Splatoon 3 is the latest (and best reviewed, with a Metascore of 84) game in the family-friendly series. It sends you to the dusty Splatlands to ink up territory as you battle against a litany of new enemies in its single-player mode, while the multiplayer mode makes significant changes to the standard Splatoon formula. 

Like any good sequel, Splatoon 3 is loaded with new weapons, maps, special abilities, and customization options. This includes the Splatana, Ink Vac, Crab Tank, and Reefslider — all of which give you new ways to ink up your opponents and emerge victorious. But beyond all the shiny new toys, the core concept of running around in fast-paced, third-person combat is still entirely intact. In other words, fans of the first two games will love what Splatoon 3 brings to the table. And if you're a newcomer, the single-player story mode makes it easy to hone your skills before jumping into a hectic online match.

Team-based shooters are nothing new, but Splatoon 3 stands out from the pack due to its family-friendly design, colorful graphics, and the iconic Turf Wars game mode, which sees you competing against another team to cover the map in as much paint as possible. However, if you're looking for an alternative to the quirky shooter, there are a few titles that fill a similar role. This includes a handful of competitive multiplayer games, a battle royale, and even a few fast-paced solo adventures.

Here are 10 games like Splatoon 3 to play next, listed by Metascore.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Switch)

Metascore: 93
Best for: Fans of highly competitive fighting games
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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is one of the most competitive fighting games around. But while there's a high skill ceiling, newcomers can easily pick up the controller and join in on the chaos. The goal is to knock all other players off a floating arena. The more damage you deal, the farther your opponent will fly. It's a strange concept, but one that works great in action. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate also benefits from an incredible roster of fighters, which includes Mario, Link, Zelda, Yoshi, Pikachu, and even a few familiar faces from the Splatoon universe.

"Smash Ultimate is not only the ultimate Smash game, the ultimate fighting game, the ultimate party game, and the ultimate collection of videogame nostalgia: it's the ultimate video game." — Power Unlimited

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch)

Metascore: 92
Best for: Fans of arcade racing games
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Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the best-selling game on Switch, so there's a good chance you've already added it to your library. But if you're yet to check out the iconic racer, consider this your call to action. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is an arcade racer that throws you into meticulously crafted courses and hands you several unique power-ups to aid you on your quest for first place. You'll be gliding through the air, zipping along underwater, and navigating increasingly challenging racetracks as you work through the game's various tournaments. When you get bored of playing solo or in couch co-op with your buddies, you can head online for some serious competition.

"The definitive version of one of the greatest multiplayer games ever, with a vast array of courses, characters, and the best Battle mode since the SNES days." — Metro GameCentral

Team Fortress 2 (PC)

Metascore: 92
Best for: Fans of class-based shooters
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Don't let its colorful graphics fool you — Team Fortress 2 isn't a family-friendly adventure like Splatoon 3. You'll be treated to a cast of characters that's just as memorable as Nintendo's shooter (such as the lumbering Heavy and the fire-loving Pyro), but the action quickly escalates to something worthy of its "mature" rating. You'll get to choose from nine distinct characters that bring their own skills to the battlefield and work to accomplish a variety of objectives with your teammates. This could be stealing your enemy's intel and returning it to your base, capturing a variety of control points, or simply pushing a cart filled with explosives towards the edge of the map.

"Team Fortress 2 sets a brilliant stage for its signature brand of class-based multiplayer mayhem." — GameSpot

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (PS5)

Metascore: 88
Best for: Fans of family-friendly adventures
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Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is essentially a playable Pixar movie. Its graphics are nothing short of spectacular, especially when you enable Fidelity Mode and the game's running in 4K. The story once again revolves around Ratchet and his trusty sidekick, Clank, but you'll also get to meet a few newcomers that change up the standard formula. The core concept is still all about upgrading firearms and blowing your enemies to bits, but there are also some challenging platforming and puzzle segments that'll put your reflexes and brainpower to the test. There's no competitive multiplayer, but its bombastic single-player mode is more than worth the cost of admission.

