What critics said
JsemGamer67Orbitals is a stylish co-op adventure that shines through creative two-player mechanics, smooth movement, strong retro-anime presentation, and consistently varied cooperative gameplay. Its weak story, underdeveloped characters, overly simple puzzles, sparse environments, and repetitive soundtrack keep it from reaching its full potential, but the core co-op experience remains highly enjoyable.
Eurogamer60Immaculate 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.
IGN80While Orbitals loses some momentum toward the end, it's a strong co-op adventure that nails the feeling of a playable ‘90s anime.
Orbitals news
Orbitals Review
A co-op adventure that nails the feeling of a playable ‘90s anime.
Round Up: The Reviews For Orbitals On Switch 2 Are In
A new co-op king? The review embargo for Orbitals has lifted, so we're starting to see a bunch of verdicts making their way online ahead of its Switch 2 launch on 3rd September 2026. Now, we thought it was a cracking co-op experience, and so we awarded Orbitals a score of 9/10. Here's a snippet of what reviewer Nathan Ellingsworth said in his conclusion:
Orbitals Review - Co-Op Fun With A Heaping Helping Of Anime Nostalgia
Orbitals delivers an enjoyable but very linear story filled with a wide variety of puzzles that highlight Shapefarm's ability to create a multitude of creative scenarios with just a few tools.
Review: Orbitals (Switch 2) - One Of The Best Co-Op Games Of The Year
Celestial. Every moment in Orbitals feels electrifying. From the first blast of its excellent theme song to soaring through a technicolour galaxy while firing lasers, teaming up with a pal to fix space junk and save our colony, and occasionally stopping to check out a new freaky little alien. This co-operative title moves at a breakneck pace, but not a single moment is wasted, packing thrills and chills into every second. Orbitals will leave you satisfied and stunned like a bumper anime movie at
Orbitals review
Orbitals' twin protagonists Maki and Omura have this adorable little habit. When they leave behind a tool – a ground-pound backpack or hacked microwave oven – they'll often say goodbye to it. Or sayonara, rather, if you're playing Orbitals in Japanese (as well you should; subs over dubs any day).
Nintendo Posts A New 'Creator's Voice' Video For Orbitals On Switch 2
Ahhhhhh, it looks so good. Nintendo has posted a new Creator's Voice video featuring the developer behind the upcoming co-op adventure Orbitals. Clocking in at just over 7 minutes in length, the video features a behind-the-scenes look at the inspiration and creation behind the title. It includes interviews with creative director Marcos Ramos and key animator Hidetoshi Yoshida, who explains the adventages to hand-drawn animation.
Orbitals 'Friend's Pass' Will Provide Easier Co-Op And A Free Demo
Two for one. Honestly, we thought we couldn't be more sold on Orbitals after we went hands-on with it earlier this month. The magic of GameShare meant that the Switch 2 exclusive was already going to be pretty darn accessible, but Shapefarm and Kepler Interactive have announced this week that the game will also get a 'Global Friend's Pass' app, making it even easier to play with a pal. Much like what we've seen previously with Hazelight joints It Takes Two and Split Fiction, the Global Friend's
Street Fighter And Fire Emblem Voice Actors Lead Orbitals' English Cast
Science Fiction, Double Feature. Shapefarm's upcoming anime sci-fi co-op adventure, Orbitals, is just a few months away from its 3rd September launch,exclusive to Switch 2, and we couldn't be more excited. Our early thoughts after going hands-on with the game's opening sections are now live (spoiler: we like what we've seen), and just to keep the hype train moving, publisher Kepler Interactive has revealed the game's voice cast. In English, the voice cast is helmed by Rebecca Wang and Stephen Fu
Orbitals voice cast announced, opening animation
Publisher Kepler Interactive and developer Shapefarm have announced the the international voice cast and released … Source
Orbitals May Be the Switch 2's Breakout Hit
Orbitals is a co-op game that evokes 90s anime in the best way. Even in a world of an Ocarina of Time Remake, it may be THE hit Switch 2 game this year.
Orbitals Is Like an Anime-Styled It Takes Two, and So Far We Love It | IGN Preview
Orbitals is developer Shapefarm’s first original IP game, with the goal of making a “retro anime experience for two,” as said by creative director Marcos Ramos, Orbitals’ pedigree is exceptionally promising. Jacob Lungden, Orbitals’ game director, worked as level designer and senior level designer on Hazelight’s A Way Out, It Takes Two, and Split Fiction–all well-liked two-player co-op games.
