Splatoon 3 Reviews

Splatoon 3 is ranked in the 89th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Unscored
Sep 7, 2022

Similarly, boss battles feel woefully undertested and suffer from agonizing spikes of challenge and confusion. There's also an overworld aspect of spending in-game money to unlock new paths, though many of the unlocks don't actually lead to new levels; instead, they only dole out cosmetics used to decorate a "locker" interface that is tucked into the very back corner of a single multiplayer lobby. (Decorating your tiny Splatoon 3 locker is perhaps the utter opposite of trimming a bonsai tree; the act of putting objects into your virtual locker is a nightmare of physics collisions and red Xs indicating that, no, you can't decorate your locker the way you want.)

Read full review

8 / 10.0
Sep 7, 2022

Splatoon 3 is a step up again for Nintendo’s multiplayer shooter series and offers more of what we love with better graphics, a new cast, and even more chaos - though the formula remains much the same.

Read full review

IGN
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Sep 7, 2022

Splatoon 3 has done a great job anticipating the needs of returning players.

Read full review

Sep 7, 2022

Splatoon 3 is consistently flashy and fun, and absent major innovation, it still feels fresh.

Read full review

8.2 / 10.0
Sep 7, 2022

In short, if you loved the first two Splatoons, this sequel will not struggle to win you over, and in case you have never splatted in the franchise ... well, maybe it's time to think about it.

Review in Italian | Read full review

Alex Donaldson
Top Critic
Sep 7, 2022

Splatoon 3 feels quite samey, but a high level of polish and the series’ best single-player offering to date elevate this sequel.

Read full review

83 / 100
Sep 7, 2022

Splatoon 3 is better than Splatoon 2: the new lobbies and catalogs make for a more rewarding experiencie... but essentially, is exactly the same, as there are no new modes within the competitive or co-op play. It's very fun but also very conservative, although it is elevated by a great single player mode, longer and similar to the Octo Expansion.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Sep 7, 2022

While more iterative than it is innovative, Splatoon 3 is without a doubt the best entry in the series yet. Despite lacking new multiplayer modes at launch, there's a clear commitment to content and quality, with each aspect of the package being pushed to its logical extreme through smart and meaningful additions. This is the most feature-complete and tightly designed Splatoon to date, and you'd be missing out if you choose to pass it up.

Read full review

8 / 10.0
Sep 7, 2022

Splatoon 3 is Nintendo’s safest sequel. There’s nothing much new here on offer but the added weapons, modes, abilities and customization might be enough to make this your next buy. Just don’t expect anything to feel any different.

Read full review

Unscored
Sep 7, 2022

Splatoon 3 doesn’t drastically change the formula because it really doesn’t need to. Its modes are varied and offer truly different experiences that would shine on their own. If you’re a newcomer looking to break into the series, you may be a little lost at first, but stick with it. It’s an inky mess well worth your time.

Read full review

Sep 7, 2022

Splatoon 3 is another great entry in the series that takes the best elements from its predecessors and greatly enhances them.

Read full review

8.9 / 10.0
Sep 7, 2022

Splatoon 3 is a fitting sequel to an awesome series that'll have you happily spray your ink all over the place. It may not do anything particularly revolutionary but does it really have to? No... but it would be cool if it did, right?

Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Sep 7, 2022

The latest edition of Nintendo's popular paint shooter plays it safe, but that's more than enough to satisfy Post Arcade Jr. Read more.

Read full review

IGN
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Sep 7, 2022

Splatoon 3’s campaign features a fresh take on an open hub world design, mixing in short but satisfying missions to let you experiment with different weapons and abilities.

Read full review

7.5 / 10.0
Sep 7, 2022

Splatoon 3 may be the series’ best entry yet, featuring some nice gameplay tweaks and new weaponry, an expanded and polished story mode, and more launch content than its predecessors. That said, it’s very much an evolutionary sequel, every bit as iterative as many of the shooter franchises it’s meant to be an alternative to. After a five-year absence, that may not be enough for some. Splatoon 3 is still fun and funky, but Nintendo’s squid shooter series can’t get by on freshness alone forever.

Read full review

70 / 100
Sep 7, 2022

The Alterna campaign is only a slice of the Splatoon 3 pie. As such, my final score comes with some caveats. Though the mechanical elements are rock solid, the look and feel of the game is still off. At least for me, this campaign content feels subdued and a little lonely. Taken as part of the complete experience, the single-player content is something of a safe house. A quiet space where you can sharpen your skills and experiment with new weapons. Even so, the solo campaign for Splatoon 3 had me longing for the chaos of the online arena.

Read full review

9.1 / 10.0
Sep 7, 2022

Splatoon 3 is a rock solid and greatly entertaining "more of the same" that lives up to expectations and spice up the multiplayer formula with an original and engaging single-player slice.

Review in Italian | Read full review

8 / 10
Sep 7, 2022

Splatoon 3 is a bit like your mum making your favourite meal when you head home for the holidays. It's been a few years since the last game - while there have been some great improvements and additions, it's the same old Splatoon we know and love, and that's still pretty great.

Read full review

Liked-a-lot
Sep 7, 2022
Splatoon 3: An Inkcremental Upgrade - REVIEW - YouTube video thumbnail
VGC
Top Critic
Sep 7, 2022

While it’s weird to see Nintendo deliver such a safe sequel, there’s no denying the continued pull of Splatoon’s splotchy skirmishes. Seasoned inklings can dive straight in; casual dabblers might find it a bit bare.

Read full review