Inkopolis Square

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For the hub of other Splatoon games, see hub.
Inkopolis Square in Inkopolis.

Inkopolis Square is the main hub of Splatoon 2 and an unlockable hub in Wave 2 of Splatoon 3: Expansion Pass.

Splatoon 2

Inkopolis Square is much smaller compared to Splatoon's Inkopolis Plaza. The Square is populated with Inklings and Octolings which the player has played multiplayer matches with or with players who have posted drawings to social media. When interacting with them, the player can see their level, their ranked mode with the highest rank or power, recent played weapon, and turf inked points with it. The player is also able to order certain gear worn recently by others and give "Freshes" to drawings. Posts may also come in the form of graffiti seen around the Square. Naturally, other players can post drawings to social media as well. Posted drawings may be shown on other players' games. Around the back of the Square is a "spawn point" where the player is spawned. The hub features two animal statues, a turtle and a paper crane.

Easter eggs

  • Like with the Inkopolis News Studio from Splatoon, if the player holds their cursor over Pearl and Marina in the studio, they wave at the player. The wave animation is different depending on if the player is an Inkling or an Octoling.
  • To the eastern side of the square, through the grating, Inkopolis Tower can be seen off in the distance, without the Great Zapfish.
  • Murch can be heard playing Squid Jump on his phone.
  • Behind Murch, Spyke can be seen inside a café using a laptop.
  • Above the Salmon Run headquarters are pieces of artwork. Two of them are clear references to the musical productions Wicked and Phantom of the Opera.
  • The exterior of Ye Olde Cloth Shoppe is similar to the 1500 Broadway building.
  • If the player goes over to the place where the sign for Ye Olde Cloth Shoppe on the building is, they can hear City of Color's melody faintly playing.
  • The Crust Bucket plays the Shrimp Kicks version of Lookin' Fresh from Splatoon.
  • If one walks towards the Salmon Run entrance and takes a left near where rewards can be redeemed, there is a blue crate in a trash pile that looks identical to the crate that Judd slept on in Splatoon.
  • Version 3.1.0 added some additional graffiti and small cosmetic objects in the square around the entrance to the Deepsea Metro, such as the round name tags and blobfish smiley stickers frequently present in the Octo Expansion, as well as two Kamabo Corporation posters, an employee-model CQ-80, and two CQ cards.
    • Several octopus-related objects could also be found around the entrance to the Metro, such as posters, name tags, graffiti, and pixel art of octopuses that aren't present in other parts of the square.
  • If the player walks near the area where the Inkopolis News Studio and The Shoal are and waits for a little, they can hear a small part of Ebb & Flow.
  • If the player looks behind the amiibo box, an image of the Inkling Girl amiibo from Splatoon 2 is visible.
  • Near the amiibo box is a protest sign from Sunken Scroll 11, protesting against the change in special weapons, with an Inkzooka visible.

Splatoon 3

Inkopolis Square is an unlockable alternate hub world in Wave 2 of Splatoon 3: Expansion Pass. After completing Side Order, it can be accessed through the train station found in Splatsville or Inkopolis Plaza. The train station in Inkopolis Square is located behind where the player initially spawns, opposite Deca Tower; its placement has caused the amiibo box to be relocated to the lower-right corner of the square, next to a newly added recon Staff.

The square remains largely unchanged from Splatoon 2. The Crust Bucket is no longer parked here due to Crusty Sean being on his Wandercrust tour, with a new, non-interactive food truck staffed by a jellyfish in its place; the Squid Beatz 2 machine is also absent. All of the Galleria's shops return (with Ammo Knights now being run by Donny), as does Grizzco Industries. Iso Padre replaces Spyke in the coffee shop next to Murch.

Having completed their world tour, Off the Hook returns to Inkopolis Square, and occupy the Inkopolis News Studio as in Splatoon 2. Like the Squid Sisters, they no longer host Inkopolis News, but will still wave at the player if they peek in their window using first-person long enough. Off the Hook no longer has a unique reaction for Octoling player characters; since the player can choose their species from the beginning, they are treated as always being Agent 3. Instead, Off the Hook will use the "Octoling" greeting towards the player once the Spire of Order has been cleared with Agent 8's Palette. Additionally, Pearl and Marina are now audible through the glass when speaking to each other and when greeting the player.

