Gay splatoon

Splatoon is about having fun while being yourself. But, even without referencing the real world with memes, Splatoon 3 still shines.

Splatoon 3 feels built for the modern zeitgeist, and those who grew up with the internet and understand how to best engage with it. The amount of expression shown through colourful paint-based gameplay, an accessible array of clothing options, and a messaging system that enforces creativity through limited touch-based inputs has also contributed to the acceptance of fringe identities within the game’s player-base.

Splatoon ran with this idea, showing top-rated posts as in-game graffiti where it plastered billboards and walls. Squids evolve into Inklings, and octopi evolve into Octarians and Octolings.

 

‘Splatoon 3’ allows players to dress up their characters in an array of bright and stylish streetwear. The Squids are alright.

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Our own Lex Luddy recently wrote about how Splatoon 3 has helped her embrace a sense of fashion in reality after dressing up her Inkling, and that visual identity is a big reason why this series has such staying power.

Their personalities are amped up during the game’s big Splatfest events, where players are encouraged to take sides on silly issues, from favourite condiment to the philosophy of chaos vs. Perhaps it’s the liberating attitude it takes when standing against authority, or the willingness to enable modern youth and provide them with a space to express themselves without compromise, or the presence of characters who are coded in ways that can’t be taken in any other way except fruity.

That evolution only better serves the queer theming, and it makes perfect sense for more ambitious styles and divergent identities to emerge as we move forward. It can be changed up whenever too, giving each squid a fluid identity that is never once set in stone.

Furthermore, the clothes are modern and surprisingly grounded for a game about talking sea creatures, which provides a safe space for self-conscious people to experiment with a potential new wardrobe.

Nintendo leans into prideful expression themselves, with characters that interact with one another in a tongue-in-cheek manner.

For those that don’t know, it’s Nintendo’s take on an online shooter, designed for all ages. Fan-made pages such as the Splatoon Subreddit and Discord are constantly alight with openly queer topics, self-expression, and people looking to play and connect with like-minded individuals.

The latest title, Splatoon 3, doesn’t change radically from the previous games, instead, this iterative sequel adds a few quality-of-life improvements that only increases the number of customisation options, including lockers to show off a player’s items and stickers, banner titles and borders – plus free battle passes full of seasonal items and a third Splatfest choice.

While fans are disappointed that little has changed with the series since its inception, the consistency helps maintain a welcoming, accessible community for new players, which has only grown with the continued success of the Nintendo Switch.