Summary

  • Splatoon 3 is reviving the chocolate Splatfest from 2023 with potential outcome changes.
  • Team White Chocolate won last time, but dynamics may shift due to altered contest scoring.
  • Despite recycled events, Splatfest remains popular, bridging content gaps for Splatoon 3 fans.

Splatoon 3 is bringing back the chocolate Splatfest, giving fans an opportunity to shake up the results from the first time around. It's the latest in recycled content for Splatoon 3, following the Grand Festival closing out the game's new content.

Splatoon 3 held the chocolate-themed Splatfest for the first time back in 2023, with teams battling to support either dark, milk, or white chocolate. White chocolate took home the win back then, and many believe the same could win this time around. However, there have been some changes to the balance of the Splatoon 3 Splatfests since the first time around that could be enough to shake up the results, even if the teams' support plays out the same way.

Screenshot from Splatoon 3's Side Order DLC, featuring Pearl and Marina from Off the Hook (Splatoon 2), as well as the player character
Splatoon 4 Needs to Break a Pattern of the Franchise's Post-Launch Life

Splatoon 4 seems more and more plausible as Nintendo teases its next console, and if it appears, it needs to reassess a big part of Splatoon.

By 

Splatoon 3 is bringing back the chocolate Splatfest, where players will compete to choose the best type of chocolate. Last time, Big Man won the grand prize, and the members of Deep Cut are leading the same groups as before, with Shiver leading Dark Chocolate and Frye leading Milk Chocolate. Players can start battling it out in the chocolate-themed turf wars starting on February 7 at 4 pm PT, with the fights coming to a close on February 9 at the same time. In the week leading up to the Splatfest, players will be able to choose a team, collect their Splatfest shirts, and begin earning Conch Shells for their Splatfest team to support them even before the official fights start.

Will Splatoon 3's Chocolate Splatfest Be Different This Time?

Some fans have already begun to speculate as to who will win the chocolate Splatfest this time, with many suspecting that Big Man's Team White Chocolate will take home the win once again. While it's certainly a possibility, the results could still change. The number of sign-ups and how battles play out will of course influence the final results, but there have also been changes made to the way that Splatfests wins are calculated that were put in place since the last time this Splatfest was held. In this version, Sneak Peek is worth considerably more than it used to be, and the team that gets the second spot in each category will also earn points, whereas they used to only be awarded to the first-place team.

While Splatoon 3 fans were disappointed that the game's major content updates came to an end after just two years, many are happy to see Splatfests still being held, even with recycled themes. As one of the most exciting events the series has to offer, it will help to tide players over until something new is announced in the Splatoon franchise.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image
Splatoon 3 Tag Page Cover Art

Splatoon 3
Display card tags widget
Third-Person Shooter
Display card system widget
Systems
super greyscale 8-bit logo
Display card community and brand rating widget Display card open critics widget
Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 93%
Display card main info widget
Released
September 9, 2022
ESRB
E10+ for Everyone 10+: Cartoon Violence
Developer(s)
Nintendo
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
Engine
phive
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Franchise
Splatoon
Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

Enter 4-on-4* ink-slinging battles in this colorful action shooter packed with style and attitude. As a squid-like Inkling, quickly cover your surroundings (and opponents) in ink with wild weaponry and swim through your own color to sneak and splat. Dive into the fresh fun with family and friends and make waves as a team. Get splatted by an opponent? No sweat! The goal in Turf War is to cover the most ground, so respawn and jump back into the inky action.

Keep it current with rotating items, seasonal catalogs, and special events: Variety is the spice of an Inkling’s life, so check out shops daily for a changing array of gear that is as fashionable as it is functional. Timed events like Splatfests bring different types of chaotic competition and content updates add even more weapons and stages. Earn points to get in-game items from season-specific catalogs to dress up your own personal locker and show your style.

Use inky new abilities and weapons to compete, cooperate, or clear up the mystery of the Fuzzy Ooze: Dynamic new moves like the Squid Surge and Squid Roll will help you and your fellow Inklings cover more ground and avoid enemy ink. Take aim with the bow-like Stringer and get slash happy with sword-like Splatanas—these new weapon types join an arsenal of fresh special weapons and sub weapons, too. Work together to collect Golden Eggs and fend off brand-new swarms of invading Salmonids in the co-op Salmon Run mode. Tackle a solo adventure alongside a Smallfry companion to solve the mystery of the Fuzzy Ooze in the offline story mode.

Platform(s)
Switch
Genre(s)
Third-Person Shooter
OpenCritic Rating
Strong