Splatoon 3

Do You Need Nintendo Switch Online to Play?

Splatoon 3 - D you Need NSO Top Banner.png

A Nintendo Switch Online subscription is required to play online multiplayer in Splatoon 3, but single-player and local multiplayer features are available to play offline. Read on to find out if you need NSO to play the game and what game modes and features you can access without an active NSO subscription.

Is Nintendo Switch Online Required to Play Splatoon 3?

Required to Play Online Multiplayer

Splatoon 3 - Limited Features Offline.png

An active NSO subscription is not required to launch and play Splatoon 3. However, your options are very limited as to what you can do within the game.

You cannot participate in any online battle game modes against other players from all over the world such as the popular ranked game mode, Anarchy Battles.

This may come of as a huge disappointment as multiplayer online play is the core feature of Splatoon 3 that everyone loves.

What Can You Do Without Nintendo Switch Online?

Hero Mode

Splatoon 3 - Hero Mode Checkpoint

Hero Mode is the story mode campaign available in Splatoon 3 where you'll be playing as Agent 3 in a quest to stop the Octarians from their evil endeavors.

Since this is a single-player mode, you won't be needing a NSO subscription to enjoy the plot, gameplay, and challenges this mode has to offer.

Hero Mode Walkthrough Guide

The Shoal

Splatoon 3 - The Shoal Lobby Intro

You can play with your friends via LAN or Local Area Network without an active NSO subscription. To do this, access the map menu by pressing X and selecting The Shoal.

You can then invite your friends that are connected to the same Wi-Fi connection as you are.

Salmon Run and Private Battles are the game modes that you can play locally with your friends.

Local Multiplayer Guide

Tableturf Battles

Splatoon 3 - Tableturf Residents

Offline Tableturf Battles are available in the town square where you battle it out with wits in this strategic card game against the NPCs of Splatsville!

Currently an update has not yet been released for multiplayer tableturf battles. So you can play the offline version of this game mode for now!

How to Play Tableturf Battles

Splatoon 3 Related Guides

Splatoon 3 Tips and Tricks

Tips and Tricks: Beginner's Guide to Splatoon

Weapon and Gear Tier Lists
Weapons Tier List Specials Tier List
Sub Weapons Tier List Gear Abilities Tier List
Best Beginner Weapons -
Collectible Locations
All Sardinium Locations All Sunken Scroll Locations
All Gold Record Locations List of Stickers
List of Decorations List of Banners
List of Emotes All Alterna Logs
List of Badges -
Gameplay Tips and Tricks
Character Creation Guide All Hero Gear Upgrades
Mailbox Guide Tutorial Guide
All Hairstyles Splatsville Features
Golden Sheldon Licenses Guide Best Gameplay Settings
Communication Errors Guide How to Beat Boss Salmonids
How to Super Jump List of Controls
Ability Chunks Guide How to Unlock Tableturf Battle Cards
Recon Mode Guide Shell-Out Machine Guide
Power Egg Farming Guide All Hero Mode Rewards and Unlocks
How to Get Upgrade Points How to Level Up Catalog
Freshest Fits Guide How to Add and Change Gear Abilities
Test Range Features Gear Slots Guide
Star Power Guide How to Get Fish Scales
How to Get Super Sea Snails Best Deck for Tableturf Battles
All Salmon Run Rewards All Unlockables and Secret Rewards
How to Increase Salmon Run Rank Shel-Drone Guide
How to Survey All Sites When is Big Run?
All Titles and How to Unlock Best Gear Builds and Loadouts
All Medals and How to Get All Level Up Rewards
All Anarchy Battle Ranks All QR Codes and How to Scan
Speedrunning Guide List of Glitches and Bugs
Wandercrust Tour Guide All Music and Bands
100% Story Mode Completion Guide All Salmon Run Outfits
How to Make Money Fast World Map Guide
How to Get Drink Tickets All Splatfest Events and Themes
All Mystery Box Contents Disconnect Penalty Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Earn Clout How to Increase Your Rank
How to Do a Squid Surge How to Do a Squid Roll
Motion Controls or Stick Controls How to Vote for a Team in Splatfest
How to Play With Friends How to Get Wallpaper
How to Get Food Tickets How to Save
Where is the Locker Room How to Cancel Matchmaking
What is Wipeout? What is Weapon Freshness?
Inkling vs Octoling When Do Shops Restock?
How to Skip the News Intro How to Get Conch Shells
How to Get the Harmony Badge How to Watch and Upload Replays
How to Use and Add Widgets Is Splatoon 3 Multiplayer?
Do You Need NSO? How Long to Beat Story Mode
Where to Buy Official Merchandise Who is Judd?
How to Get 100x and 333x Battles Is Agent 8 in the Game?

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