Nintendo Life has rolled out a new editorial feature ranking every mainline entry in Nintendo’s Splatoon franchise. The guide, published in early August, surveys the ink-splatting shooter series from its debut to its most recent installments, offering readers an at-a-glance sense of where each game lands.
The article arrives at a notable moment for the franchise. What began in 2015 as a risky new property for Nintendo has since grown into one of the company’s flagship multiplayer offerings, spawning sequel releases, substantial paid expansions, and a recurring presence on the company’s competitive circuit.
Why Splatoon Still Matters a Decade In
For retro gaming enthusiasts, Splatoon occupies a unique spot in Nintendo’s catalog. It was the first shooter Nintendo published under its own banner in decades, built around a colorful, kid-friendly aesthetic that masked genuinely competitive gameplay. The original launched exclusively on the Wii U, Nintendo’s famously under-performing home console, and quietly built a cult following before breaking into the mainstream with its Switch sequel.
The franchise’s second chapter arrived alongside the Nintendo Switch in 2017 and brought refined mechanics, a fresh cast of characters, and a meaty story mode centered on a stray recruit and an underground resistance. A major expansion, the Octo Expansion, later turned a side character into a fully playable protagonist and became one of the most beloved DLC campaigns in Nintendo’s modern era.
The series’ third numbered entry landed in 2022, leaning harder into online play and overhauling the gear system that had long defined progression. A follow-up expansion titled Side Order arrived in 2024, offering a roguelike twist on the established formula and signaling Nintendo’s willingness to experiment from within an already proven framework.
Ranking Guides as Quiet Franchise History
Roundups like the one from Nintendo Life tend to double as informal historical primers, particularly for franchises that have evolved across multiple hardware generations. Splatoon skipped a traditional console rotation by staying with the Switch through its first three mainline entries, but the series’ apparent future on next-generation Nintendo hardware is now a frequent topic among players and analysts alike.
The franchise’s track record matters to retro-curious readers, too. Splatoon pioneered Nintendo’s modern approach to ongoing live-service play, layering in regular content updates, themed Splatfests, and seasonal events that predated similar pushes in other Nintendo properties. Studying that arc offers a window into how a famously conservative publisher adapted to online gaming later than its rivals, then leaned in harder than most.
Readers curious about more Nintendo retrospectives and franchise roundups can find additional coverage across the RetroArcade news section.
Source: Nintendo Life