Splatoon 2 Guide: How to Play with Friends

Splatoon 2 may have a fun and fresh single player campaign, but the multiplayer is where people will really put in the hours. While playing with random people is fine, and even a lot more enjoyable here thanks to the lack of voice chat and the short, less serious matches, people like playing with their friends. The game has a few ways to do this, but it kind of hides them a little bit, so here’s our guide on how to play with friends in Splatoon 2.

The quickest and easiest way is right there in the lobby. As you load up for some online multiplayer you can choose the usual options, or instead go for “Friends”. This menu will show you other players you have already added to your Friends list who are currently playing Splatoon 2. Here you can team up and hop online for some multiplayer action.

The alternative, and less desirable method, is to use Nintendo’s cumbersome app. Teaming up here will let you use voice chat, but not in any way you’ve likely experienced over the last decade. Sure, it works, but maybe Splatoon 2 just plays better without talking to others, because this app is annoying.

By either opening the app and teaming up there or by choosing Online Lounge you can team up inside of the app. Be sure to keep it open or you’ll be booted out, so no texting and Splatoon 2. This also lets you voice chat with a separate headset, but the game sound won’t play here, so it’s kind of silly and useless in a lot of ways.

How to play with friends in Splatoon 2 is sort of an unfortunate question, and the answer won’t satisfy most players. You can team up and take on other players, but it just doesn’t work all that well. Give these methods a shot, and if you’ve noticed any quicker and easier ways to do it be sure to shout it out in the comments below.