Splatoon 3: Side Order review – An excellent entree good enough to be a main

Nathan Ellingsworth
Splatoon 3 key art shows Agent 8 and the Pearl drone stood in front of The Spire

Nintendo has finally released the Splatoon 3: Side Order DLC and this single-player expansion takes some cues from Hades, Dead Cells, and more, to offer a sizzling side that’s seriously fun.

Splatoon works best as a multiplayer game. Nintendo‘s take on the competitive shooter has grown astronomically in popularity since its Wii U debut, and while each entry offered some sort of single-player story, the multiplayer is the best – and busiest – mode by far.

That’s not to say anything disparaging about the often-overlooked single-player elements of Splatoon, as Splatoon 3‘s main campaign is fantastic, and Splatoon 2’s Octo Expansion is relatively tough but is the most satisfying Splatoon you can play on Nintendo Switch. Nevertheless, multiplayer is the heart of the series for good reason.

However, in comes the recent Splatoon 3: Side Order, a single-player DLC that just might be the most fun I’ve ever had with Splatoon, and is a mode I sincerely hope is included in any future entry.

Splatoon 3: Side Order – Key Details

  • Price: $24.99 / £22.49 (Part of the Splatoon 3 Expansion Pass)
  • Developer: Nintendo
  • Release Date: 22 February 2024
  • Platforms: Nintendo Switch