The Best & Worst Stages in Splatoon 3 | Tier List

Did Splatoon 3's story mode improve in terms of stage design from the previous game? And by how much? To find out, I review and rate every single stage in the game! Which one is your favorite?
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[@VaskoGames]

Don't have Splatoon 3? Interested in getting it? Use my affiliate link: howl.me/ciIIFQ4AvIm

[@Ariaresortandcasino]

after it needs moray towers

[@outzymes3636]

Since I continously forget how this list is offered, here are the letters- V-tier: Highest tier A-tier: Second highest S-tier: Middle tier K-tier: Second lowest O-tier: Lowest never noticed that lmao

[@cicadafiIes]

i didnt even realized it spelled out vasko lmao

[@squigglejam69]

For me, all the levels were waaaaaay more creative than in Splatoon 2. It just felt like the devs were having fun when they made it.

[@sharkbite7922]

I remember i was raging so hard on the level that made you use the Tri-Stringer on the rails. The worse part was, for me in this case, at the last section where you had to charge and jump to hit the last targets to activate the rail below.

[@Moonkat358]

*I A G R E E*

[@guillermocervisalmeron2209]

Was so easy...for me

[@_octoboi12_]

𝕐𝔼𝕊𝕐𝔼𝕊𝕐𝔼𝕊𝕐𝔼𝕊𝕐𝔼𝕊𝕐𝔼𝕊𝕐𝔼𝕊. 😊

[@Nikk1513]

Dude i tried like a HUNDRED times to do it with the Tri-Stringer and ended up using the blaster 💀

[@sharkbite7922]

Eventually, I managed to complete the level with the Tri-Stringer without charging and I got lucky hitting the targets

[@Feeble_Weeble]

Big Man's fight isn't a "rip off", it's a reference. Two different things. It's honestly perfect that Big Man, a manta ray, has his boss fight referencing the manta ray boss from sunshine

[@birdwithlargefeet]

it was really easy though

[@dumb_is_fun]

@@birdwithlargefeet the last phase bullied me a lot ngl

[@commanderruby901]

@@dumb_is_funsame

[@duckisalwayswatching1192]

Ptsd

[@Clorox_Gaming]

@@dumb_is_fun I beat it first try, but I can see how it might be hard

[@LycanMOON]

My only nitpick is that they got rid of the exploration bit in levels,I loved looking for the scrolls but I guess i don't mind it all being in the overworld

[@blackknightblood]

Yea i miss the scrolls and everything within the levels since it actually made you play the levels

[@dankmemewannabe]

YEAH it felt so empty without those

[@lvndr9838]

bruh i spent so much time looking for scrolls until i realized they were in the overworld

[@senanmcfadden6319]

i kinda hated the scrolls bc it was so anoyin replaying stages looking for them and takeing attention away from the stages the scrolls in the hub both addmore attention to stages but also makes you want to explore the hub more

[@TreblePhoenix]

To be fair, you do get power eggs for things like swimming to the top of the moai in Relic Restoration

[@JakoBpyroTech]

I find it satisfying that the only Crab Tank stage was a V tier. The only problem was the fixation on "Righteous Rails", which in fact was not the only grind rail stage in Octo Expansion. (Just the most memorable because Bamboozler on it is stupid hard)

[@JakoBpyroTech]

Funny enough, the stage I would consider the spiritual successor to RR with Bamboozler is Target Town with Tri-Stringer, which is the grind rail stage Vasko rated highest and the only one without a checkpoint (After Alterna's Grind rail section definitely deserves the O tier.)

[@eggnogisdead]

I despised the crab tank level, CT was too slow and clunky, and the platforming section was punishing. The combat sections were the only redeeming quality the level had. That being said, I don’t think CT is bad though, it’s just that the level isn’t designed well

[@plaidhatter1674]

For big man, as long as you have the sensor and are always on top of his location, he is a joke. Leave him alone for 10 seconds and the stage is a nightmare.

[@person4636]

I couldn’t beat him for 46 actual attempts, Not lying,

[@salvii_4706]

In my opinion, the recommended weapon shouldn’t always be the easiest one to complete the stage with. In the “Those aren’t birds” level, I think that the dapples were the best weapon to recommend because the nautilus was too easy and the dapple dodge rolls work nicely with the unsinkable. I do agree that recommending the slosher for the rail level was kind of dumb though. Still a great video!

[@EvergreenSilva]

Yeah the Target levels may be hard and janky at times, but they sure have the *Funkiest* theme in the entire game.

[@dreamhunter5011]

One of the best songs from the story mode along side Bing bang and the crater level theme.

[@mrgottem2848]

honestly the theme for the target levels is the music in the background of My purgatory.

[@TB_Corey]

I honestly like all of the stages, but zipcaster stages are more fun imo

[@batofdestiny]

I think I would like a Zipcaster game at this point lol

[@catalyst539]

@@batofdestiny Spiderman?

