Turf War has always been the most iconic mode in the Splatoon series, but that may have changed with some major revamps made in Splatoon 3. The core concept of two teams facing off to try and ink the most turf before time runs out has been at the heart of Splatoon's identity since the first entry was announced with a reveal trailer at E3 back in 2014. However, with a greater emphasis placed on Salmon Run in Splatoon 3, this PvE mode may have claimed Turf War's spot as the quintessential Splatoon game mode.
Each entry in the Splatoon series has added to the variety of modes available to players. The first game established Turf War as the primary mode, with Ranked Battles and a single-player campaign being secondary additions. Splatoon 2 was the first to feature Salmon Run alongside these other modes returning from Splatoon 1, but it was Splatoon 3 that really upped the ante by not only introducing Anarchy Battles to its ranked mode, but by giving Salmon Run a makeover in the form of Salmon Run Next Wave. This rework has propelled the mode to the top of conversations around Splatoon 3.
Splatoon 3's Salmon Run Love Shows that it's Now the Primary Game Mode
Salmon Run has seen some big changes from Splatoon 2 to Splatoon 3, beyond just new maps and weapons. One of the biggest additions in Splatoon 3 is the Xtrawave and the introduction of King Salmonids, massive bosses that take much more teamwork to take down than the usual Boss Salmonids.These super bosses are a great way for players to challenge their skills and team coordination as these bosses can be tough, but offer unique rewards not available elsewhere in the game. New King Salmonids like the recently-added Horrorboros keep the game mode fresh and their additions act as a kind of mini event for players to enjoy upon release.
Splatoon 3 features plenty of other events for Salmon Run as well, with some that even rival the likes of Splatfests for Turf War. Big Run events give players the chance to defend their home turf from Salmonids by taking on the creatures on Turf War maps in a chilling, horror-esque portrayal of events surrounding the invasion. The upcoming Eggstra Work event adds even more variety to Salmon Run by allowing players the chance to tackle 5 waves instead of the usual 3 in order to earn special bonus rewards.
In addition to the updates Salmon Run itself has gotten in Splatoon 3, the lore surrounding the mode has also made its way into the game's single-player campaign. The Return of the Mammalians paints Mr. Grizz in a new light, elevating him to true villain status as the primary antagonist of the campaign. Giving him such an important role in the game's story and overarching series lore demonstrates just how much Salmon Run has become a core component of the series, and it holds a lot of potential to influence the lore of future entries.
While Turf War still gets a lot of attention in the form of new maps and consistent Splatfests, it's clear that Salmon Run rivals its status as the definitive Splatoon 3 game mode. Discussions surrounding all of its new events like Big Run, Eggstra Work, and the addition of Horrorboros has dominated discussions within the community, and excitement for the mode is greater than ever before. With all the potential Salmon Run has as a co-op PvE mode, it's very likely that it will continue to be expanded upon in future entries in the Splatoon series.
Splatoon 3 is available now for Nintendo Switch.