Splatoon 3 review roundup – 'the magic of the series is still alive'
Nintendo's third Splatoon game has impressed critics once again, but does it make enough of a splash?
➡️ The Shortcut Skinny: Splatoon 3 reviews
🦑 Splatoon 3 has a Metacritic score of 84 based on 45 critic reviews
👍 A score of 84 means Splatoon 3 has received generally favorable reviews
📅 The game is available on September 9 exclusively for Nintendo Switch
💰 Splatoon 3 costs $59.99, and a limited edition Nintendo Switch OLED is also available
The Splatoon 3 reviews are in ahead of the game’s September 9 release date, and it seems like another solid showing for Nintendo’s colorful shooter.
Splatoon 3 is exclusive to Nintendo Switch consoles and is currently sitting on a Metacritic score of 84 after 45 critic reviews, which means Splatoon 3 has generally received favorable review scores.
Splatoon 3 is actually the highest-rated game in the series, as Splatoon finished with a score of 81, while Splatoon 2 scored 83.
Destructoid gave Splatoon 3 a 9/10, saying: “Given that Splatoon 3 shores up nearly everything already present in the series and adds a few extras like Tableturf Battle, it's safe to say that the magic of the series is still alive.”
Nintendo Life felt similarly, awarding the game a 9/10. “Splatoon 3 is more of the same, but refined to borderline mechanical perfection. It's the most fun we’ve had with an online shooter in years, and for series veterans it makes Splatoon 2 feel entirely redundant for all but its unique single-player content.”
Game Informer was also impressed by Splatoon 3, awarding the game an 8.5. “Splatoon 3 doesn’t reinvent the wheel, nor does it need to. Instead, it improves nearly every franchise element in sometimes small but meaningful ways. With an already-robust set of content available at launch and at least two years of free and premium content on the horizon, Splatoon 3 is simultaneously the series’ best entry to date and its most promising.”
Not everyone clicked with the Inklings’ latest outing, however. VGC gave the game 3 stars out of 5, saying: “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.”
Will you be splatting it out when Splatoon 3 launches on September 9? Let us know in the comments below.