Engage in some friendly competition at the 2017 SDCC Nintendo Lounge

Nintendo is calling fans of all ages to check out the Nintendo Lounge at San Diego Comic-Con, which is open to everyone, no Comic-Con badge required. While in past years, the lounge has been something of a free for all, with various different areas and places to sit, this year sees a more streamlined layout, and a focus on friendly competition. Splatoon 2 stands out as the star of the lounge, with two playing areas, matches projected onto a huge canvas, and a live narrator for tournaments. Kids and squids line up for a chance to get a hands on on experience before the game releases this Friday. (You can check out our review of it here)

Competitive types can take part in the Nintendo Play challenge, a tournament where players can prove themselves masters of not one, not two, but three games. Each day, the lounge will host several multi-game tournaments, starting participants off in an eight player turf war in Splatoon 2. The winning team will then take up their Joy-Cons and compete against each other in Armz. The two winners will then go head to head in Pokkén Tournament DX winner take all match.

Fans can also play a number of Nintendo games, including Super Mario Odyssey, place themselves in the world of Splatoon with props and a green screen, and take pictures with several beloved Nintendo characters, including Pikachu, Mario, and the Squid Kids. The lounge also provides a first look at the new SNES Mini, the first time the console has been on display.

The Nintendo Lounge is located inside the San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina and is open to the public, no Comic-Con badge required. The Play Nintendo Challenge will be open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on July 20 and July 21, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on July 23. You can learn more about the lounge at Nintendo’s site.