A terminal for accessing Hotlantis (identical to the one in Inkopolis Plaza) has been added next to Ye Olde Cloth Shoppe, while a Tableturf Battle Dojo is now present in the alleyway that once housed the entrance to the Deepsea Metro. The construction site at the back of the square has been cleared up, and in its place is a small picnic area and skate park populated by some jellyfish.

Side Order

The Order Sector in Side Order.
Main article: Order Sector

A virtual version of Inkopolis Square known as the Order Sector is the main setting of Side Order. [1] It was created by Marina as part of the Memverse and heavily resembles its inspiration, but drained of color, full of bleached coral-like structures, and inhabited by strange creatures resembling protozoa. The Spire of Order replaces Deca Tower here.

Locations

Crust Bucket

The Crust Bucket
Main article: Crust Bucket

In Splatoon 2, the Crust Bucket is located just behind the spawn point. This food truck is run by Crusty Sean. Here, the player can purchase food and drinks with tickets that give bonuses for the player's next twenty multiplayer battles. Since the Crust Bucket is not accessible through the menu, unlike other shops, the player has to walk to it manually to purchase a snack or a drink.

In Splatoon 3, the Crust Bucket is no longer present, having been scrapped in Mincemeat Metalworks at some point prior to Crusty Sean's Wandercrust tour. It is replaced with a different food truck that cannot be interacted with.

Deca Tower

Main article: Deca Tower

Deca Tower is located to the far north side of the Square, serving as the lobby, allowing the player to access online battles. Judd and Li'l Judd are just left of the tower's entrance and give the player helpful tips and other rewards. Just to the right of the entrance is Murch, who helps the player with all things gear-related. Before Splatfests, a stage being built above the entrance can be seen. During Splatfests, Murch, Judd, and Li'l Judd can be found in the middle of the Square instead and Off the Hook can be seen on the stage. When the Great Zapfish is rescued, it can be seen curled around the top of Deca Tower. The lobby can also be accessed through the menu.

In Splatoon 3, Judd and Li'l Judd are no longer present, and Judd sleeps inside the lobby like in Splatsville and Inkopolis Plaza. Murch is found in the same location as in Splatoon 2. The Great Zapfish is still curled around the top of Deca Tower.

Deepsea Metro

Main article: Deepsea Metro

The Deepsea Metro is a subway system running deep beneath the sea in Inkopolis Bay that serves as the hub area for the Octo Expansion. The entrance of the Deepsea Metro is located to the northeast of the spawn point, by Murch. The Deepsea Metro can also be accessed through the menu. Players that do not own the downloadable content are not allowed to enter, though.

The Deepsea Metro is inaccessible in Splatoon 3: Expansion Pass, and the alley where it was once accessed is now occupied by Inkopolis Square's Tableturf Battle Dojo.

Tableturf Battle Dojo

Main article: Tableturf Battle Dojo

In Splatoon 3: Expansion Pass, a Tableturf Battle Dojo has been set up in the alley that used to provide entrance to the Deepsea Metro.

Galleria

The Galleria
Main article: Galleria

The Galleria is found to the west of the spawn point. It is a row of shops that contains the gear and weapon vendors. Just like in the previous game, there are four shops (five in Splatoon 3, counting the Hotlantis terminal), with each having a shopkeeper:

Splatoon 2
A shop run by Sheldon where the player can purchase main weapons.
A shop run by Flow and Craymond where the player can purchase headgear.
A shop run by Jelfonzo where the player can purchase clothing.
A shop run by Bisk where the player can purchase shoes.
Splatoon 3
A shop run by Donny where the player can purchase main weapons.
A shop run by Flow and Craymond where the player can purchase headgear.
A shop run by Jelfonzo where the player can purchase clothing.
A shop run by Bisk where the player can purchase shoes.
A terminal next to Ye Olde Clothes Shoppe provides access to this Splatsville-based general store run by Harmony, where the player can purchase locker decorations.

Each shop can also be accessed through the menu.

Grizzco Industries

Grizzco Industries when they are not hiring.
Main article: Grizzco Industries

Grizzco Industries' headquarters are found to the northwest of the spawn point. This is a shop where the player can play Salmon Run and Salmon Run Next Wave. Grizzco can also be accessed through the menu.

In Splatoon 2, Grizzco may be open or closed depending on the time. When the shop is closed, a message can be read for the player to come another time. Next to the entrance is a counter from which the player can claim their rewards for playing Salmon Run. Unlike any other instance, when the player is inside the shop and exits out by pressing , they spawn in front of the shop.