[@Ross_YT84]

The last stage of after alterna was way more terrifying than I thought it would be. But it also was probably the best stage of the game.

[@SirNerdTheThird5143]

13:42 "More like flying worst class, amiright?"-Jacob Alpharad.

[@Charlie-bunny]

Whilst doing the levels I wondered why there weren't many with octoling girls, but then I realised it's probably because most of them left

[@SirNerdTheThird5143]

5:58 This stage is what made me realize how to call back Little Buddy. Yes, for the majority of the game,, I was CONSTANTLY waiting for him to come back to me. I was THAT dumb.

[@woomy7.7]

I held the throw button 💀 Even now I do that because it looks cool

[@emmet042]

Funny story: The rail grinding levels are among my favorite. (and I really disliked Righteous Rails in OE) Also, in case anyone was wondering, the reward for finishing every stage with every possible weapon and 100% the over world is . . . a sad feeling. Not even a menu background!

[@dreamhunter5011]

Vasko not getting that the first three stages were supposed to be bad. Overpowered gear, linear paths, no reason to explore, monotonous level design, the fact that the area was another octo canyon/valley/crater/big pit, etc. They were supposed to make people feel preemptively disappointed before alterna happens. The one redeeming quality they were supposed to have was good music.

[@kittymae335]

Compulsive collector's paradise and stamp gauntlet were the hardest stages for me, and the last two I had to beat to unlock after alterna, which I still haven't beaten because I keep messing up the inkline

[@SugarMeowYT]

I was trying to memorize the order of the tiers when I said, "v, a, s, k, ohhhhh I get it"

[@TreblePhoenix]

I just noticed the tiers spell out Vasko.

[@aidan0275]

I think the shark is a reference to the octo maul with the toss a bomb in the mouth trick

[@hb-wanderer5031]

I'm upset it took me this long to notice that Vasko's tier list spells out "Vasko"

[@cendronhawk977]

12:52 you forgot the matchmaker/master station reference

[@Daniel-Nosbusch]

15:33 YOU JINXED US IT TOOK OVER A YEAR BUT STILL

[@MagKalii]

righteous rails was my favourite stage :33

[@Feeble_Weeble]

Not my favorite, but I enjoyed it a lot despite how challenging it was

[@TheRealRoyalArtworks]

Call me biased cause I main dark tetras, but the splashdown level is hands down my favorite. I missed that special so much in splat3, and the fact it was our main special through the whole single player campaign AND we get a whole level dedicated to it, I love it. SPOILERS FOR ONE OFNTHE BOSS FIGHTS AHEAD: In terms of boss fights though, big man was actually my favorite. Mario sunshine was one of , if not the most, memorable games for me growing up on GameCube. When I saw big man transform into the hype manga storm, I was overcome with so much happiness I felt like a little kid again. The color of his ink was even the same as in the Mario sunshine level, so the amount of detail they put into the fight was great. Maybe it’s the nostalgia talking, but big man was the best fight for me in the whole game

[@pratato]

Nice video! my brain was working overtime trying to place your ranking system, i think it may have short-circuited. "Oh shit ok so he ranked this K oh and ranked this a ok so a is obv above k and oh s is above a oop no it isnt"

[@daytonjustchilling1153]

Now that scarlet and violet are out you should do something like the Wooloo verse in violet called "The lechonk verse*

[@StartouchArts]

Never realized just how many Ink Rail stages there were. None of them were particularly fun, just annoying. And yeah, that Ink Rail section of After Alterna was miserable, died a good 20 times on that part; more than the rest of After Alterna combined.

[@thesavageone8685]

All the ink rail stages were fun. Basically anything close to octo expansion was the best

[@annaisntcool]

i don’t even want to know how many times i died and had to try again on after alterna hahaha

[@arandomusername4780]

After alterna is just miserable all together

[@Customfurball28]

big man’s fight really isn’t a rip off, moreso a reference

[@coldfanta4963]

15:02 this is the stage where Callie tells you you can throw Smallfry onto grillers

[@Agent-8]

The line “ aw no anikin were done for” killed me

[@WorldWeave]

If One Way Ride Through Target Town isn’t DEAD LAST…I will be very disappointed Edit: how the hell did you find that abomination of a level satisfying?! I took THREE DAYS TO BEAT IT (I’m not actually mad, just memeing…but I do genuinely hate that level…every other “riotous rails” type level, I beat on my first or second try because they ACTUALLY HAD CHECKPOINTS)

[@jellyfr0gz489]

Little fuzzy I love him he’s adorable

[@adm3us]

I love this story mode so much (Honestly this video helped me remember how fire this soundtrack is more than anything)

[@camdenmurray975]

You’re not the only one who slams into objects with Zipcaster

[@ChrisHinners008]

I JUST REALIZED THE TIERS SPELL VASKO

[@lemoniieeee]

I literally left my switch on for hours trying to beat the last part of after alterna lmao

[@dogedecker]

This is to remind myself V = S teir A = A teir S = B/C teir K = D teir O = F teir

[@filoduncan]

"new enemy type" (talking about octopods) me who remembers them in splatoon 2: are you sure about that?

