Orbitals: Deluxe Edition

While Orbitals loses some momentum toward the end, it's a strong co-op adventure that nails the feeling of a playable ‘90s anime.

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.

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.

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 delivers smart co-op, varied puzzles, strong anime-inspired presentation, and a memorable world, though its story and final stretch leave some potential unexplored.

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.

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 wears its co-op inspirations on its sleeve, but it still stands out with its gorgeous art and likable heroes.

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 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.