Orbitals

In Orbitals, players team up and take on the roles of Maki and Omura. They must work together to venture into space and save their homeworld from a cosmic storm. The story throws players abruptly into the action and lacks background information, particularly in the first half. However, the central characters are vividly and charmingly written. Players traverse caves, manoeuvre their spaceship through asteroid fields, search for reactor cassettes, compete in minigames, and overcome obstacles using the Scrap Hook, Liquid Launcher, Beam Cannon, and other tools and skills.

In order to solve puzzles and master platforming sections, players must skilfully combine and coordinate their equipment. The puzzles and mechanics force players to communicate actively with each other and work as a team. Neither character feels like an insignificant 'sidekick', partly because on board the spaceship, which serves as a means of transport and a base between missions, players can swap equipment and tools, and the tasks associated with them. During flight sequences, one player takes control of the ship while the other operates the laser cannons – effective teamwork is essential here, too.

It's similar to Hazelight's It Takes Two or Split Fiction. Sometimes one player has to clear the way for the other, and then the players must work together to steer a flying platform by shifting their weight, redirect beams of light using mirrors or press buttons in time to the rhythm. Most of the puzzles and tasks are visualised clearly. The game also makes use of changes in perspective, so the third-person adventure occasionally turns into a side-scrolling platformer. While many of the puzzles and tasks are well designed, some require a bit of a 'lightbulb moment'. However, sometimes game mechanics are introduced too quickly and then dropped again. Also, the camera behaviour is not always optimal. Many checkpoint locations are well chosen, but not all of them. The gameplay is fundamentally good, and thanks to the characters it is extremely lively. However, compared to Hazelight's games, it feels a bit rough around the edges in places, and not quite as well balanced, especially given that the campaign is rather short at well under ten hours.

Designed from the ground up for two-player asymmetric co-op, either locally in split-screen mode (vertical split) or online via GameShare, Orbitals rewards teamwork and clear communication. Those who purchase the full version also receive a Global Friends Pass, which enables them to play the co-op adventure with someone who doesn't own the game. If a player has a Global Friends Pass, they simply need to receive an invitation from someone with the full version of the game (Orbitals: Global Friend's Pass in Nintendo Store), enabling both players to experience the entire adventure together. A Switch Online membership is required for online co-op.

But what really stands out is the audiovisual design. Drawing inspiration from retro anime from the early ‘90s, the game is set in an original world styled in the classic Japanese anime tradition. Developed using Unreal Engine 5, the game uses hand-drawn textures and reduced character animations to replicate the classic animated look and feel, while ensuring that the game runs smoothly. The cutscenes were created in partnership with the animation studio, Studio Massket.

Orbitals is the first original game from Shapefarm, a Tokyo-based company. Kepler Interactive is publishing it. The London-based video game company is known for Pacific Drive, Sifu, Rematch, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. As well as its gaming portfolio, Kepler's creative studio aims to bring games to life through areas such as art, fashion, music, architecture and design. Nintendo is distributing the physical boxed version of the game.

Orbitals was released on 3 September 2026, exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2. It is priced at €39.99 for the Standard Edition and €49.99 for the Deluxe Edition, which includes a digital art book, digital soundtrack, two character costumes and two spaceship skins. The game features localised voice acting in English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, French, Spanish, Latin American Spanish, German, and Brazilian Portuguese.

Conclusion

Orbitals is a fun co-op-only adventure featuring lively characters and a unique audiovisual style with a retro anime look. However, it is slightly too short and a bit rough around the edges.

Features

• Unique audiovisual style inspired by retro anime from the early '90s
• Designed specifically for two-player co-op
• Lots of mini-games and creative ways to interact