Splatoon 3 Modes Detailed, Includes a Deck-Builder Minigame

Nintendo’s Splatoon 3 Direct broadcast dumped a tidal wave of info on waiting fans. The “Squid Research Lab” presentation detailed locales like the new hub area of Splatsville, and its many shops. It also detailed the game’s post-release and app support. But how about the game itself? There was info on that subject, too, as the Direct had plenty to say about Splatoon 3 modes of play.

The core mode of Splatoon 3 is the same as in the previous two games: Turf War. Turf War puts each team on opposite sides of the map and challenges them to paint as much of the area as possible. They’ll use their weapons to spread paint around the arena and over the territory of their opponents. New weapons such as the bow-like Stringer and the sword-like Splatana Wiper add new options for Inklings in the fight. Special Weapons unleash powerful attacks after players fill a gauge during combat. The Tacticooler can buff up to four players when deployed. The Wave Breaker sends out damaging waves that ping enemy locations. The Reefslider sends a player forward in a powerful charge that explodes on impact.

Other game modes for Splatoon 3 include returning modes like the cooperative Salmon Run and a single-player story mode. A new minigame will also give players things to do outside of combat. Called Tableturf Battle, it’s a deck-building game that adapts Turf War to a card game format. Each card in Table Turf battle colors squares on the grid in a certain pattern. Players will lay out their cards to create shapes to capture territory and unleash special attacks. Players get a starter deck, and will be able to add more cards to unlock options. It wasn’t detailed how players would earn more cards, though.

Check out the segment on Tableturf battle at about 35 minutes into the broadcast. The section is time-stamped for your convenience.

Splatoon 3 is in development, and releases on the Nintendo Switch on September 9, 2022. Splatoon 2 is available on the Switch, and players with progress in that game will receive rewards when they import their save data into Splatoon 3.