Which I really don't understand. They can't own the concept of capture the flag and other games like that. Crash Bandicoot used to have a similar game where you bounce on squares to change them to your color, something I've seen in other games too.
but Splatoon has a fairly unique game mechanic, being able to swim through ink that you shoot being the primary one. That seems like something Nintendo could easily sue over.
When life gives you oranges, don’t make orange juice. Make life take the oranges back! Get mad! I don’t want your damn oranges, what the hell am I supposed to do with these? Demand to see life’s manager! Make life rue the day it thought it could give Anon oranges! Do you know who I am? I’m the man who’s gonna burn your house down! With the oranges! I’m gonna get my engineers to invent a combustible orange that burns your house down!