Nintendo Switch 2 Critic Reviews

A gorgeous and cleverly designed two‑player co‑op adventure that turns retro anime nostalgia into smart, heartwarming puzzle‑driven storytelling.

Another brilliant, and incredibly varied, co-op title to enjoy with a friend, with a gobsmackingly-good and highly-memorable visual style.

I had high hopes for Orbitals after seeing that beautiful 80s anime style, but I didn’t expect the co-op to be this creative. We had a lot of fun figuring out the puzzles while messing around with all the different tools and discovering whatever strange idea the game had waiting for us next. I also love that it doesn’t really care who does what, swap tools, switch roles, and figure it out together works incredibly well, whether you play games every day or barely touch them. There really isn’t much I would change here; Orbitals is exactly the kind of co-op adventure I love to play.

Ultimately, Orbitals is a standout exclusive on the Nintendo Switch 2, one more indicative of a first-party release than a debut title from a new studio, making it an absolute must-play for owners of Nintendo’s latest hybrid console.

It feels like we’re still just scratching the surface of what co-op only games can be with the likes of A Way Out, Split Fiction, and now Orbitals. Orbitals is full to bursting with incredible ideas, more than it can properly execute on, but it remains an incredible, fun, and charming experience the whole way through.

Whether it’s due to the visuals, a puzzle’s solution, or from bumping into a screaming alien creature, Orbitals is awe-inspiring.

Orbitals is an absolute must-play for the discerning co-op sickos among us, pairing fiendishly clever puzzle design with a crisp, gorgeous retro anime aesthetic.

Orbitals is a dazzling audiovisual achievement and a brilliantly designed co-op adventure, combining the spirit of classic ’80s and ’90s anime with a constant stream of inventive ideas. Its only real flaw is that such a wonderful journey ends far too soon.

After playing it in local multiplayer on a single console, Orbitals is shaping up to be one of the most interesting co-op games coming to Nintendo Switch 2 this year. Its biggest strength is that all of its different elements seem to work together toward the same goal. The anime-inspired aesthetic isn’t separate from the gameplay, co-op doesn’t feel like an afterthought, and everything fits together seamlessly.

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 80’s mecha anime series is executed well.