Orbitals Reviews
Orbitals is a stunning co-op adventure for retro anime fans (and others too, why not?) that keeps you engaged throughout the entire journey. If there’s ever a sequel, better pacing, a longer runtime, and clearer visual hints would be nice. Even so, this was quite a joyful experience!
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Immaculate anime stylings aside, Orbitals doesn't bring an awful lot to the post-It Takes Two co-op renaissance, but switch to Japanese and it's never a bad hang.
While Orbitals loses some momentum toward the end, it's a strong co-op adventure that nails the feeling of a playable ‘90s anime.
The creativity and visuals are stunning, the characters have a ton of heart, the soundtrack is an absolute banger, and the atmosphere immediately transported me to the cozy feel of an ’80s–’90s anime. If this is only the beginning for Shapefarm, the future of co-op games is bright.
Orbitals doesn't quite crash and burn, but its execution leaves a bit to be desired.
Orbitals wears its co-op inspirations on its sleeve, but it still stands out with its gorgeous art and likable heroes.
Is the anime-infused cooperative adventure all we've been looking for?
Orbitals set out to do something very specific: deliver an action-packed co-operative game while building a new world inspired by anime classics. On those two notes, it smashes it out of the park. The puzzles not only last just the right amount of time, but my friend and I were consistently delighted by the clever ways the strict set of tools were utilised, and the many fun ways you interact with this fantastically realised anime world.My main complaint is that I wanted much more of it, and while the gameplay itself feels perfectly paced, the somewhat abrupt ending only reminded me that I wished we had spent a little more time establishing the stakes and motivations of the story. Ultimately, Orbitals is a truly phenomenal co-operative title and one of the best ways to spend an evening with a friend this year. With its phenomenal visuals, thrilling mechanics, and the brilliant characters and story, this is the new high bar for co-op games.
My partner and I had a really nice time with Orbitals, and while it doesn’t quite reach the couch co-op excellence tier that Hazelight has set for the rest of the genre, it’s still a journey worth embarking on.
Orbitals pulls a lot of interesting and familiar elements into a tidy package with a charming pair of heroes and a lengthy array of challenges to put their friendship to the test.
Orbitals has become one of the greatest recent delights for the Switch 2 and is further proof that nothing beats a handcrafted game. You can tell when a game is made with love and with the player in mind, and in that sense, this experience is in a league of its own.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Stunningly beautiful in its recreation of 80s and 90s anime, Orbitals is a fun co-op adventure that doesn't quite match the best of the genre thanks to its more constrained gameplay.
Orbitals is an amazing co-op game.
While it may not quite reach the heights of the best modern co-op games, Orbitals takes that same formula, dresses it in a unique personality, and-with the same magic found in 80s and 90s anime-reminds us how wonderful it is to discover something together.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Orbitals is proof that there’s space in the co-op adventure genre for other teams to create something truly special.
Orbitals is a simply brilliant title that lives up to its pedigree. While it doesn't quite reach the design heights of Split Fiction , it constantly surprises us with fresh gameplay ideas that clearly demonstrate the unique appeal of designing a video game entirely around the concept of two players cooperating.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Orbitals is a game that wants to do well, there's no doubt about it. While Shapefarm excels in its graphics, the studio clearly aims to offer fresh co-op gameplay, even if it struggles to fully captivate us.
Review in French | Read full review
In an era where many video game experiences seem to want to convince us of their greatness through expansive worlds, increasingly complex systems, and endless amounts of content, Orbitals decides to take a completely different, more intimate path: it takes two people by the hand, places them in front of the same screen, and reminds them that, sometimes, the most memorable adventure isn't the one you experience alone, but the one that happens when two players turn to each other and, with a nod of understanding, realize they've experienced something that today, practically, almost no longer exists.
Review in Italian | Read full review
It feels like we’re still just scratching the surface of what co-op only games can be with the likes of A Way Out, Split Fiction, and now Orbitals. Orbitals is full to bursting with incredible ideas, more than it can properly execute on, but it remains an incredible, fun, and charming experience the whole way through.
Orbitals is a great bite-sized adventure that lures you in with nostalgic anime and then captures you with a wide variety of puzzle-solving gameplay.