[@shark_girl]

Don't worry I agree... Righteous Rails is the bane of my existence...

[@light6666]

tbh the hub of the ice physics site was the most suprising as i tought "there are no ice physics in splatoon" than die to it

[@mercurymoss3981]

i kind of feel like a lot of the stages that were put low are just because you personally had a skill issue with them lol “this stage is O cause i was bad at it :(((“

[@m-racer5096]

Couldn't help but feel the same. "Easy, so it's good" Me: "Nooo!"

[@pastaman7278]

...nobody tell him I first tried righteous rails first try after not playing octo expansion for 3 years

[@-Hamza]

Hey guys do you think he dislikes Righteous Rails Station?

[@ijustwantedtocomment8319]

No I'm sure he loves it

[@Ariaresortandcasino]

The fog in Alterna space center lift is actually a heat wave with some lights off

[@Farne536]

I have to agree, Righteous Rails Station is my favourite stage in the Splatoon 3 story mode

[@senanmcfadden6319]

that an octo stage

[@Farne536]

​@@senanmcfadden6319 It's a joke.... 8:07

[@ashtongiertz8728]

22:02 my favorite part of Splatoon 3 was when Big Man said "It's Big Man time" and then proceeded to Big Man all over the place.

[@Sugar_Skullo]

My favourites are the zipcaster stages, they were super fun

[@pholtom]

im so glad i didnt skip the intro

[@rosalindmagwood6903]

I manage to get a 100% on octo expansion and at splatoon 3. It was hard, but it was worth it.

[@Ariaresortandcasino]

You forgot about something: at the big man boss fight when you shoot the fake shadows those things they pop up and those things are octopods And the super Mario sunshine has a similar shadow it said it on the wiki

[@ralphmarbler27]

Any level that played "With Flying Colors" was automatically a fun stage... until the 4-key chase.

[@squidsurge71]

Does anyone else think of how cool it could be if the Octo Samurai came back since Splatanas exist now?

[@magicalgio]

The vicvillon swearing reference got me on the floor

[@calyx8808]

21:59 I get it now! Also, the Octopods aren't new, the big variant is though!

[@Shannessa]

13:06 I actually found the recommended weapon the easiest on my playthrough I only died once (at the end bc I forgot that the box hit the fence)

[@MereCoolDude]

6:04 I’m currently tied with the record of 2 seconds

[@eternalmaximum6899]

I like tread heavily because you are using a god damn tank that can roll

[@elibronico8713]

The Big Man fight is not a rip-off. It's a reference. Whenever you shoot ink at big man he gets smaller and smaller. Just like in super mario sunshine. Only instead of shooting ink. He shoot water at Fanta manta. Also you should play super mario sunshine is cool.

[@Captain1455]

The on Rail shooter was hell on the tri-stringer and after tartarus.. But girl power is the best one I trained on girl power station with each weapon.. No problem easier then inner agent 3.

[@Papayalilac]

Hugefry is Horrorboros foreshadowing

[@ally-dance88]

13:27 dont think we didnt see you miss the inkrail, vasko

[@FaisalBashir1]

Me: splat the bad guys pretty fun stuff. Vasko: splat the bad guys. I want a refund.

[@glowstickspinalfluid]

i like the original righteous rails but i only like a few of the grind rails levels in 3

[@Star_Bunni]

I used to farm on rightress rails, with the bamboozeler 😭

[@FaisalBashir1]

14:00 reminds me of the koror puzzles in botw and totk

[@mariom-rp4ui]

They brought back splash down but even better its triple splash down

[@pennycat6317]

Um acthually the Octo flippers were also present in Splatoon 2 🤓☝ Also I have a headcannon the reason You'll go Far if you Splat Far is so simple is it's for inkling stimuli. Like we already inklings love to have turf wars so it's most likely the equivalent of someone giving a human a stimuli course.

[@virgilepiaux150]

Wonder how you'll do rankings for Side Order, since apparently the levels are randomized...

[@KIKI_1228]

Thicc Judd will always stay in my heart

[@turtleyoutubeaccount]

it’s so obvious that the big man fight is a reference to sunshine. why would nintendo rip off their own game

[@GoodfellaZeta4873]

13:01 Yeah, actually, this one can go splat itself. I have yet to 100% the game and it's all because this stage decided to be a punk and have a squiffer in it! 15:12 This one, too. When you get to the tower with the stringer, you're intended to jump and shoot for the vertical firing mode, but since the RAIL is CURVED, you can jump off and die!