"Rift Apart is a technical showcase, but it's also one of the finest 3D action platformers since Jak and Daxter." — We Got This Covered

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (PS5)

Metascore: 82
Best for: Fans of a galaxy far, far away
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LEGO games are always great family games, and The Skywalker Saga is no different. This installment lets you play through nine different storylines and step into the shoes of hundreds of different characters. There's plenty of third-person combat and platforming to be had, although a new, over-the-shoulder camera angle makes everything feel fresh. It also brings you closer to the action, giving each encounter a visceral feeling that isn't present in older titles. Star Wars fans will love all the Easter eggs scattered throughout the game, but just about everyone will find something to appreciate about this highly reviewed adventure.

"For Star Wars fanatics, the love of the source material can be found in the game's countless details, and it's hard to imagine a more polished LEGO title than this." — Trusted Reviews

Overcooked! 2 (Switch)

Metascore: 81
Best for: Fans of cooperative multiplayer
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This entry is a bit of a wild card, but if you loved the sense of camaraderie and teamwork found in Splatoon 3, Overcooked! 2 deserves to be on your radar. You'll play as a chef tasked with whipping up delicious meals and serving them to your guests. Things aren't as easy as they sound, however, as your kitchens are filled with hazards and other obstacles that make it difficult to piece together a perfect dish. The game is best played with a few friends, as intense cooperation is needed to please all of your picky customers.

"Even when you fail miserably at a task, the experience of playing the game is raucous and rewarding." — Slant Magazine

Sunset Overdrive (XB1)

Metascore: 81
Best for: Fans of over-the-top action
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Much like Team Fortress 2, Sunset Overdrive is a bit more aggressive than its graphics let on. It takes place in a post-apocalyptic universe overrun with creatures that have turned hostile after drinking too many energy drinks. The story is just as bizarre as it sounds, but the colorful graphics and fast-paced action make Sunset Overdrive one of the best third-person shooters ever made. Beyond blasting enemies, you'll also be able to traverse the environment with ease, thanks to a fluid movement system that lets you grind on rails, bounce high into the air, and nimbly zip around enemies without taking any damage.

"Insomniac Games have just given a masterclass in taking a tried and tested game genre and making it feel fresh and fun." — CalmDownTom

Knockout City (PS4)

Metascore: 80
Best for: Fans of quirky third-person multiplayer games
Where to buy: PlayStation Store
Also available on: PC, PS5, Switch, XB1, XBX

Knockout City is a third-person shooter disguised as a dodgeball game. Instead of guns and grenades, you'll have access to a variety of power-ups — letting you launch a ball across the map, lock your enemies in cages, or turn your own teammates into a bomb. The goal is to smack the other team with more dodgeballs than they smack you, and learning to dodge or catch incoming projectiles is just as important as aggressive offense. You can also perform fake throws or lob shots, adding another layer of complexity to the action and making Knockout City a game that's easy to learn but hard to master.

"If you're after a new competitive online game to play that's fun and rewards teamwork, be sure to give it a try." — GameSpew

Fortnite (PS4)

Metascore: 78
Best for: Fans of colorful battle royales
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Fortnite is a frantic battle royale that relies on building complex structures as much as it does fast reflexes. You'll be dropped into a sprawling map with 99 other players, all of which are scrambling around to harvest resources for building and powerful weapons to help eliminate the competition. A variety of game modes are up for grabs, letting you play solo or with a squad of other players. Fortnite has seen no shortage of collaborations over the years, and if you jump in today you'll see folks running around as LeBron James, Harley Quinn, Marshmello, and dozens of other iconic faces.

"Fortnite's zany style and unique blend of shooting and building almost never offers anything less than an outstanding time." — IGN

Warframe (PS4)

Metascore: 64
Best for: Fans of fast-paced shooting and slashing
Where to buy: Amazon
Also available on: PC, PS5, Switch, XB1

Warframe's lackluster reviews were largely the result of launch day bugs and performance issues. The space ninja simulator is a radically different game today, allowing you and a few buddies to run around slaying hundreds of enemies as you collect resources, craft new gear, and perfect your loadout before each subsequent mission. The frantic gameplay and need for cooperation make it a good fit for fans of Splatoon 3, although its overly complex systems might put off gamers that enjoyed the simplicity found in Nintendo's latest shooter. But if you're looking for a live service game that has a bright future, consider checking it out.

"The core gameplay, including the variety of suits and weapons, is terrific, and it's reason enough to play this sci-fi shooter." — IGN