Splatoon has quickly become one of Nintendo's freshest franchises, offering team-based gameplay that separates it from the rest of Nintendo's familiar fare. It's the perfect series for bold, brash personalities. 2017's 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Splatoon 2 kept that success going, offering a new story, expanded game modes, and, most importantly, -a whole new set of maps on which to get down and inky.

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Whether you're relaxing with a few rounds of Turf War (in which case you're likely playing by yourself so 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:here's hoping Splatoon 3 has a party function) or going tentacle-to-tentacle in Ranked or League Battle, Splatoon 2's maps offer a wide variety of strategic possibilities and fun, funky themes. But which map is the freshest, and which is the pits?

24 ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ Kelp Dome: A Rather Bland Map From The 🍰Original Splatoon

The Kelp Dome map in Splatoon 2, covered in ink

Kelp Dome is a returning map from the original Splatoon, so you'd think it would have to be fun to warrant inclusion. Sadly, it's rather limited. It's cramped, there's almost no verticality, and its walls are mostly un-inkable; it forces you into close quarters without means of escape. Fromꦫ its tight, flat layout to its lack of paths across the map, Kelp Dome is a boring slog, and perhaps the worst that Spla🤪toon 2 has to offer.

23 Moray Towers: Deceptively Big, Disappointingly🌌 Restrictive 🔥

The Splatoon 2 map Moray Towers, lit up by city lights at night

Moray Towers is another returning map from the original Splatoon. Its big, vertiginous layout is pretty interesting, and its inclusion in 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Super Smash Bros. Ultimate makes it one of the most iconic maps of all. Sadly, because it's basically a bunch of bridges smushed together, it's both huge and restrictive, lacking in strategic possiblities.

22 🌳 Shellendorf Institute: Ruined By Its Roofᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ

A low view of Shellendorf Institute map in Splatoon 2, showing its glass roof

Shellendorf Institute's museum theme is really cool, expanding Splatoon's lore (which 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:the mysterious Splatoon 3 looks likely to build on). As a map to play on, though, it's ruined by its central feature: its un-inkable glass roof. Un-inkable terrain can add tension by slowing you down, but this glass section is too big and too prominent. On top of which, because it's see-through, it overprivileges long-range players. The resulting matches can en💜d up distinctly unbalanced.

21 Walleye Warehouse: One Straight Line Makes For One Boring Map 💛

Inkling takes long-range shot at foe across the Walleye Warehouse map in Splatoon 2

Walleye Warehouse isn't technically bad, but it's one of the least interesting maps in Splatoon 2. Its layout is a straight line with few frills, so matches here get boring quickly. While handling other people's parcels and deliveries is interesting in 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Death Stranding, it's not an exciting theme for combat. Walleye is boring from every angle. It's something different, but rather bland in concept and execution.

20 P✨ort Mackerel: Another Returning Splatoon Map Not Spiced Up 𝐆Enough

Shipping containers and inky sponges on the Port Mackerel map from Splatoon 2

Of the three harbor-themed maps in the game, Port Mackerel is probably the worst. It returns from the original Splatoon with a few updates, like the sponges and inkrails that dot the map; these bring variety, and they're definitely appreciated.

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However, Port Mackerel's boring layout is a problem: it's three straight corridors squished together with 90-degree corners.

19 Arow𝔉ana Mall: A Choke Point Souring A Stylish Stage

The Arowana Mall map from Splatoon 2, with colored ink on the ground

Nintendo's choices of maps to bring back for the second outing leave a lot to be desired. Arowana Mall is yet another returning map from the original game. Its sunny vibe is immaculate, and you just know these fashion-obsessed squids are scoring some sick threads after the game. Sadly, its design places a choke point in the middle of the map, discouraging movement and making matches drag.

18 ☂ Snapper Canal: An Adequat🍃e Map, But Nothing More

High view of the Snapper Canal map from Nintendo's 2017 game Splatoon 2, showing a train passing by

There's nothing bad about Snapper Canal. It's a decent map, with a relatively open layout and plenty of cover. The issue is that its theme is completely nondescript, and the elements that are supposed to add nuance and strategy (like the insta-kill water at the edges) often end up simply being annoying. It's just adequate, and that's the problem.

17 Humpback Pump Track: A Fun Design, But Lacking Balance 𒅌 ♔

Inkling fires machine gun at enemy on the Humpback Pump Track map in Splatoon 2

Here's where the maps start getting more fun. Humpback Pump Track (say that five times fast) has a cool energy and plenty of elevation changes, which can create fun encounters. However, all of its twisty paths lead back to the center of the map, meaning that it's hard to dislodge the opposing team if they get control of it first. Ultimately, Humpback isn't balanced.

16 🏅 Starfish Mainstage: Balanced, But Boring

Inklings battling on the Starfish Mainstage map in Splatoon 2

Starfish Mainstage's theme is cool in theory, and the map design is well-balanced overall. However, it falls into a similar category as Snapper Canal - decent, but unspectacular. It doesn't take full advantage of its concept, consisting mostly of flat spaces and short ramps. The only strategic possibilities here revolve around your choice of 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:which weapon to use.

15 Blackbelly Skatepark: A Small But Mighty M👍ap

The Blackbelly Skatepark map in Splatoon 2, covered in ink

The smaller of Splatoon 2's extreme sports-themed maps, Blackbelly Skatepark edges out Humpback Pump Track because it's balanced better - the center is harder to control, and there are several ways to sneak around the edges. Its layout has plenty of verticality in a tight space, which makes it feel like it could be in 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. Unfortunately, that tight space is just a little ൲too 🧸tight.