Preview: Orbitals' Cosmic Anime Co-op Made Me Feel Like A Kid Again
In space, no one can hear you SKWEEEEEE. I had to remind myself recently that it's been less than a year since we first saw Orbitals back at The Game Awards 2025. It feels like forever ago, not because the seven months since have been particularly packed — though they absolutely have — but because in that time, I don't think a day has gone by where I haven't felt excited to dive into this co-op sci-fi anime adventure. Last month, that wait came to an end. Publisher Kepler Interactive invited me
ICYMI: Switch 2's Co-Op Exclusive 'Orbitals' Is Getting A Proper Physical Release
The retro-anime adventure launches this September. This week, Sony surprised the gaming space when it announced PlayStation's disc-based physical releases would end by 2028. It has ignited all sorts of discussions about the future of physical video games, and it's also resulted in some developers taking the opportunity to promote hard copies of their own products.
Anime Co-Op Platformer 'Orbitals' Finally Picks Up A Release Date, Exclusively On Switch 2
It Takes Toon. We have been eagerly awaiting more news about Orbitals ever since it was first revealed at last year's Game Awards, and thanks to the latest Nintendo Direct, we finally have a release date. This anime co-op adventure will jump onto Switch 2 (as a console exclusive, no less) on 3rd September 2026. Yep, that's the same month as every other game, it seems.
Orbitals launches September 3
Classic retro anime-inspired cooperative adventure game Orbitals will launch for Switch 2 on September 3, … Source
New Orbitals Gameplay Trailer Makes Us Even More Excited For The Anime Co-Op Adventure
Holding space. We loved the look of Orbitals when we first locked eyes on it at The Game Awards 2025. We liked it even more when it cropped up at the February 2026 Nintendo Direct. And now, strangely enough, we're even more hooked on the idea thanks to today's new gameplay trailer. The new footage sees Creative Director Marcos Ramos and Game Director Jakob Lundgren (who previously worked with Hazelight on A Way Out, It Takes Two, and Split Fiction) team up to tackle some of the game's co-op chal
Orbitals ‘Gameplay Reveal’ trailer
Publisher Kepler Interactive and developer Shapefarm has released a four-minute gameplay trailer for classic retro … Source
With Orbitals, 80s anime, a legendary Gundam director and It Takes Two talent combine for a potential co-op smash hit
From Akira Toriyama lending his spikey-haired designs to Chrono Trigger, to Hayao Miyazaki's enduring influence on Final Fantasy's airships, anime and video games have always been intrinsically linked. Yet if we're being honest, few games have ever truly nailed the anime aesthetic. Despite some valiant attempts at cel shading over the years – we're looking at you Guilty Gear and Dragon Ball Fighterz – there's yet to be an anime equivalent of Cuphead, a game that truly feels like diving into a pl
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Roundups and stories about something else that include Orbitals.
UK Charts: Orbitals Floats Out Of The Top 10 As Last Week's Newbies Hold Down The Podium
Defying gravity. We are back with our latest look at the UK charts, and after last week's excitement with all those newcomers, it's a slightly more familiar picture this time. The wonderful Switch 2 exclusive, Orbitals (which landed in third place in its debut week, let's not forget), has drifted down to 18th this time, likely having found the majority of its audience right from the jump. The other two previous podium holders, The Blood of the Dawnwalker and Onimusha: Way of the Sword, hold down
UK Charts: Orbitals Performs Admirably, But Elden Ring Crashes Out Of The Top 40
Tarnished Edition, that is. The latest UK Charts data is in, and we have a few newcomers this week. Most notably, Switch 2 exclusive Orbitals has performed admirably, entering the charts at number 3. It falls just behind Onimusha: Way of the Sword, which expectedly sold exceedingly well on PS5, with Switch 2 making up 8% of the platform split.
Nintendo Download: 3rd September (North America)
Orbitals! Onimusha! Valheim! The latest Nintendo Download update for North America has arrived, and it's bringing new games galore to the eShop. As always, be sure to drop a vote in our poll and comment down below with your potential picks for the week. Enjoy! Switch 2 eShop - Highlights Orbitals (Kepler Interactive, 3rd Sep, $39.99) - Blast off with Maki and Omura as they brave the deadly Storm Wall and the perils beyond to save their home. This intergalactic two-player co-op adventure set in a
This Week’s Japanese Game Releases: The Blood of Dawnwalker, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Orbitals, more
The Blood of Dawnwalker for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC, Onimusha: Way of …
Nintendo Download: 27th August (North America)
MGS! Elden Ring! Orbitals! COD Beta! The latest Nintendo Download update for North America has arrived, and it's bringing new games galore to the eShop. As always, be sure to drop a vote in our poll and comment down below with your potential picks for the week. Enjoy! Switch 2 eShop - Highlights Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Open Beta (28th Aug - 1st Sep) - The next chapter in the critically acclaimed Call of Duty: Modern Warfare series launches on Oct. 23, but you can explore a variety of new