Splatoon 3 already has an overwhelming amount of gameplay options at launch. The newest entry in the Splatoon series brings back Turf Wars and the platformer-styled campaign, refreshing Splatoon 2’s online and offline play for those who have dedicated many hours to the game for the past five years. However, newer game modes have made choosing a starting point in Splatoon 3 difficult, as the number of options is as exciting as it is debilitating.
The new gameplay experiences introduced in Splatoon 3 are the new campaign mode (titled "Return of the Mammalians") and TableTurf Battles, a competitive card game. The campaign introduces beginners to Splatoon 3's mechanics and weapons as in previous games, but it also contains an actual story unlike in the past; in contrast, TableTurf Battles are their own thing and probably the strangest but most interesting addition in Splatoon 3. Other than these two game modes, players have the ranked mode Anarchy Battles (which has four separate game modes within it), Salmon Run from Splatoon 2, and the Test Range.
However, the most important of all of Splatoon 3's game modes (and the one that fans should play first) is Turf Wars. Turf Wars is the centerpiece of the Splatoon series, as it is the most popular part of the game. Players should thus focus their time on Turf Wars first so that they can familiarize themselves with Splatoon 3's new mechanics, weapons, and maps in battle.
Splatoon 3 Has News Maps, Weapons, & Mechanics For Turf Wars
Indeed, Splatoon 3 has a lot of new content within Turf Wars that players should focus on mastering. First, Splatoon 3 has a whopping 12 unique maps for Turf Wars, some of which are brand new. As RGT 85 pointed out in their video review of the game, the different layouts of these maps require different strategies for success. For instance, Undertow Spillway has a lot of vertical shifts that call for long-ranged battles while Eeltail Alley's tight corridors force players into close-range skirmishes. Getting used to these maps and the battle styles they force players to use is important to not only getting better at Splatoon 3 but also having fun in the game.
Additionally, Splatoon 3 has introduced new weapons and mechanics that change the way Turf Wars have been played in the past. A lot of these are based around movement options that can make apt players completely untouchable. For instance, the Splatoon 3's Squid Rolling and Squid Surging mechanics help players dodge attacks or send them flying toward opponents. YouTuber ThatSrb2Dude shows in their video that these two mechanics can actually be used to cancel the other for more complex options. The new weapon the Zipcaster only further complicates movement in Splatoon 3 by functioning as a grappling hook that sends players between walls. Mastering all these new mechanics in Turf Wars will be helpful in the long run, as players can immediately incorporate them into their playing styles.
Though Turf Wars is the best game mode to play first in Splatoon 3, players should choose their starting point in the game with their hearts. After all, the Nintendo multiplayer oasis Splatoon 3 promises to be has so many game modes to choose from so that all types of video game fans can find a rewarding experience. And with more updates to the game promised for the next two years, players will have plenty of time to explore all of Splatoon 3's game modes at their own pace.
Source: ThatSrb2Dude/YouTube, RGT 85/YouTube
