Orbitals Reviews
Orbitals is an absolutely stunning love letter to classic anime, perfectly capturing a beloved 20th-century aesthetic and delivering an engaging and beautifully told narrative to boot. Beyond its visuals, it lets you and a mate explore an intriguing intergalactic universe and wield a fun array of space-tech to get through each of its tight puzzle-platforming sequences. It’s joyful, stylistic, heaps of fun, and doesn’t outstay its welcome – a perfect excuse to cuddle up on the couch with a loved one.
Orbitals is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive that takes inspiration from the foundation laid out by Hazelight Studios, elevating the resurgence of co-op-based experiences to new and exciting heights.
Orbitals is a fantastic game that uses its inspirations to the highest degree. The art design and aesthetic are a true triumph. Interlacing the cooperative video game genre with the themes of 80s and 90s mecha anime series is executed well.
Orbitals is a brisk, enjoyable interstellar romp that will perhaps, at the end of the day, be more fondly remembered for its authentic approach to vintage Japanese animation than its ability to bring friends together. That's not to say it doesn't succeed as a co-op puzzler-it does-although I think it falls a hair short of its contemporaries in terms of chaotic creativity and scope.
Unfortunately, at least for Orbitals, art alone doesn't guarantee excellence. Despite its spectacular sci-fi production design and anime aesthetic, the game falls just short of greatness.
Orbitals is a small gem that demonstrates how, to create a great cooperative game, you don't need to reinvent the wheel; you just need to remember why we love playing together.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Orbitals is visually distinctive and plays a lot like It Takes Two. While it still falls some way short of the genre's greats, it is nevertheless a very solid two-player co-op game.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
Short and sweet and gorgeous to boot, this co-op adventure while brief actually outshines the two games it takes inspiration from.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Although its artistic direction and gameplay are both a lot of fun, the fact that it never properly explains why any of this is happening unfortunately keeps Orbitals from becoming a truly memorable game. That said, I think the team has a very bright future ahead of them. If they don't hit the jackpot this time, I'm sure they'll knock it out of the park next time.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
*Rhythm Heaven Groove* has everything needed to delight and satisfy those players who, quarter after quarter, kept their fingers crossed—hoping against hope—that the franchise’s revival would finally make a surprise appearance in a Nintendo Direct.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Like It Takes Two and Split Fiction, Switch 2 exclusive Orbitals is a co-op only experience that demands players work as a team. And while it's not quite as finely-tuned or inventive as Hazelight's titles, it's still a great deal of fun to play.
Orbitals is a thoroughly enjoyable co-op adventure which, rather than constantly bombarding players with new mechanics, places greater emphasis on puzzles, communication and working together to find solutions. The gameplay is simpler and less varied than in It Takes Two or Split Fiction, but the ability to swap roles freely, the brilliant world design and the inventive use of the available tools mean that two players can have a really good time together. It’s just a shame that the adventure ends so quickly and doesn’t offer much in the way of replay value, as Shapefarm has created a very solid offering for fans of co-op games.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Playing Orbitals is like stepping into a classic anime, packed full of the soft tones and expressiveness of the era. With strong animation credentials and traditional processes behind the concept, there's a genuine heart and authenticity to this world. Clever co-operative play, fun set pieces and a curious mystery at the heart of the story tie this sci-fi tale together well. Slightly rushed and occasionally fiddly at times, but certainly worth blasting through to discover the fate of these new protagonists. Grab a friend, pop the TV on and live out those Saturday morning shows in style together.
Orbitals is a charming co-op adventure that stands out thanks to its stunning retro-anime aesthetic and a great variety of puzzles that steadily increase in difficulty. While its story isn't quite as compelling as it could have been, it delivers a polished, carefully crafted experience that proves you don't have to reinvent an entire genre to make something genuinely good.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
A fantastic cooperative action-adventure game that follows in the footsteps of Hazelight's genre-defining titles, yet carves out its own distinct identity thanks to its artistic direction inspired by Japanese animation and the wonderful sense of freedom it offers in controlling the two characters.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Despite its presentation, Orbitals fails to live up to the high expectations set when we first encountered it; nevertheless, it fulfills its purpose as a cooperative game designed to be enjoyed with friends. We found the story somewhat dull and certain mechanics feel overly simplistic, but the cooperative gameplay provided enough great moments to make the 8-to-12-hour adventure an enjoyable experience.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Orbitals is enjoyable to play, looks good, and features puzzles that are all quite manageable. It is, however, a game that requires you to play with someone else. If that’s not an issue for you, then you’ll get a lot of enjoyment out of it. It should be noted, though, that the story isn’t always particularly engaging. Otherwise, it’s a really great game to play on the Nintendo Switch 2.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Orbitals is simply the perfect couch co-op title for the upcoming autumn. With its great visuals, charm and heart the game captivates you from the very first minute and makes you lose track of time. The gameplay is equally entertaining for experienced and less skilled players alike, making it fun for everyone regardless of skill level. So grab a friend, hunker down together on the next rainy weekend and dive into this ultra-cool space adventure.
Review in German | Read full review
Orbitals is a short, straightforward cooperative adventure. At times, I felt we could have explored this crafted cosmic world a bit more—perhaps precisely because its meticulous design leaves you wanting more. The animations and overall aesthetic elevate the entire package, making it a must-play two-player adventure—whether you’re looking to spend quality time with someone else or want to feel like you’ve stepped back in time to watch an anime from your childhood.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Orbitals is a charming cooperative adventure and an excellent example of what a strong art direction can bring to a game, even if repetition and some of its objectives hurt the overall pacing.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review