Splatoon 3
Games review
As of Jul 13, 2026, Splatoon 3 is rated 83/100 on OpenCritic (124 critic reviews), and 83/100 on Metacritic (123 critic reviews). Each source is shown in its own units, never blended into one score.
Is Splatoon 3 worth it in 2026?
An 83 from 124 critics on OpenCritic and 123 on Metacritic tells you exactly what this is: a very good game that plays it safe. Splatoon 3 earns its best-in-series praise through polished mechanics and a single-player campaign built around short but satisfying missions inside a fresh open hub world, but four reviewers flagged the familiar formula and two called out a lack of ambition, Nintendo refined rather than challenged, and that is the honest summary. The boss battles drew one pointed critique for poorly balanced difficulty spikes that can genuinely frustrate during the campaign, and a confusing locker interface adds minor friction; neither sinks the game, but the boss issue is worth knowing before you commit to the single-player. If Splatoon 2 left you cold, nothing here will convert you; if you loved it, this is that game done tighter and smarter, which is a real but incremental value proposition at full price.
Splatoon fans and returning players, the game explicitly anticipates your prior knowledge and rewards it, who want the series at its most polished without needing it to reinvent itself.
This is iterative by design: you are buying a refined version of a formula established in 2015, not a reinvention. Boss balance spikes in the campaign are a real rough edge, not just a niche complaint, and anyone expecting meaningful structural change from Splatoon 2 will likely feel the delta does
ReviewPond's conclusion, drawn only from the verified scores and review themes below. Not a paid or editorial opinion.
Different sources measure different things, so each is shown in its own units and never merged into one number.
Pros
- best in series7
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- There are few surprises to be found in Splatoon 3's multiplayer or campaign, but it is the best Nintendo's spectacular series has been to date.
- Splatoon 3 won't change anyone's mind on the series, but several smart changes to the formula make it unarguably the best game in the trilogy.
- 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 o...
- strong single-player campaign5
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- 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.
- Splatoon 3 isn't quite as novel the third time around, but a great campaign, tons of multiplayer options, and a few new surprises make it much more of a good thing.
- Splatoon 3 feels quite samey, but a high level of polish and the series’ best single-player offering to date elevate this sequel.
- polished mechanics4
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- 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 o...
- Splatoon 3 exudes polish, but lacks ambition
- Splatoon 3 feels quite samey, but a high level of polish and the series’ best single-player offering to date elevate this sequel.
- meaningful improvements4
see reviews +-
- Splatoon 3 won't change anyone's mind on the series, but several smart changes to the formula make it unarguably the best game in the trilogy.
- 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 o...
- Splatoon 3 builds upon the excellent foundation that was previously laid out by the prior two games, now offering the most balanced experience between its multiplayer and single-pl...
- varied multiplayer modes3
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- Splatoon 3 closely follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, but its raucous, vibrant matches still excel in variety, style, and fantastic design.
- Splatoon 3 adds little new to an increasingly familiar formula, but the game features a plethora of enjoyable modes that cater to just about every playstyle.
- 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 yo...
Cons
- familiar formula4
see reviews +-
- There are few surprises to be found in Splatoon 3's multiplayer or campaign, but it is the best Nintendo's spectacular series has been to date.
- Splatoon 3 feels quite samey, but a high level of polish and the series’ best single-player offering to date elevate this sequel.
- Splatoon 3 adds little new to an increasingly familiar formula, but the game features a plethora of enjoyable modes that cater to just about every playstyle.
Themes and quotes are drawn from 20 sampled reviews with text; the scores above reflect all 247 ratings. Counts are how many of the sampled reviews mention each point.