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.

[@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

[@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

[@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

[@dankmemewannabe7692]

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

[@batofdestiny7801]

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

[@catalyst539]

@@batofdestiny7801 Spiderman?

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@TreblePhoenix]

I just noticed the tiers spell out Vasko.

[@SugarMeowYT]

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

[@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

[@MagKalii]

righteous rails was my favourite stage :33

[@Feeble_Weeble]

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

[@unusedchannel20956]

I have PTSD of both girl power and the last part of after alterna

[@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

[@aidan0275]

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

[@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"

[@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!"

[@Agent-8]

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

[@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

[@daytonjustchilling1153]

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

[@coldfanta4963]

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

[@Daniel-Nosbusch]

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

[@lemoniieeee]

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

[@-Hamza]

Hey guys do you think he dislikes Righteous Rails Station?

[@ijustwantedtocomment8319]

No I'm sure he loves it

[@pholtom]

im so glad i didnt skip the intro

[@adm3us]

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

[@cendronhawk977]

12:52 you forgot the matchmaker/master station reference

[@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)

[@shark_girl]

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

[@hb-wanderer5031]

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

[@Customfurball28]

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

[@camdenmurray975]

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

[@pastaman7278]

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

[@jellyfr0gz489]

Little fuzzy I love him he’s adorable

[@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.

[@aSquidMin]

OMG FIRST

[@Vicvillon]

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

[@filoduncan]

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

[@FaisalBashir1]

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

[@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

[@Ariaresortandcasino]

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

[@MereCoolDude]

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

[@ChrisHinners008]

I JUST REALIZED THE TIERS SPELL VASKO

[@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.

[@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

[@squidsurge71]

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

[@dogedecker]

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

[@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

[@rosalindmagwood6903]

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

[@turtleyoutubeaccount]

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

[@eternalmaximum6899]

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

[@Papayaaaal]

Hugefry is Horrorboros foreshadowing

[@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.

[@Sugar_Skullo]

My favourites are the zipcaster stages, they were super fun

[@calyx8808]

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

[@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

[@magicalgio]

The vicvillon swearing reference got me on the floor

[@ally-dance88]

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

[@virgilepiaux150]

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

[@mariom-rp4ui]

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

[@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

[@Night5028]

vasko's tier list spells "vasko"

[@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.

[@FaisalBashir1]

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

[@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.

[@Minemuscle]

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

[@CaptainAstronaut]

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

[@Star_Bunni]

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

[@happypika3]

15:30 This will age like milk

[@thiccrib]

I'm just typing this so I dont forget V A S K O Best to worst

[@jesus2383]

Ohhhhh now I get it

[@KIKI_1228]

Thicc Judd will always stay in my heart

[@hacerTBB]

4:38 LEROOOOY GEANKINS

[@omargustavomalavevargas9388]

14:23 did splatoon 3 story mode just predict horrorboros

[@senanmcfadden6319]

? you know thats small fry right?

[@glowstickspinalfluid]

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

[@amidlej8237]

11:36 - Wait a minute... YOU WERE ABLE TO CLEAR THE CONVEYOR WITH A ROLLER????

[@senanmcfadden6319]

its not that hard?

[@amidlej8237]

@@senanmcfadden6319 you could say that when I started (this was my first Splatoon game), I didn't have any experience and this level was hard. But, after million hours in turf war, I got the hang of it and I passed.

[@OctoCoochi69]

You know the crater levels were supposed to be a literal troll on Nintendo's part right?

[@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

[@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

[@walnutinc961]

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

[@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)

[@catgang1015]

You know what I fell for that slosher😂

[@bananabox8363]

You can cheese after 2 end it with burst bombs

[@definitelynotaperson1598]

Does this guy know what inspiration is for big man-

[@coldrblx]

13:09 me being a dapple dualies main:

[@roverL]

lol the tier list is VASKO backwards

[@Phantom_Agent]

Was there a single Splatana Wiper level?

[@esperscornerofyt]

I want moray towers in game. Now.

[@LimeLoaf]

You know what else has a cool with a "K"? MY MOM

[@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.

[@CinnaBun7]

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

[@NezukoandOcto]

Vasko: Righteous Rails is dum

[@KrabbyKing1]

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