Splatoon 3fans rejoice as news has finally been shared about its content. Indeed,Splatoon 3received an insightful and playful Nintendo Direct earlier today, and with it came a ton of details about customization, ranked modes on rotation, new stages, and more.Splatoon 3releases in just under a month, and upon its launch there will be a lot to look forward to following the pre-release Splatfest event that will help kick it off.
Splatoon 3will have a ton to offer within its competitive scene between ranked Anarchy Battles, Turf Wars, and Tricolor Turf Wars as part of its first Splatfest. But as announced during the Direct, players will also be treated to an optional mini-game with its own area allotted to it in Splatsville. It may have come as a surprise addition to fans of the franchise, butSplatoon 3will now be introducing a 1v1 mini-game centered around collectible card decks. Interestingly, this continues the modern trend of large-scale games within games, with others such as Gwent, Machine Strike, and Orlog.
RELATED:Splatoon 3 Reveals 1v1 Competitive Card Mode Called Tableturf Battle
Splatoon 3’s Tableturf Battle is a Nice Aside from Regular Gameplay
Tableturf Battle is new toSplatoonand while it is thematically related to ordinary PvP in Turf Wars, it is its own separate mini-game withinSplatoon 3. Tableturf Battle is a 1v1 competitive mini-game that revolves around the collection of a massive card deck, but has theaesthetic and functionality ofTetris. Players still want to saturate the playing field with their ink’s color, but need specific cards in order to do so. The player’s opponent may play particularly troubling block setups in order to obstruct the player from playing their own, and vice versa.
Special attacks are implemented in different ways based on the cards players have as well, but the Direct didn’t say how cards would be earned. It is presumed that cards will be earned by winning 1v1 matches and perhaps as a residual reward fromregular multiplayer matches inSplatoon 3.
It may also be possible to purchase cards from merchants, but fans will need to wait either until more details about Tableturf Battle are revealed, or until the game releases next month. Many players returning fromSplatoonandSplatoon 2may be excited for Tableturf Battle, while some may have no interest in it at all. However, that is the beauty of games within games; they are optional, but they can be highly engaging for players who appreciate them.
RELATED:Splatoon 3 Bringing Back All Basic Weapons from Previous Games
Tableturf Battle Joins the Likes of Gwent, Machine Strike, and More
ForSplatoonto now be indulging in a mini-game such as Tableturf Battle it is fantastic, and time will tellif its popularity skyrockets it to the likes of Gwent, Machine Strike, and Orlog. Moreover, Tableturf Battle is a peculiar addition toSplatoon 3as it is still a largely multiplayer PvP game that has little to do with card-based minigames.
Games within games are more common in open-world RPGs where the player may have a lot of leisure in their exploration and can come across NPCs willing to trade them or earn them cards. That said, when taking a closer look atSplatoon 3andthe features it presents in its hub world of Splatsville, a lot of content is actually included for players to enjoy their time idly out of battle.
Games such asThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt,Horizon Forbidden West, andAssassin’s Creed: Valhallaare all immense action games with a considerable amount of downtime between exciting activities. In settlements or other areas populated with NPCs, players may find characters willing to play a mini-game with them that is simple yet comprehensive, immersing them further into the game’s world. Players then may seek out other cards or items for that game’s mini-game, and enter their next match with a greater hand to play with.
Splatoon 3now has an opportunity to feature a mini-game as influential as these, and it will be exciting to see how it evolves throughout the game’s life. The key difference between Tableturf Battle and a few of its counterparts is that while most of them are single-player, Tableturf Battle is played online in competitive 1v1.
Splatoon 3releases June 19, 2025 for Nintendo Switch.
MORE:More Open-World RPGS Should Feature Games Like Gwent, Orlog, and Machine Strike
