How to Play Salmon Run with Friends in Splatoon 3

It took until the third game in Nintendo’s newest series to make it easier to play with friends! This page of IGN’s Splatoon 3 wiki guide shows you how to play multiplayer Splatoon 3 with your friends. Before we talk about how multiplayer works with LAN, we’ll talk about how multiplayer works with LAN. You won’t be able to play with other people when the game first comes out, but that will change in a future update.

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Salmon Run is one of the most popular co-op modes in Splatoon 3. Teaming up with friends to take on hordes of Salmonid bosses is a blast. However the game doesn’t make it obvious how to squad up with your buddies for Salmon Run.

In this guide I’ll walk you through the steps for gathering your crew and jumping into Grizzco as a team

Prerequisites for Playing Salmon Run Co-op

Before you can play with friends, make sure everyone has

  • A copy of Splatoon 3
  • A Nintendo Switch Online membership
  • Unlocked the mode by reaching level 4 and completing the tutorial
  • Added each other as Switch friends

Up to 4 players can participate in a Salmon Run at one time. You’ll also want to coordinate playing together so everyone is online at the same time.

Starting a Salmon Run Lobby as Host

To create a Salmon Run room that friends can join:

  1. Go to Grizzco and interact with Mr. Grizz
  2. Press L to open the matchmaking menu
  3. Use left or right on the D-pad to select “With Friends”
  4. Choose Freelance or Private Job as the mode you want
  5. Press Y to create a room

You’ll now see a lobby with your name as the host. Friends can search for your room and join it.

Setting a Room Password

It’s a good idea for the host to set a 4-digit password for the room. This prevents random players from joining and reserves spots for your friends.

To set a password:

  1. Press Y on Create Room screen to pull up room settings
  2. Select Password and enter a 4-digit code
  3. Share the password with your friends joining the lobby

Joining a Salmon Run Room

For other players to join the host’s Salmon Run room:

  1. Have all participating Players press the L Button, then select Salmon Run
  2. Player 1’s name should appear on the screen. Select the name
  3. If Player 1 has set a PIN to join, enter the 4-digit code when prompted
  4. Select Yeah! to enter Player 1’s Lobby

Once everyone joins, the host can launch the matchmaking search. You’ll be guaranteed to play together since you joined the same room.

Matchmaking as a Salmon Run Team

The host starts matchmaking by pressing + after all friends have joined the room. You’ll then search for a game together and be placed on the same crew!

Some tips for playing Salmon Run as a team:

  • Use voice chat to call out boss locations and coordinate reviving
  • Stick together to take out tough bosses like Steelheads
  • Have roles like egg collector, medic, boss killer to divide duties
  • Call out if you need help or are in danger of going down

Playing with good communication makes runs much smoother. You’ll likely achieve higher bonuses and championships as an organized crew.

What Happens if You Get Separated?

If players ready up at different times between games, you may get split across multiple crews. Make sure everyone presses + simultaneously to continue together.

You’ll also get separated if someone disconnects or exits the lobby. As long as the room stays open, you can rejoin between runs. The host will need to re-invite if the room closes.

Salmon Run shifts change every 24 hours. So you may need to remake the room when a new work day starts. As long as one player stays in the lobby, others can rejoin after each shift switch.

Playing Again With the Same Team

When your Salmon Run is complete, you’ll get a summary of bonuses and rankings. Before this ends, the host can press Y to keep the room open. All players who press + after this will return to the same lobby for the next run.

Keeping the room open is the easiest way to stick with your squad for multiple games. Just be sure everyone continues together when the round ends.

Alternate Method: Joining Through Friends List

There is one other way to play Salmon Run co-op with Switch friends:

  1. In the Grizzco menu, select Matchmaking
  2. Choose With Friends instead of Freelance
  3. Pick a friend currently playing Salmon Run to join

This works but won’t always put you on the same crew. Creating or joining a room is better for staying together.

Team Up for Grizzco Success

how to play salmon run with friends

Playing with Friends – Using Rooms

Someone needs to make a team for you and your friend(s) if you want to be on the same team. To create a room, open the lobby menu, select the friends tab, and press Y. You can set up a password if you’d like to allow only certain friends. Without a password, any friend will be able to join. Once everyone enters the room, select ready to set it up and play. Rooms can consist of two, three, or four players (including yourself).

It’s also possible to let all of your friends know that you have an open room. Friend notifications will appear in the lobby. You can walk up to them and select to join. This message may have been sent several minutes ago, though, so the room may not be there or be full by the time you find it. We believe the best way is to look at the friends list in the lobby menu, which is always being updated.

Online Multiplayer with Friends

Before you can partner up in Anarchy Battles or Turf War, you’ll need to get a few things ready. Anyone wanting to play Splatoon 3 online must have a Nintendo Switch Online membership. Secondly, you cannot find or join friends online until you’ve played your very first introductory Turf War match. This allows you to reach level 2 and access the lobby terminal. Once you create your Splashtag at the lobby terminal, you’re finally free to match up with friends!.

How to Use Splatoon 3 POOLS (MULTIPLAYER UPDATE)

FAQ

Can you play Salmon Run with friends Splatoon 2?

Salmon Run: 2 – 4 Players (Local Multi-Card Play) Team up for co-op fun and defeat waves of enemy Salmonids. From Inkopolis Square, press the X Button to bring up the menu, then select The Shoal in the Map section.

How to play 2 player in Splatoon 3?

Walk into the battle pot (next to the lobby terminal). Toggle the group settings between Solo and With Friends using the left and right directions on the Left Stick. Select Anarchy Battle (Open). If playing with friends, you can create a room for others to join by pressing the Y Button.

Why can’t I join my friend in Splatoon 3?

You can only join a friend if they’re currently playing a match. If they are just standing in the lobby, or are in the middle of searching for a match themselves, you cannot join them. You can also check if friends are online by accessing Splatnet 3 using the Nintendo Switch Online app on a smart device.

How do you play salmon run with friends?

Salmon Run is not so different from Turf Battles. When in the menu to freelance, hit the right button to move right, and “with friends” should appear on the menu. Once again, one player can make a room while up to three others can join. There is one other method for playing Turf Battles with friends.

How many players can join a salmon run game?

*While playing with more than 8 players, any additional players must be spectators. **A maximum of four players can join one Salmon Run game. Which game mode do you want to play?

How do you start a salmon run?

Mr. Grizz will teach you the basics of Salmon Run and give you an idea of what you’re up against. Accept a Freelance Job and team up with random players or your friends to start a Salmon Run! You’ll need to fight hordes of Salmonids in 3 waves, and you’ll need to splat them to collect the Power Eggs that they drop.

Does salmon run have split-screen multiplayer?

Split-screen multiplayer is not available. The available multiplayer modes depend on how many players you intend to group up with, and how you intend to connect with them. *While playing with more than 8 players, any additional players must be spectators. **A maximum of four players can join one Salmon Run game.

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