Though the Wii U generation was subject to some of Nintendo's best first-party games, Splatoon is one of the few success stories that was an entirely new venture. With titles like Yoshi's Woolly World, Bayonetta 2, and the much-loved Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, the console's lineup largely consisted of entries in pre-existing franchises.
The game was a fresh take on the online shooter genre, and though it released on Nintendo hardware doomed to fail, it was a sign of better things to come. A sequel, Splatoon 2, released early in the Switch's life, and the advances made over the first, as well as critical and commercial success, meant that a third seemed inevitable. While the online component is where the majority of the series' enjoyment and focus lies, it has a commitment to single-player, though it always seemed rather lackluster. With the third title, Splatoon has a chance to finally get the mode right, giving players more variety this time around.
Splatoon's Single-Player Potential
Announced at a Nintendo Direct in the early stages of 2021, Splatoon 3 will be the series' second outing on the widely successful Nintendo Switch. Taking players to the Splatlands rather than the familiar Inkopolis, Splatoon 3 will look to shake up the formula of the second title, which borrowed much of its identity from the original game. Though this has been the case in the past, the single-player mode announced for Splatoon 3, Return of the Mammalians, looks decidedly weirder than its multiplayer counterpart, with diverse locations, creative character designs, and funky, psychedelic imagery.
The lore in Splatoon is far more significant than it would appear on the surface. The issue arises when much of it feels tacked onto a single-player mode that fails to feel like anything more than a training tutorial, preparing players for the crucible of online battling. While the online component received regular updates and free weekends, the offerings for solo players in Splatoon 2, for example, were locked behind the Octo Expansion DLC. With such a surprising amount of lore, though, Splatoon has enough narrative potential to bring something new, which is exciting to gamers who prefer to play alone.
The Nintendo Switch is a Single-Player Machine
At its core, the Nintendo Switch's ever-expanding library predominantly consists of single-player experiences. Online experiences are somewhat limited, as Nintendo Switch Online doesn't have the means to match the efficiency of PlayStation Network and Xbox Live, so its inclusion is largely seen as supplemental. With much of Splatoon's fun requiring an internet connection, the game relies on a subpar service, so larger emphasis on single-player content would bring Splatoon 3 to new heights. Not only would this grant players more reason to keep coming back to the title, but it would also serve to keep the franchise aligned with Nintendo's single-player roots.
The Splatoon series brought something new to the Nintendo first-party lineup. Online multiplayer isn't anything new for the company, as titles like Mario Kart 8, and Super Mario Maker have used the feature to great effect. However, the way in which Splatoon utilizes an online connection is more in-line with Call of Duty and Halo, pitting teams against each other in open combat, and these titles — alongside their popular multiplayer modes — have strong narrative campaigns as well. Splatoon 3's seemingly strong dedication to the mode would bring so much more familiar content to players, especially with the news that the Salmon Run co-op mode is returning.
The Future of Splatoon 3
After two games, with a third on the way, Splatoon is primed to finally bring a satisfying single-player experience to the masses of Switch owners with its third outing. While its tone is somewhat familiar to fans, and presentation is in keeping with the series, Splatoon 3 has drastically altered its setting, and with the trailers alluding to a more narrative-heavy experience, the 2022 release is a promising opportunity to offer something that fans have been hoping for from the beginning.
Splatoon 3 releases Summer 2022 for Nintendo Switch.