Orbitals is live on Nintendo Switch 2 today — and the critical consensus is in. Tokyo-based developer Shapefarm, published by Kepler Interactive, launched the asymmetric co-op adventure on 3 September with an 81 on Metacritic (56 reviews) and an 83 on OpenCritic, with 95% of critics recommending it. As we covered when the game was first announced, this is one of Switch 2’s most distinctive-looking exclusives of the year — and you can download it right now.
What the Orbitals Reviews Say
The praise is concentrated on the game’s puzzle design, its distinctive 1980s-anime aesthetic, and a co-op structure that keeps both players genuinely busy at all times:
- Nintendo Life (9/10): “The puzzles last just the right amount of time, with consistently delightful and clever ways the tools were utilized.”
- Forbes: “Will leave you satisfied and stunned like a bumper anime movie at its very best.”
Gaming Boulevard and Gaming Trend both awarded the game 95/100, praising its inventive cooperative design. Eurogamer (3/5) and Final Weapon (2.5/5) were less convinced — pointing to pacing that occasionally stutters and puzzle areas that don’t always match the game’s ambitions. The majority of critics land clearly in the positive, though.
What Is Orbitals — A Quick Recap
Orbitals is a strict two-player asymmetric co-op adventure. You and a partner each play one of two space explorers — Maki and Omura — working together to save their crumbling home station from a supernatural cosmic storm. Each player sees a different section of the stage on a split screen and controls different tools; nothing works without both players acting in tandem. The entire game is built around that forced cooperation.
Cutscenes were produced by Tokyo animation house Studio Massket, with hand-crafted animation evoking the warmth of classic 1980s–90s anime. The cast includes voice actors from Street Fighter and Fire Emblem, with full voice acting in English, Japanese, and ten other languages.
How to Get Orbitals on Your Switch 2
Orbitals is US$39.99 on the Nintendo eShop, with a free demo available if you want to try before you commit. A Deluxe Upgrade Pack DLC is available separately at US$14.99. A physical edition is also confirmed for those who prefer a cartridge.
Co-op works several ways: local split-screen on one Switch 2 using two pairs of Joy-Con 2, online multiplayer via Nintendo Switch Online, or via GameShare — one Switch 2 owner can invite a friend on a compatible Switch or Switch 2 device without that friend needing to own a copy of the game. That last option is especially handy for local play sessions where only one of you has picked it up.
For more Switch 2 game releases and gaming news, we’ve been tracking the full September lineup — it’s a stacked month.