[@icarus4093]

For the righteous station rip off, I actually had less difficulty doing it with the bucket than the nautillus. Ranking a level so low just cause you’re not good with the weapon is not great

[@guillermocervisalmeron2209]

I prefer Splatoon 1 and 2 levels, if you could make the levels with all types of weapons instead of 3 that doesn't change the gameplay it would be my favourite story mode

[@thesavageone8685]

That was the worst part of Splatoon 2 Also if it was the same weapons for every stage that would be HORRIBLE. Splatoon 3 merged Splatoon 2 and Splatoon 2 Octo Expansion with a bit of new to make the best story mode

[@Splotch-015]

The fact that A tier is higher than S tier is confusing to me.

[@Night5028]

vasko's tier list spells "vasko"

[@CaptainAstronaut]

Righteous Rails are righteous because rail grinding is good because Sonic The Hedgehog is Good. I'll explain why you are objectively wrong

[@MylatoninMMIX]

Those aren’t birds is a nightmare with a sniper. Maybe I’m just not good with the sniper, but it stresses me out so mucb

[@definitelynotaperson1598]

Does this guy know what inspiration is for big man-

[@catgang1015]

You know what I fell for that slosher😂

[@bananabox8363]

You can cheese after 2 end it with burst bombs

[@Phantom_Agent]

Was there a single Splatana Wiper level?

[@catalyst539]

Target Town with Stringer sucks, how did you do it

[@aSquidMin]

OMG FIRST

[@Vicvillon]

Omg ur so fast!!!1!1!!!

[@happypika3]

15:30 This will age like milk

[@roverL]

lol the tier list is VASKO backwards

[@hacerTBB]

4:38 LEROOOOY GEANKINS

[@FaisalBashir1]

The splatoon 3 stages feel MORE like tutorials, and most of them are. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but I do prefer the 2 and 1 variations.

[@mdmackint]

vasko ranking system vrs

[@badopinionssquid1735]

Am I the only one who DIDN'T like a lotta the stages in this game? For one, WAY too many "shoot targets on a strict time limit" levels Plus a lot of stage premises were just copypasted from OE, like making a sculpture out of crates, destroying all the targets in one shot, surviving a barrage of enemies in a small area with no weapon, etc And even if Octo Canyon's levels were easy they were still infinitely more varied with a lot more different enemies, mechanics more evenly spread out, a lot more mechanics in general (Rip Industrial Squeegees) And what especially annoyed me was how they give you the best Hero Shot upgrade system in the series and only let you use it in like a third of the stages They even give you regular shooters in some stages as opposed to your Hero Shot What's the point

[@thesavageone8685]

The point is better overworld, merging the two ways of Splatoon story into one, better story, following Octo Expansions guide because people loved it, Yeah you're the only one

[@thesavageone8685]

Oh wait well what are you talking about they let you use hero shot in like half and you want to use the same weapon in like every level? Seriously?

[@badopinionssquid1735]

@@thesavageone8685 I'm talking about how they occasionally give you a preset shooter instead of the one you already have, it's dumb I don't wanna solve puzzles or hit targets over and over, just give me something to kill The amount of levels that just let you run and gun no strings attached is in the single digits

[@sparklingsora]

yeah, while i did have fun on a lot of the levels (the zipcaster levels and the limited ink curling bomb one for example), theres a difference between taking inspiration from oe and just straight up copypasting parts of it into splat 3 :/ the final few levels were the worst offenders imo, the whole ascent to the rocket and the mr grizz fight just felt like a bad, less climactic ripoff of oe's final sequence

[@esperscornerofyt]

I want moray towers in game. Now.

[@KrabbyKing1]

The tiers orders are your name spelt backwards, just noticed that

[@joelsytairo6338]

Idk if this is a controversial opinion but imo mamalians is very comparable in difficulty to octo expansion just with a few more filler levels

[@bendy_bone]

i really like deadly dance hall idk why it’s easy and fun :)

[@arandomusername4780]

I personally use this stage incase I believe my controllers jump button is not responding, a good stage to try just incase

[@dynamitekaitorn7175]

All of the "righteous rails" rip-offs in Splatoon 3 is precisely why I'll never unlock the AA stages. I'm not suffering through the absolute HEADACHE rail-stages are to complete. Personally, I think Splatoon 2 has the better campaign.

[@Ariaresortandcasino]

Um is flying worst class the first level that has the Splat Roller and the n zap 85

[@oliviasmith6103]

The tiers spell your name 😂 V A S K O

[@omargustavomalavevargas9388]

14:23 did splatoon 3 story mode just predict horrorboros

[@senanmcfadden6319]

? you know thats small fry right?

[@CinnaBun7]

Rail is so bad it doesn’t even get z tier