7. Splatoon 3 – Best Multiplayer Shooter

Splatoon was one of the surprise hits for the Wii U, and a welcome reminder that for all of its reliance on big hitters like Zelda and Mario, Nintendo is still capable of creating brilliant original games when it wants to. Splatoon 2 launched early in the Switch’s life, bringing new modes and extra features. Splatoon 3 is a subtle upgrade, but one that adds extra polish, depth, and another great single-player campaign.

Nintendo’s take on the online multiplayer shooter is very… Nintendo. That means quirky character design, a fun setting, and a brilliant new twist on tired shooter mechanics. Instead of shooting bullets, you fire ink, which can hurt your foes, but more importantly covers the arena. The team with the most ink wins, but it also gives you advantages like faster travel and refilling your ammo as you go.

The third generation includes additional competitive multiplayer modes, an improved take on the brilliant Salmon Run co-op horde mode, and even a built-in digital card game that’s unexpectedly deep.