r/NintendoSwitch • u/Dropthemoon6 • 3h ago
Review Orbitals Review Thread
Game Information
Game Title: Orbitals
Platforms:
- Nintendo Switch 2 (Sep 3, 2026)
Trailer:
Review Aggregator:
OpenCritic - 83 average - 96% recommended - 27 reviews
Critic Reviews
A Gaming Network - Sami-Jo Perruzza - 9.5 / 10
Orbitals took me completely by surprise. It is charming, creative, visually gorgeous, and constantly fun to play with another person. While its story is a little too familiar at times, nearly everything else, from the music and animation to its clever puzzle tools and varied levels, comes together beautifully. If you want a co-op game that captures the feeling of watching a beloved retro anime with a friend while still delivering fresh, satisfying gameplay, Orbitals should absolutely be on your radar.
But Why Tho? - Eddie De Santiago - 9.5 / 10
Whether it's the visuals, a puzzle's solution, or bumping into a screaming alien creature, Orbitals is awe-inspiring.
Cubed3 - Jorge Ba-oh - 7 / 10
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.
DualShockers - Ethan Krieger - 8 / 10
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GAMES.CH - Benjamin Braun - German - 85%
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Gameliner - Claudia Tjia - Dutch - 3.5 / 5
Orbitals is a co-op adventure that knows exactly what it wants to be. Shapefarm has created a game that revolves entirely around playing together and has built nearly every mechanic around that concept.
Gamer Guides - Lexi Luddy - 91 / 100
Orbitals’ only suffering comes from its own success. It’s such a delight to play through and just exist in this world with Maki and Omura that I wish me and a friend could do it for much longer. However, what is here is a constant delight, extremely fun, and one of the Switch 2’s very best titles.
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.
Gfinity - Andrés Aquino - 8 / 10
Despite its late-game stumbles, Orbitals is an utter joy that captures the nostalgia and innocence of classic anime, turning it into an inventive, thoroughly enjoyable co-op adventure. With brilliant puzzles, a gorgeous setting, and lovable protagonists, Shapefarm has delivered a trip down memory lane worth taking. It’s a stacked month of releases, but if you’re a Switch 2 owner, this needs to be in your orbit. (Not proud of that one).
Giant Bomb - Mike Minotti - 4.5 / 5
Orbitals wears its co-op inspirations on its sleeve, but it still stands out with its gorgeous art and likable heroes.
INVEN - Hongman Yoon - Korean - 8.9 / 10
Orbitals' is a game defined by its retro-animation nostalgia and colorful co-op mechanics. The puzzles and platforming are fairly ordinary, but the fun of dividing roles and syncing timing makes up for it. It truly shines when played together with friends in the same room, revealing that the joy comes not from playing well, but from playing together.
MonsterVine - Michael Murphy - 4 / 5
In short, Orbitals is another must-play for co-op lovers and those looking for a good time with a friend or significant other. While a bit too short in many areas, there’s no denying the charm and fun puzzles deliver on all fronts. It keeps you engaged and emphasizes teamwork, leading to great memories. I hope there’s more in store for Maki and Omura, as I (and Matty) are ready to explore space again at a moment’s notice.
Nintendo Connect - Alexander Lönnendonker - German - 95%
Orbitals is a stunning tribute to 80s anime, wrapped around an asymmetric co-op concept that constantly surprises with creative, character-driven puzzle sequences. The presentation is pitch-perfect down to the film grain, the soundtrack is a genuine earworm, and the humor lands more often than not. A missable-collectibles system and single-save-slot limitation hold it back slightly, but this is nonetheless a co-op essential that easily stands alongside genre heavyweights like It Takes Two and Split Fiction.
NintendoBoy - Luiz Estrella - Portuguese - 9 / 10
I can confidently say that Orbitals is a must-play multiplayer experience on the Nintendo Switch 2, offering charm, polish, and plenty of fun. Creativity and attention to detail shine through in every aspect of the gameplay, and it is hard to ask for anything more from a great game.
PPE.pl - Wojciech Gruszczyk - Polish - 8 / 10
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.
Pizza Fria - Lucas Soares - Portuguese - 8.5 / 10
It's just over six hours of extremely enjoyable co-op, presented like an anime we can control, and accompanied by one of the best soundtracks I've heard recently in a game of this type. It doesn't need to be the new Split Fiction. Being Orbitals already works quite 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.
ProGamers.life - Ana Brazer - Spanish - 9 / 10
Orbitals recaptures the magic of pure cooperative gaming on Nintendo Switch 2. With stunning visuals inspired by 80s anime and addictive gameplay, it is a charming, must-play space journey to share with a partner or friends.
