Splatoon 3 review: You’ll buy it for multiplayer – but its single-player story mode is an absolute blast

A few weeks ago, I described Splatoon 3 Being a “hard to preview game” is largely due to its iterative nature. It’s like looking back at a Call of Duty game, I guess – bits and pieces change from one game to the next, but the development machine for such an established franchise has become so complex and defined that Any comment will inevitably not be talking about big changes. A little vignetting here, a little wrinkle there, and a modest expansion of untapped functionality.

In other words, jumping from Splatoon 2 to this latest sequel is more like renovating a beloved old house than moving outright. This leads to the natural early conclusion of this review, which is an age-old cliché: if you liked old Splatoon, you’ll love this one! That’s it, but better! Um, uh. obviously.

It also means that the sentiment expressed in the preview continues here; it’s a hard game to review. For example, I can learn about details like new weapons, new stylish looks, a new mode in the form of three-way turf battles, or an improved salmon run mode. But then I became lyrical for thousands of words, and honestly the hardcore probably already knew, having consumed pre-release content greedily, while the casual probably didn’t particularly want to know.

So let me take another strategy. Let me put it in the simplest terms: Splatoon 3 is by far the best Splatoon. It’s rich in modes and customization, and still has the crazy, punk attitude that made the original stand out. That attitude may fade with success – but it’s still there, three games. I will play a lot in this game.

The biggest single element that differentiates Splatoon 3 from its predecessor is its story mode, which is far more fleshed out than I initially expected. It’s the series’ broadest foray into storytelling and single-player entertainment to date — and for the most part, it’s running smoothly.

The story mode element that works without reservation is the overall flow of stage design and storytelling. From the game’s main hub, with access to multiplayer and customization, you jump off a sewer grill to begin the story component. This will eventually lead you to another hub, a world filled with thick purple slime that cannot be splattered by your ink alone. Simply put, you have to jump into the self-enclosed phase to gather the resources you need to clear this slime. In a sense, it all feels a little Mario Sunshine. Obstacles are cleared in sections, unlocking more hubs to explore, opening up loot containers in the form of custom gear and more stage entrances. After the initial level, there is even a noticeable non-linearity in the order in which you enter the level.

The stage itself was what surprised me the most. There’s a nice combination here. Many of the early stages serve as tutorials on how the various weapons and Splatoon concepts work – you’ll leave the campaign better prepared to go live, without humiliating your performance after playing. But beyond that, this isn’t just tutorial material – it quickly morphs into fun and unique challenges, each testing various elements of the Splatoon game system. Some levels are mini puzzles, while others are more about fighting and splashing enemies. I really liked it, and in past games, I jumped straight to multiplayer.

As you progress through the levels, the storyline will really delight those of you who are truly part of the Splatoon universe. There’s some exciting lore here – although throughout, I can’t help but wish the story was a little more flair than a bunch of ongoing text boxes, reserved for more lavish presentations just for a few scenes. Despite the impressive level and mission design, and the strong hubs that launch from those levels, single-player remains a secondary part of Splatoon 3’s identity in this sense.

What about the rest? Well, so far, Splatoon. Of course, there’s something new here, headlined by a new “Tricolor” three-way turf battle, upping the ante by adding an extra team, and at the midpoint of Splatfest, the two losing teams will join for third, who will defend. It’s an interesting concept, although the minigames I played during the online beta “Splatfest” suggested it needed a little fine-tuning.

That’s it, really. Splatoon 3 doesn’t feel that new a lot of the time – it just feels like a sharper, smoother, better-looking version of the previous version. Story mode is an exception. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with iterations — arguably, Nintendo doesn’t do it very often, and as a result sometimes throws the baby out with the bathwater. Splatoon 3 is the opposite: it keeps everything that made the previous games great, and simply evolves, iterates, and tweaks to deliver something better. So Splatoon 3 is without a doubt the best Splatoon game – I just wish it had more of a new feel.

With the Splatoon game pre-release, there are also unknowns. I attended Splatfest, which is open to the public, and Nintendo also offers several days of online sessions for the media. But that’s almost nothing, so I need to see how online fares are. Building on Splatoon 2, it should be fine, mind you. Then there’s the update. The previous two games both offered surprisingly strong online offerings – the third game’s lack of new ideas will likely be resolved in the coming months, as Splatoon 3 has the nature of a rolling service game. Regardless, the launch day package is a definite Splatoon offering – and a pretty straightforward recommendation.