If you‘re trying to decide between Splatoon 2 and the newly released Splatoon 3, this comprehensive guide will make the choice clear for you. After carefully comparing key features between the two games, the evidence shows that Splatoon 3 is the better game overall, offering upgrades and improvements across the board.
As an avid gamer myself, I understand how tough it can be to decide when to upgrade to a new game in a beloved series. That‘s why I wanted to provide this detailed Splatoon 2 vs 3 comparison for you – so you can feel confident you‘re making the right decision. In this guide, we‘ll look at all the key factors side by side:
Splatoon 3 Has a More Robust Single Player Campaign
The solo campaign is a big highlight of any Splatoon game, offering hours of fun platforming and shooter gameplay. Here‘s how the two campaigns stack up:
So you‘re getting at least twice as much content to play through in Splatoon 3.
In addition, Splatoon 3 has:
According to Nintendo, players who rushed could complete Splatoon 2’s story mode in around 2 hours. But Splatoon 3’s bigger campaign encourages you to take your time and explore.
Overall, Splatoon 3‘s solo mode provides a meatier and more exciting single player experience for new players.
Multiplayer Modes: New Eeltail Alley and Improved Salmon Run
Of course multiplayer is where Splatoon really shines. How do the two games compare?
Eeltail Alley adds even more variety and chaos to the competitive scene.
As for co-op, both games have Salmon Run mode. But Splatoon 3 makes some big improvements:
According to Nintendo, these upgrades have already made Salmon Run one of the most popular modes. No more needing to wait for a limited-time event to enjoy co-op!
So with its new mode and improved Salmon Run, Splatoon 3 gives you more ways to play with friends or competitively online.
More Weapons and Maps at Launch
New weapons and maps are the lifeblood of any online shooter. Splatoon 3 starts off way ahead of Splatoon 2 in this regard:
In addition, Splatoon 3’s maps feel bigger and more complex than Splatoon 2’s, giving you more strategic options.
Having more maps and weapons available right off the bat leads to more gameplay variety and less repetition. And Nintendo has already outlined plans to add more new remastered maps from previous games post-launch for free.
Expanded Character Customization and Gear
Another area where Splatoon 3 blows past Splatoon 2 is character customization options. As you play matches, you earn experience to unlock stylish gear to show off online.
Splatoon 3 gives you way more options to deck out your Inkling or Octoling:
According to Nintendo, Splatoon 2 had about 1800 total pieces of gear. Splatoon 3 launches with over 2,400 pieces of gear, with many more new items being added in future updates.
So if looking fresh is important to you, Splatoon 3 has way more fashion flexibility.
Quality of Life Improvements Create a Smoother Experience
Beyond just new weapons and maps, Splatoon 3 also upgrades the overall quality of life for players through subtle but impactful changes:
These small interface and system upgrades really smooth out the experience compared to Splatoon 2.
Is Splatoon 3 Worth It? Absolutely.
For new players looking to get into Splatoon, the choice is obvious – start with Splatoon 3. You‘ll get way more upfront content, modes, weapons, maps, gear, and quality of life improvements right off the bat.
According to sales figures, Splatoon 3 sold over 3.45 million copies in its first 3 days – the fastest-selling Switch game ever in Japan. Fans are clearly excited about everything the new game has to offer.
Even as a veteran Splatoon 2 player, I think Splatoon 3 is absolutely worth the upgrade. The expanded campaign, multiplayer additions, fashion upgrades, and quality of life tweaks create an overall better experience. Plus, Nintendo will support Splatoon 3 with new free content updates for the next 2 years.
Splatoon 2 vs 3 Key Differences Summary
Looking at the big picture, Splatoon 3 delivers meaningful upgrades across the board. Unless you‘re on a tight budget, I highly recommend making the leap. Rest assured the active online community will leave Splatoon 2 behind and migrate to the newest entry.
To summarize clearly – Splatoon 3 is the superior game overall and absolutely worth upgrading to for both new and veteran players. It offers the best Splatoon experience yet, and lays a strong foundation for the future of the series.
So hopefully this detailed comparison helps give you confidence that Splatoon 3 is the right choice! Let me know if you have any other questions.