In Splatoon 3: Expansion Pass, Grizzco is always open. The reward claim counter has been moved inside for consistency with Splatsville and Inkopolis Square, and the window where it was once accessed is now covered by a blue tarp.

Inkopolis Studio

Inkopolis News Studio
Main article: Inkopolis News Studio

Inkopolis' studio has a television, used to display battle stages, Marina's turntable, microphones to amplify Pearl and Marina's voices when hosting the news, along with posters resembling Pearl and Marina's talk icons. The upper floor is empty, although it has a poster with an Inkling girl on its walls. It has an arrow-shaped sign on the window that reads 'On Air'. The Off the Hook live news logo can be found suspended from the ceiling on the back wall. Inkopolis Studio is not accessible, as it cannot be entered or viewed through the map. The name 'Inkopolis Studio' is something that has not been specifically named and could be conjectural, as the name is simply based on the pop idols inside possibly using it as a studio, and the 'On Air' signs they display, similar to a real studio.

In Splatoon 3, several posters of Pearl and Marina performing with Damp Socks have been put up on the walls of the studio.

Octo Canyon

Main article: Octo Canyon (location)

Octo Canyon is a hidden location near Inkopolis Square. A manhole northwest of the spawn point leads to it. The manhole has a Cuttlegear flyer on it. One of the Squid Sisters, Marie, can be seen on the manhole, but when the player approaches her, she will drop down, revealing her squid form slightly. The player can follow her by stepping onto the manhole and then pressing . Octo Canyon serves as the setting of the single-player mode of Splatoon 2 with the same name. Octo Canyon can also be accessed through the menu.

In Splatoon 3: Expansion Pass, Octo Canyon is no longer accessible; the wire mesh manhole has been replaced with an ordinary metal one.

The Shoal

Main article: The Shoal

The Shoal is located to the east of the spawn point. This is an amusement arcade where local multiplayer is available. Exclusively in Splatoon 2, the arcade machine can be found just outside of it and is where the player can play Squid Beatz 2. The Shoal can also be accessed through the menu.

Train Station

In Splatoon 3: Expansion Pass only, there is an underground train station at the back of the square that the player can use to travel to Splatsville, Inkopolis Plaza, and the Order Sector. It is located where the amiibo box was in Splatoon 2.

Splatfest

Inkopolis Square during the Mayo vs. Ketchup (2020) Splatfest

During a Splatfest in Splatoon 2, it became nighttime in Inkopolis Square. Similarly to the previous game, the Square is decorated with colored lights and lanterns, small team-colored sparks rising from the ground, and neon signs and fireworks with spray-painted posts in the different teams' ink colors, it took on a much more festive tone. In front of Deca Tower, Off the Hook performed Color Pulse on a stage. Post Octo Expansion, Jellyfish, Inklings, and Octolings alike gathered in front of the stage, wearing Splatfest Tees and dancing to the music. Since players had to wear their Splatfest Tees, Jelfonzo had special dialogue informing them that they could not equip new clothing bought until after the Splatfest had ended.

Inkopolis Square undergoes most of the same changes during Splatfests in Splatoon 3, though with additional decorations like a disco ball hanging from a support structure in the middle of the square. Off the Hook's stage is larger, with square screens decorating the sides instead of diamond-shaped ones and additional effects like laser lights and flame jets. The duo performs Color Pulse (2024) and We're So Back.

Like Callie and Marie, Pearl and Marina's outfits can only take on the colors of two of the three teams at any given time, and will occasionally change colors upon reloading the square. The third team's color is represented by certain screens on their stage.

Big Run

Inkopolis Square during a Big Run

In Splatoon 3, Inkopolis Square's appearance is altered during a Big Run, similar to Splatsville and Inkopolis Plaza. Grizzco helicopters fly through the red sky overhead as fog creeps in throughout the square. The ground becomes littered with Big Run and Grizzco flyers, particularly near Grizzco Industries itself, and the TV screens over the entrances to Deca Tower and Headspace display the same looping Big Run bulletins as in the other hubs.