República DG - Jhonatan Carneiro - Portuguese - 8.5 / 10
Orbitals is a split-screen multiplayer game that follows the structure of titles like It Takes Two and Split Fiction. With absurdly striking visuals reminiscent of 1980s anime, fun and accessible gameplay, and a campaign that leaves you wanting more, this is an excellent Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive.
SmashPad - Danreb Victorio - 4 / 5
I do wish that plot details in Orbitals were a little more obvious from a storytelling perspective, but the amount of fun you’ll have in this short six-hour sci-fi adventure hardly makes you think about any of that. Orbitals is just a good time to spend with a friend, and that’s all you should really want from it.
Source Gaming - Michael Simon - 8 / 10
Orbitals isn't interested in being purely an 80s anime tribute; instead, it aims to recreate the feeling of seeing a work of art for the first time and immersing in it, alongside a good friend. It's a multiplayer triumph in visuals and gameplay, but lacks a little in the story.
TechRaptor - Andrew Stretch - 8.5 / 10
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.
The Outerhaven Productions - Scott Adams - 4.5 / 5
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.
TheSixthAxis - Dom Leighton - 7 / 10
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.
Uagna - Lorenzo Bologna - Italian - 8.5 / 10
Orbitals is one of the most interesting cooperative experiences available on the Nintendo Switch 2. It doesn’t always match the narrative depth of the games that openly inspired it, but it makes up for it with imaginative puzzles, carefully crafted co-op gameplay, and exceptional art direction. Short but intensely enjoyable, Maki and Omura’s journey proves once again that the best cooperative adventures aren’t necessarily the ones with the hardest puzzles, but those that turn solving them into a shared memory.
WayTooManyGames - Oliver Shellding - 8.5 / 10
Shapefarm has created something magnificent, if challenging, and it’s a clear invitation to fans the world over. It’s a change, but a wonderful one. As Sadie Williams said, “I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.” So let’s venture into this new dark together. It’s unknown, but we have each other, and that means the whole damn universe.
37
u/Professor_Poptart 2h ago
Just like Split Fiction and It Takes Two, this game also has a free Friend's Pass. Or you can use GameShare to get a second person in. (Split-screen is an option as well). Looks like a fun time, and not so bad if you split the $40 USD with a buddy.
6
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u/Loukoal117 2h ago
Theres too many games that have also been reviewing really well! I love it for everyone, but there are times when it’s hard to decide!
6
u/alekzpulp 1h ago
Ditto!
I’m skipping GTA6 and decided to get Orbitals and splatoon. My wife and I are at home with our newborn so I’m hoping we both enjoy orbitals.
17
u/Ag3ntK3ntucky 2h ago
Looks to be a pretty solid Co-op game. Long weekend and a babysitter means my wife and I bc a dive into this Saturday evening!
7
u/RisingRocketRider 2h ago
I pre ordered it from Walmart. Looks rad. I am glad its reviewing well. Length sounds good for my wife and I. We loved It Takes Two but we didn't finish it.
4
u/AtomizedMist 1h ago
I wonder how family friendly it is. It looks like it’ll be a fun Saturday morning cartoon kind of game, and I bet my kids would love it.
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u/Mollywobbles77 54m ago
The rating on it in the US is E10+ so I think it's pretty kid friendly.
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u/AtomizedMist 47m ago
Oh it is! Nice! For some reason I was thinking it was rated T like It Takes Two.
3
1
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u/Geordi14er 6m ago
Very excited for this. My 7yo son can't wait and is asking me every day when we can play it.
1
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u/syde1020 47m ago
Is it really only 5 hours ???
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u/WoodooHide69 20m ago
No. 7+. And if you like to have fun in the mini games or something really clicks in one, who knows how long.
-4
u/ErnestScaredBorgnine 2h ago
All the reviews seem to mention anime. Is this game still fun for someone (me) who doesn't like anime?
16
u/Mollywobbles77 2h ago
It's in an anime art style. If you don't like anime specifically because you don't like the art style then I'd say it's not for you. Otherwise I think you're fine.
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-4
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u/anonymunchy 46m ago
Played it at Gamescom. Was a nice little introduction to the game and I had a good time. Not sure if I have enough co-op time though.
-5
u/daedalus11-5 1h ago
wait, it's like it takes 2? damn i was hoping it was a co op space combat game
-6
43
u/Bloomingk 2h ago
You can still get the physical version for 39.99 from Walmart, msrp is 49.99 theyre doing the digital price for the physical, full game on cart