Can my kid play this without owning Splatoon 2?

No. Octo Expansion is downloadable add-on content (DLC), not a standalone game. You must own either the physical cartridge or the digital version of Splatoon 2 on the Nintendo Switch for this expansion to run.

Do we have to buy it if we already have the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack?

Check your membership tier first. If you subscribe to the 'Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack' tier, Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion is included at no extra charge. You just need to download it from the Nintendo eShop while your subscription is active.

Is it really that much harder than the base game campaign?

Yes, significantly. While the base game campaign eases players into basic mechanics, Octo Expansion assumes you already have comfortable control over movement and aiming. Some levels require pinpoint accuracy on moving rails. However, after two failed attempts, the game allows players to skip the stage and keep moving through the metro lines.

Does this unlock anything for multiplayer?

Yes. Once a player finishes the main escape route and reaches the surface, they unlock the ability to play as an Octoling (boy or girl) in standard multiplayer turf wars, complete with unique hairstyles and gear.

Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

game2018Shooter, Platform

90%

WISE Score

90%

IGDB

An 80-level underground gauntlet that trades bubbly multiplayer chaos for brutal, clever single-player platforming.

Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion

game

2018, Shooter, Platform

90%

WISE Score

90%

IGDB

An 80-level underground gauntlet that trades bubbly multiplayer chaos for brutal, clever single-player platforming.

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Where to Play

Nintendo

Screenwise Verdict

If your kid plays Splatoon 2 mostly to chase multiplayer cosmetics or grind ranks, Octo Expansion does something far better: it turns the mechanics into a tight, demanding solo obstacle course.

You play as Agent 8, an Octoling waking up with amnesia in a bizarre underground subway system. To reach the surface, you ride the Deepsea Metro from station to station, spending in-game transit points to attempt bite-sized trials. Some ask you to guide a massive billiard ball across moving platforms; others strip away your ink tanks or give you limited ammunition to pop targets on moving rails.

It is easily the best single-player campaign Nintendo built for the franchise, but it does not pull punches. Kids who melt down over repeating a tricky jump will get tested here. Thankfully, Nintendo added an 'Ask for Help' option that lets players skip a cleared route if they fail twice, keeping the momentum going while leaving the true completionist badges for those willing to grind.

Age Fit

Best for kids around 9 and up who already understand twin-stick camera controls and gyro aiming. Younger players can handle the vibe, but the platforming precision will test short tempers.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Splatoon's bright turf-war vibe gets dipped into a weirder, moodier underground subway setting. The themes lean into amnesia and escaping an underground testing facility, but it stays firmly rooted in colorful squid-and-octopus cartoon action.

Imaginative

A masterclass in level design and aesthetic direction. It mixes vaporwave transit design with 80 wildly distinct micro-challenges using ink mechanics in ways the base game never attempted.

Safe

This is almost entirely a dedicated single-player campaign. It completely removes the live multiplayer salt, voice chat, and random matchmaking from the equation while you are playing through it.

Enriching

Pushes spatial reasoning, fine motor precision, and genuine grit. Many missions demand strict resource management and trial-and-error mastery, though it offers an option to skip tests after repeated failures.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Pure problem-solving: The 80 test stations treat Splatoon's movement mechanics like a puzzle box, forcing players to master rail-grinding, snipers, and giant 8-balls.
Zero online toxicity: It is an offline solo campaign, meaning no stranger interactions, no lobby drama, and no countdown timers forcing daily engagement.
Generous safety valve: If a level beats you down multiple times, the game lets you pay in-game subway credits to bypass it and continue the story without getting permanently blocked.
Style to burn: The synth-heavy underground metro atmosphere gives the franchise some of its sharpest visual and musical identity.

⚠

What to Watch For

Frustration tolerance: Some stations—especially target-shooting while riding rails or defending an orb against waves of enemies—are legitimately punishing.
Creepier lore: The story involves sanitized test subjects and a sentient blender wanting to liquefy DNA. It is still cartoonish, but noticeably darker than standard turf wars.

Conversation Starters

"Which test chamber felt totally unfair until you cracked the pattern?"
"Why do you think the Octarians were living underground while the Inklings had the whole surface?"
"Did you choose to skip any stations, or did you stick it out until you cleared every single line?"

Deep Dive

The Single-Player Antidote to Turf War Burnout

Most modern shooters treat their campaigns as an afterthought—a two-hour glorified tutorial before dumping players into the live-service churn. Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion did the exact opposite. Released a year after the base game, it completely sidelined the neon pop-idol energy of Inkopolis Square in favor of an eerie, retro-futuristic test facility.

Bite-Sized, High-Stakes Design

The structure mirrors Super Mario 3D World or Portal more than a standard shooter. Instead of long corridors full of nameless grunts, you get 80 self-contained puzzle boxes:

Target galleries: Rail-grinding challenges where missing a single wooden crate instantly pops your test suit.
Spatial puzzles: Rolling giant spheres across narrow tracks while deflecting enemy ink bombs.
Weapon restrictions: Levels that force you to clear combat arenas using unconventional tools like the Jet Squelcher or the ink brush.

Every test costs in-game transit fare to enter. Run out of credits, and you have to borrow from Cap'n Cuttlefish, grounding the stakes in a way that feels meaningful without ever costing real-world money.

The Skip Button That Saves the Living Room

Nintendo knew this expansion was harder than anything in the base game. Their solution was elegant: fail a test twice, and you get an option to mark the station cleared via an in-game prompt. The story progresses, you get the train line connected, and the frustration evaporates. Kids who want the ultimate flex can always come back later to clear the test for real, unlocking the inner Agent 3 boss fight that remains legendary in the community for its absurd difficulty.

If you have a kid who loves the world of Splatoon but struggles with the social pressure and compulsive loops of online matchmaking, this is the single best purchase you can make on their Switch.

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