Splatoon 3 Side Order review: Get Squiddy with it

Splatoon 3 is many things; it's a multiplayer shooter, it's set in a colourful world, and it's got a surprisingly banging soundtrack that mixes just about every genre together.

But, what if you took all of those things away, making Splatoon 3 a single-player roguelite in a grayscale location with the soundtrack shifted to an almost ominous tone in places? That's what Side Order does, part of the game's Expansion Pass, and it underlines just how strong Splatoon 3's core mechanics were to begin with, even if some of its roguelite trappings fall short.

Squid out of water

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The world of Splatoon 3 is as confusing as ever, and Side Order only ramps up the surreal. Falling asleep on a train, your character awakens as the Octo Expansion's Agent Eight, staring at a big, grey skyscraper and accompanied by series mainstay Pearl - except she's a drone now.

If that all sounds a little weird, then trust me when I say that having not played Splatoon 3 in a few months it was a lot to get my head around. That goes doubly so for the skyscraper itself, which is almost a 'Bizarro' version of Inkopolis Square.

This 'Spire of Order' features a number of floors that let players climb ever higher, with different objectives on each and alternate modifiers. Complete the objective, which can range from defeating foes to claiming territory or escorting a drone, and you'll earn a reward depending on the chosen difficulty.

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Those rewards range from a currency that can be exchanged for permanent upgrades, like increased lives or drone upgrades for Pearl, all the way up to new abilities entirely.

If you thought yourself a bit of a seasoned splatter, you may be in for a shock. In true roguelite fashion, some runs will be easier than others, but the variety of enemy encounters and the thrill of reaching the top will keep you pushing through even the hardest levels. Get the right modifiers and you'll be absolutely tearing through small fodder, but Side Order does a great job of keeping you on your toes (or, uh, tentacles?) throughout.

Take it with you

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It feels weird to say a game is "made for Switch" these days, but Splatoon 3 Side Order's short campaigns feel perfect for a commute or car journeys in a way that makes it feel almost better to play in handheld.

Still, as much as things flow nicely as you keep trying to climb all 30 floors, the bosses are naturally the point where you'll need to pump the breaks. Sadly, though, there are only three of them, which grates a bit on repeat visits. They appear every 10 floors, so you'll likely see them all in a complete run (admittedly no mean feat), and that may have you considering what else there is to do.

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Thankfully, Danger Floors ramp up the, well, danger. These add modifiers like darkness that would make the creatures of Tears of the Kingdom's Depths map need a night light, or start you off at a disadvantage by throwing enemy paint everywhere. At certain points these become unavoidable, too, meaning the odds are stacked against you.

The Verdict

By offering a whole heap of challenging encounters, fun roguelite mechanics, and just another reason to jump into one of the Switch's best games, Splatoon 3: Side Order is a thrill.

More boss fights would've been nice, but that doesn't take away an unshakeable desire to jump back in right now.

4/5

Reviewed on Nintendo Switch. Review code provided by the publisher.