Splatfests inSplatoon 3have the unique opportunity to cross over with a variety of popular Nintendo franchises thanks in-part to the addition of a third team, which opens the door to more options for themes. ThePokemon ScarletandVioletSplatfest that hadSplatoon 3players choose between Grass, Water, or Fire types perfectly highlights what kinds of crossovers are possible. With the success of that Splatfest, it’s time for Nintendo to include more of its popular series in futureSplatoon 3events.
ThePokemon ScarletandVioletSplatfestcoincided nicely with the release of the games, with far more production value than other Splatfests by offering players merchandise themed specifically around the crossover. This isn’t the first time theSplatoonseries has had aPokemoncrossover, as the series' first entry on Wii U featured aPokemon Red and BlueSplatfest.Splatoon 2similarly saw a specialMario-themed Splatfest. Beyond those franchises, Nintendo hasn’t really utilized its catalog of iconic games for Splatfest themes, which seems like a huge missed opportunity.
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Fire Emblem Seems Perfect for a Splatoon Crossover
Since Nintendo likes to tie Splatfest crossovers with game releases, the upcomingFire Emblem Engageseems like the perfect excuse for aFire Emblem-themed Splatfest. Since January’s Splatfest already had the theme of Spicy vs Sweet vs Sour, this crossover would have to wait until at least February. However, this is still close enough toFire Emblem Engage’s launch date of January 20 that it would be possible to see something occur early in the month.
Fire Emblemoffers a variety of themes for teams to choose from, with the most obvious being Swords vs Axes vs Lances. LikePokemon, having this rock-paper-scissors mechanic makes for an easy three-way choice to anchor a Splatfest. With the return of theweapon triangle inFire Emblem Engage, now seems like an appropriate time to introduce this crossover. Aside from the weapon triangle, aFire EmblemSplatfest could be themed around specific characters, such as Marth vs Celica vs Roy as a way to highlight the legacy characters returning inFire Emblem Engage.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Warrants its Own Splatfest
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomis on track to be one of Nintendo’s biggest releases in years. It would make a lot of sense if this highly anticipated title received a crossover event withSplatoon 3in May. WithThe Legend of Zeldabeing one of Nintendo’s most popular franchises, the fact that it hasn’t featured prominently in a Splatfest yet is surprising. All the hype surrounding this new release means there has never been a better time for the two franchises to finally collide.
LikePokemonandFire Emblem,The Legend of Zeldaseries also features a triangle that would be perfect forSplatoon 3’s three-team Splatfest design. The three aspects of the Triforce, Courage vs Wisdom vs Power, would make the most sense as a theme for thislegendarySplatoon 3crossover. The Triforce is an iconic part of most games inThe Legend of Zeldafranchise, and would be recognizable enough for mostSplatoon 3players to understand its significance. While it is unknown if the Triforce will play a significant role inThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the three Goddesses of Hyrule - Din, Nayru, and Farore - could also be the focus of the Splatfest. However, they may be too obscure unless they are featured prominently in the upcoming game.
Splatoon 3is available now for Nintendo Switch.
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