Due to an oversight, most details that change color during Splatfests are missing from Inkopolis Square during a Big Run, most notably the origami crane statue on top of The Shoal, but also including the sign over the entrance to The Shoal, the pink frame on the screen over the entrance to Headspace, the squid phone-shaped frame on one of the screens on Deca Tower, the small ground bumps in the skate park area, and the tortoise statue's neckband. With the frame around the Headspace screen going missing, the stickers attached to it now appear to be floating in midair.

Quotes

Splatoon 2

Welcome to Inkopolis Square, the new nerve center of Inkling culture. That's Deca Tower there in front of you! One of the tallest buildings in all of Inkopolis! There's a lobby on the first floor of Deca Tower for online battles! Over here, we've got the Galleria, Inkopolis's most popular shopping center. Here you can buy the freshest gear and weapons to use in battle. But the shops are pretty exclusive, and they won't serve you if you're not fresh enough! Uh... What else? Oh, that creepy shop back there. Rumor has it they're hiring for some sketchy job. Might wanna think twice before you apply there... unless you really need dough. That brings us to The Shoal, the coolest hangout spot in all of Inkopolis! That's where Inklings go to meet up with nearby friends for both competitive and cooperative play. And next we have– HUH?! Who's that mysterious squid back there? It almost looks like... No, she'd never hang out in a place like this. And those clothes... Yeah, must be someone else. Uhh... Is it just me, or does that alleyway seem a little...fishy? Yeah, definitely something fishy going on over there. Probably best to ignore it. Anyway, you should check out the lobby of Deca Tower. That's where you can get your splat on!
— After finishing the tutorial and watching Inkopolis News for the first time.

Splatoon 3

Welcome to Inkopolis Square, the new nerve center of Inkling culture. That's Deca Tower there in front of you! One of the tallest buildings in all of Inkopolis! There's a lobby on the first floor of Deca Tower for online battles! Over here, we've got the Galleria, Inkopolis's most popular shopping center. Here you can buy the freshest gear and weapons to use in battle. But the shops are pretty exclusive, and they won't serve you if you're not fresh enough! Uh...what else? Oh, that creepy shop back there. Rumor has it they're hiring for some sketchy job. Might wanna think twice before you apply there...unless you really need dough. That brings us to the Shoal, the coolest hangout spot in all of Inkopolis! It's where Inklings and Octolings meet up with nearby friends for competitive and co-op play. If you want to visit another city, you can hit up the train station here. Looks like a few residents are still spacing out... Shouldn't someone do something about that? One of the destinations from the train is the Order Sector. Be sure to check it out! And that's it! Feel free to give yourself a tour or dive straight into the strange phenomenon! Whatever you choose, enjoy Inkopolis Square!
— Entering Inkopolis Square for the first time

Gallery

Splatoon 2

Splatoon 3

Side Order

Trivia

Inkadia and the Splatlands.png
  • Inkopolis Square is two stations away from Inkopolis Plaza and twenty minutes away by foot. Before, it was an old street with poor security resulting in minor offences. A year and a half before the events of Splatoon 2, there were some redevelopments that renovated the Square, which made the place popular with the youth.[2]
  • Inkopolis Square can be seen in a map that appeared in a Splatoon 3 developer interview.
  • When using Inkopolis Square as the player's current hub in Splatoon 3, the loading screens will be colored pink and green instead of yellow and indigo, matching Splatoon 2's signature color scheme.

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning
Japan Japanese ハイカラスクエア
haikara sukuea
High-Color Square
Netherlands Dutch Inkopolisplein Inkopolis Square
Canada French (NOA) Carré de Chromapolis Inkopolis Square
France French (NOE) Square de Chromapolis Inkopolis Square
Germany German Inkopolis-Platz Inkopolis Square
Italy Italian Piazza Coloropoli Inkopolis Plaza
Russia Russian Инкопольская площадь
Inkopol'skaya ploshchad'
Inkopolis square
Mexico Spanish (NOA) Centro de Cromópolis Inkopolis Center
Spain Spanish (NOE) Plaza de Cromópolis Inkopolis Square
China Chinese (Simplified) 尚兴广场
Shàng xìng guǎngchǎng
High-Color Square
Hong Kong Chinese (Traditional) 尚興廣場
Shàng xìng guǎngchǎng
High-Color Square
Hungary Hungarian Inkopolis téren Inkopolis square
South Korea Korean 오더폴리스 스퀘어
Odeopolliseu Seukweeo
Orderpolis Square
Portugal Portuguese Praça Inkopolis Inkopolis Square

References