Side Order — splatoon

'Side Order' (サイド・オーダー, Saido ōdā^?) is a paid downloadable content for Splatoon 3 that was released on February 22nd, 2024, the release date was revealed on January 24th, 2024, was teased during the August 10th, 2022's Nintendo Direct, and was officially given a trailer during the February 8th, 2023’s Nintendo Direct.

Story

The campaign is set in "what has become of" Inkopolis Square, in "what would've happened" if Team Order had beaten Team Chaos.^[1]

Eight wakes up in the City of Order that strangely looks similar to Inkopolis Square, but is covered with something like white bleached coral with no sign of life. They are challenged to ascend the Spire of Order, which has mysteriously replaced the Deca Tower that once stood there. Pearl is also met in the City of Order, accompanying Eight and assisting them in combat, in the form of a drone. Inside the Spire of Order, the player is allowed to transcend between various floors which rewards them with tokens and enhanced abilities upon completion. Players are able to unlock Color Chips, which enhance abilities, as well as buy upgrades with a new currency called Prlz (Pronounced "pearls"). The player has a set amount of lives, and when these run out, they will have to start from the very beginning at the ground floor lobby of the Spire again, but will gain Prlz based off of how well they did in the prior run.

The missions take place in a randomly-selected series of floors of various random difficulties, where various Jelletons serve as enemies. They produce black ink, which does not appear anywhere else in the franchise.

Acht, also known as Dedf1sh, travels between Floors alongside Agent 8 inside an elevator within the Spire of Order.

Characters

Off The Hook
- Marina Ida
- Pearl Houzuki
Acht
Eight
Order
Cipher

Locations

Order Sector
- Spire of Order

Weapons

Main Weapons

Shooters

Sub Weapons

Eight's Weapons

Jelleton Weapons

Splat Bomb, used by the Panicking Alla Mambo, the Gushing Trionfale, the Asynchronous Rondo, the Pinging Marciale, and Parallel Canon.
Suction Bomb, used by the Pinging Marciale.
The Drizzling Capriccioso is a floating Sprinkler.
Curling Bomb, used by Parallel Canon.
Toxic Mist, used by the Gushing Trionfale and the Asynchronous Rondo.
Torpedo, used by Asynchronous Rondo.
The Homing Arpeggio is a homing Burst Bomb.

Special Weapons

Eight's Weapons

Exclusive Weapons

Inkstrike, exclusive to Asynchronous Rondo
Sting Ray, exclusive to Asynchronous Rondo, Pinging Marciale, and Overlorder
Super Chump, exclusive to Marina Agitando and Overlorder
The Color Wail, exclusive to Pearl

Trivia

The title is in reference to Team Order, the team which lost Splatoon 2’s final fest.
Part of a foot is seen in one of the images from the first teaser, which was most likely an older design for Acht in Side Order.
In contrast to Octo Expansion and Return of the Mammalians, Side Order allows players to choose their weapon before entering the Spire of Order, like in the older Hero Modes.
Side Order is the only single-player campaign which takes place above ground, as one must "ascend" the Spire of Order. This is proven as Splatoon 2's Inkopolis Square, Octo Valley, Octo Canyon, Alterna, and The Octo Expansion all take place underground. This will make Side Order the first campaign to be featured above ground, without any of the underground elements that the other modes feature.
The Memverse being completely white and devoid of activity is likely a reference to coral bleaching, a term that describes coral expelling their algae from their tissues due to climate change, making them more vulnerable to diseases. Order's control over the Memverse is also a reference to how rising use of technology contributes to climate change.