Orbitals: Cooperative game with anime look announced for Nintendo Switch 2
News about team play and collaboration was highlighted at Nintendo’s Summer Game Fest presentation, but one release in particular caught the eye: Orbitals. With prices ranging from US$39.99 for the digital version to US$49.99 for the physical version, this cooperative adventure has been compared to acclaimed titles such as It Takes Two and Split Fiction. However, Orbitals seeks to innovate with its own characteristics and an 80s anime aesthetic, promising to consolidate itself as one of the main cooperative releases of the year.
Incredible graphics and a striking anime aesthetic
The game Orbitals, which debuted at The Game Awards last year, features a vibrant, anime-inspired look. Development was handled by Shapefarm, with publication by Kepler Interactive, the same publisher behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a huge success. Although several games seek to emulate the style of Japanese animation, few reach the level of visual beauty that this title offers.
More on this story: August 2026 Game Releases Bring Elden Ring to Switch 2 and New Marvel
In collaboration with Studio Massket, a renowned Japanese animation studio known for work on Attack on Titan and Lycoris Recoil, Shapefarm seeks to revive the retro style of science fiction anime. Marcos Ramos, creative director at Shapefarm, has already expressed the team’s desire for the debut game to be reminiscent of classics such as Dragon Ball and Neon Genesis Evangelion. The game’s look, with its voluminous, bushy hair, enlarged proportions and a subtle layer of film grain, gives each scene the feeling of being watched on an old tube television.
Engaging storyline, detailed exploration and thought-provoking puzzles
The plot of Orbitals revolves around Maki and Omura, two young explorers who reside in a space colony. Despite their contrasting personalities – Maki, more spontaneous and Omura, more reserved –, their friendship is deep. Both were rescued from a destroyed colony as children and grew up inseparable. Now, they are responsible for keeping the colony running and caring for the elderly population. Faced with the approach of a cosmic storm, the duo embarks on a journey to find a solution and save their home.
Learn more: Orbitals arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 with cooperative proposal and classic anime look
Orbitals’ gameplay is reminiscent of Hazelight Studios’ greatest hits, which is no surprise, as the game’s director, Jakob Lundgren, has titles such as A Way Out, It Takes Two and Split Fiction on his resume. During a demonstration, it was possible to freely explore the colony, engaging in cooperative puzzles and minigames.
See Also
Anonymous fan funds Thimbleweed Park 2 and frees creator from publishers
Consortium led by Jeff Bezos and Eduardo Saverin buys 30% of Liverpool
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina’s agreement shields fortunes in official union
The experience of exploring the scene appears organic, without the feeling of being tied to your partner. The screen automatically splits as needed and comes back together, allowing constant awareness of the other player’s location. This dynamic encourages individual exploration and the discovery of countless details and fun references, such as a notebook that, suggestively, resembles a Death Note, but called a Life Note.
When faced with the puzzles, one notices a significant innovation in Orbitals, which distinguishes it from other cooperative games. In titles like It Takes Two and Split Fiction, the chosen character determines the game mechanics. In contrast, Orbitals offers the flexibility to change roles without having to change characters. This change, while subtle, is a notable benefit, especially for duos with different skill levels.
On the same topic: Skyrim Anniversary Edition arrives by surprise on Switch 2 for US$59.99
In the demo, several puzzles presented simple challenges that required player collaboration. Some examples included a “Simon Says” style task and the need to put out fires on board the ship. Near the end of the session, one player piloted a ship while the other operated a turret to combat enemies and space debris. These moments of interaction and communication, encouraging the search for joint solutions, were where Orbitals really stood out.
In this context, Orbitals was designed with communication in mind. It is necessarily a cooperative game, offering both local split-screen mode and the GameShare option, which allows you to transmit a copy to another Nintendo Switch 2, or even to older models such as the Switch and Switch Lite. Additionally, there is a Global Friends Pass for Orbitals, which allows you to invite another player to participate in online matches at no cost, even if they don’t own the game. It is important to note, however, that the game requires complete controls for each player, be it a Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller or a pair of Joy-Cons in local mode, unlike other cooperative titles like Super Mario Wonder, which allow the use of only one Joy-Con per person.
First impressions of the demo and release date
The brief experience with the Orbitals demonstration revealed promising potential. The visual aspects and soundtrack stood out for their excellence, and the gameplay seems ready to captivate both experienced players and newcomers. Although there are still questions about the total duration and diversity of content that Orbitals will offer, expectations are high for the launch, scheduled for September 3rd. The game will be exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2, promising many hours of cooperative fun.
