If you want better originality
Choose It Takes Two. It scores 5.0 vs 2.7 for originality, with a 4.5 overall score.
Orbitals Review
Bottom Line
Choose Orbitals for a charming, visually spectacular co-op weekend with a friend or family member. Skip it if you need solo play, a long campaign, or demanding puzzles with lasting depth.
Best for
Best for couples, friends, and families wanting a compact, approachable couch or online co-op adventure with standout anime styling.
Not for
Not for solo players or pairs seeking a long campaign, consistently difficult puzzles, or a deeply developed narrative.
Verdict
Orbitals turns a retro-anime fantasy into an inviting two-player adventure, with gorgeous art, energetic music, responsive movement, and cooperative tools that keep both partners involved. Its best puzzles and ship sequences create the satisfying rhythm of communicating, dividing responsibilities, and succeeding together. The game is also unusually approachable for couples and families, although a few tandem platforming and combat moments can test newcomers. Its limitations become clearer beside the presentation: the campaign is brief, several promising mechanics disappear before developing fully, and the story's late emotional turn feels rushed to many critics. It is a polished, joyful co-op experience, but not the deepest or most replayable one.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
62 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.02 (3%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.443 (69%)
-
Neutral 2.5-3.414 (23%)
-
Negative 1.5-2.43 (5%)
Pros
-
The retro anime art direction is the clearest consensus strength, convincingly recreating the look and texture of late-'80s and '90s animation.
-
The energetic retro-anime soundtrack—especially the opening and title themes—is repeatedly singled out as a presentation highlight.
-
Orbitals is repeatedly called stunning in motion, with its 3D scenes and animated cinematics blending into an unusually convincing playable anime.
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Its playful, cozy spacefaring atmosphere and abundant charm soften several reviewers' complaints about the story and mechanics.
-
Most reviewers find the adventure joyful, charming, and consistently fun with a partner, even when individual mechanics or story beats fall short.
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Cooperation is the heart of the game: asymmetric roles, shared problem-solving, and constant coordination make it especially rewarding with a compatible partner.
Cons
-
The anime presentation gives the game a clear identity, but its structure and several mechanics remain visibly indebted to Hazelight-style adventures.
-
The controls and cooperative goals are easy to grasp, but synchronized platforming can still challenge complete newcomers.
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The camera is generally workable, though some sequences make hazards or platforming action harder to read.
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Reports of crashes or serious instability are limited; most discussion presents the game as technically dependable.
-
Handheld play works, though the split-screen presentation can make the smaller display less ideal than playing on a television.
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The challenge is usually forgiving and family-friendly, though precision platforming and later ship sequences can frustrate less experienced pairs.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Video Games, this product is above average in online stability, dialogue quality, platform-specific feature support, near average in pacing, protagonist appeal, below average in originality, handheld play suitability, learning curve.
Comparison summary
62 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher13 (21%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts34 (55%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower15 (24%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| online stability | 5.0 | 3.1 | +1.9 |
| originality | 2.7 | 3.7 | -1.0 |
| handheld play suitability | 2.5 | 3.9 | -1.4 |
| learning curve | 2.3 | 3.5 | -1.3 |
| emotional impact | 3.1 | 4.2 | -1.1 |
| crash stability | 2.0 | 3.2 | -1.2 |
| game length | 2.9 | 3.8 | -0.9 |
| dialogue quality | 4.2 | 3.2 | +1.0 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better atmosphere
Choose South of Midnight. It scores 4.9 vs 4.3 for atmosphere, with a 3.9 overall score.
If you want better animation quality
Choose Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. It scores 4.9 vs 4.1 for animation quality, with a 4.4 overall score.
If you want better soundtrack quality
Choose Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. It scores 5.0 vs 4.4 for soundtrack quality, with a 4.1 overall score.
FAQ
Can Orbitals be played solo?
No. The supplied reviews consistently describe it as a two-player co-op experience built around shared tasks.
Is it good for couch co-op?
Yes. Local split-screen teamwork is one of its most praised uses, especially for couples, friends, and families.
Are the puzzles difficult?
Most are approachable and forgiving, though synchronized platforming and later ship encounters can challenge novice pairs.
How long is the campaign?
Reviewers generally describe it as a compact experience of roughly five to six hours, with some wishing it lasted longer.
What stands out most?
The retro-anime art, seamless transitions, music, and cooperative presentation receive the strongest agreement.
Does the story hold up?
Opinions are mixed. The central friendship has charm, but many reviewers find the plot thin, familiar, or rushed near the end.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
Article Reviews
sifter.com.au
We'll collect our interviews, reviews and news for you and send them your way, along with sales and new merch drops.
- Review score
- 3.9
candeyplus.pt
Shapefarm's debut is the most beautiful thing on Switch 2 and the easiest co-op game to get a second person into.
- Review score
- 3.3
game8.co
2026.09.09 Orbitals is an intergalactic co-op adventure that takes inspiration from ‘90s retro anime. Read our review to see what it did...
- Review score
- 3.6
cogconnected.com
Developed by Shapefarm, which features former members of the Hazelight team, can Orbitals manage to carve out its own identity?
- Review score
- 4.0
cnet.com
Developer Shapefarm’s debut adventure doesn’t ever really break away from its classic anime inspirations, but that might just work in its favor.
- Review score
- 3.3
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