Splatoon 3 is a game packed full of modes and options, releasing today, September 9, 2022. Whether you’re looking for PvP, PvE, or a solo experience, this game has you covered.  There’s regular Turf War, the new single-player mode, always available Salmon Run, the brand new in-game collectable card game Tableturf Battle, not to mention all the shops and customization options.  With all of the possibilities available, what are you diving into first?

Starting back in 2015, the Splatoon series has won over the hearts of Nintendo fans.  This latest iteration brings together veterans and plenty of new first-timers, given the last game came out over five years ago. For both the returning hardcore fans and the newly curious players, the question today is, what to tackle first?  

One obvious choice for a place to start is the new single-player campaign.  Deciding to start with this mode allows a player to explore the new movement mechanics and weapons in an environment free of social pressure.  If you’re worried about being the weak link on a team or underperforming, you can hone your fundamentals by playing through the story mode.

However, if you’re looking for a more traditional Splatoon experience, Turf War is a nice place to start. Despite the game being competitive, Turf War is fairly casual, and the stakes are relatively low with three-minute matches, so you can feel free to fail and experiment on your way to improvement.  But perhaps you want to go right into a more challenging, high-stakes environment, and in that case you’ll be headed straight into the Ranked mode.  Or maybe for you, it depends on which ranked mode is available. Is your favorite Rainmaker, Splat Zones, Clam Blitz, or Tower Control?

If you prefer to work cooperatively with other players against AI enemies, then Salmon Run may just be where to start.  Introduced in Splatoon 2, this previously time-locked mode is now available at all times.  Splatoon 3 will bring new Boss Salmonids to take down, along with other new variations, in this popular mode.

Of course there’s lots of other choices for your first time exploring Splatoon 3.  Maybe you want to play the new Tableturf Battle card game, or explore the shops and square, or perhaps you’ll rush to the mailbox to make a drawing?  

As for me, I’m planning to tackle the story mode right off the bat.  After the first couple missions I’ll likely fire up some Turf War with some friends, and explore from there.  But what about you?  Are you curious about this new card game?  Or are you running for whatever ranked mode is up first?  Let us know in the comments or come be a part of the conversation on the Boss Rush Discord.

FEATURED IMAGE SOURCE:  Nintendo