your oppenent’s area in order to reach the finish line. The aim is for each team to protect the Tower while their team is riding it in order to transport this tower along the guided track to the end within five minutes. If neither team is successful at this, the team to transport the tower furthest wins.
Finally, in Clam Blitz, the aim is for each team to collect various clams strewn across the map until they collect eight. At this point, your clams turn into a football which can then be fired at your oppenent’s goal in order to break their net. After their net is broken it is possible for your team to throw single clams into your opponent’s goal to score points for a limited team, removing three points off the 100 points each team starts the game with for each clam. The winner is the first team to reach zero or the team with the lowest score at the end of five minutes.
What are Splatfests?
Splatfests are limited-time events taking place at regular intervals within Splatoon 3. During a Splatfest, a theme will be chosen based on a question. Players will then be asked to vote on their answer which will determine which team they fight for, after which they will have 24 hours to earn as many points as possible for their team in Turf War matches against other teams. At the end of the Splatfest votes and match results will be tallied to determine a winner.
New to Splatoon 3, at the halfway point, an update will be released informing players of the current win percentages for each team as all-new three-way battles are introduced. In these battles, a full team of four members of the currently-leading team will face off against two members from each of the other teams in a 1v2 match for Turf War control.
Don’t miss out on this unique limited-time mode offering a fun twist on traditional Turf War gameplay.
How many multiplayer stages are available in Splatoon 3?
At launch, 12 stages will be available to players in each mode in Splatoon 3. Nintendo has promised the game will receive regular updates for at least 2 years, during which time new stages, weapons and more will be added to the game to increase this roster even further.
The following 12 stages will be available in the game at launch:
Museum d’Alfonsino
Hammerhead Bridge
Mahi-Mahi Resort
Inkblot Art Academy
Sturgeon Shipyard
Makomart
Wahoo World
Scorch Gorge
Eeltail Alley
Mincemeat Metalworks
Undertow Spillway
Hagglefish Market
Is There a Single-player Campaign
Alongside the game’s signature multiplayer modes, Splatoon 3 also boasts a robust single-player campaign with a unique story centered around the lore of the world of Inkopolis and the Splatlands. This follows on from the story of previous titles, and also serves as a training ground for players to practice techniques which will be useful knowledge for competing against real-world opponents in Splatoon multiplayer matches.
What is Salmon Run?
Although Splatoon 3 is a primarily-competitive multiplayer game, Salmon Run is a co-operative online multiplayer mode where players work together against waves of enemies in order to collect enough eggs within the time limit to complete each of the mode’s three stages. Eggs can be collected by defeating special powerful enemies called Salmonids who will aim to attack the player, and these eggs must be taken back to the basket at the center of the map in order to collect it.
If a player is defeated by a Salmonid, it is possible for other players to revive their teammates by shooting ink onto them. If all players are defeated or not enough eggs are collected within the time limit, your team will fail the run.
How do you use Splatnet 3 for Splatoon 3?
Splatnet 3 is a special service offered within the Nintendo Switch Online mobile application that allows players to track their match statistics, buy exclusive clothing for their characters, edit your Freshest Fits, take part in an exclusive minigame to earn exclusive items and more. For those who like to view match stats, photos and friend activity on the move, Splatnet 3 is a useful application that extends the game’s competitive strategy beyond the Switch itself.
Will Splatoon 3 Receive Regular Updates?
Following Splatoon 3’s release on September 9th, Nintendo have committed to at least 2 years of regular free content and a major paid DLC expansion pack. This new content includes new stages, weapons, clothes, and balance patches for various weapons to respond to player feedback.
This should ensure that, no matter when or for how long you play Splatoon 3, the game will always stay fresh!
Who are the Splatoon 3 idols?
Splatoon 3 introduces us to a new idol trio named Deep Cut, who act as your helpful musical introduction into the Splatlands. Each entry in the Splatoon franchise has their own idols who will perform some of the songs you hear in-game and host news shows explaining stage information and updates for the game.
Deep Cut are a three-member ensemble made up of Shiver, Frye and the incredible Big Man, and take the reigns from Callie and Marie, the Squid Sisters featured in Splatoon 1, and Pearl and Marina, better known as Off the Hook from Splatoon 1.
How Much will Splatoon 3 Cost?
Splatoon 3 will launch in the US for $59.99 on retail platforms and the Nintendo eShop. In the UK, the game will launch for £49.99, and those buying the game from Nintendo eShop can receive double Gold Points until September 30th.
Splatoon 3 release date?
Splatoon 3 will launch worldwide on Nintendo Switch on September 9th on both the Nintendo eShop and retail stores. Digital copies in the US will be available from midnight ET and 9pm on September 8th PT.
Is Splatoon 3 Worth Buying?
Splatoon 3 is a multiplayer experience that, for all it takes inspiration from other popular objective-based third-person team shooters, offers something that has yet to be replicated by other developers or on non-Nintendo platforms. It’s a game whose iconic Inklings and centering of street fashion and teen culture amidst its world offers the title a sense of relatability where players can transform these avatars into representations of their personality.
Yet even beyond this customization is a fun gameplay loop where player traversal through your team’s ink is just as important as having a good shot or being able to shoot your opponent. This reduced emphasis on offense where players can still contribute to a match by painting the world both makes this title more accessible than other similar titles while introducing new levels of strategy in higher-level play not found elsewhere.
So, Should I buy Splatoon 3?
Ultimately, the versatility of Splatoon 3 to become either a person’s first multiplayer shooter experience or a fun twist on a familiar play style, wrapped in a polished exterior that successfully draws players into its world and characters, is the title’s biggest strength. It’s an easy game to learn yet difficult to master, offering hundreds of hours of replayability as you try new weapons and slowly improve at the skills needed to reach the highest levels of Ranked play and earn the coveted X Rank. This is a must-buy for those looking for a fun shooter to play with friends or compete against strangers online, and an experience unlike few others.
