Orbitals is a fantastic two-player co-op adventure, and if you loved It Takes Two, Split Fiction or the Portal 2 co-op campaign, it belongs on your list. The puzzles are tougher than the cute art suggests, the music and anime presentation are the best reasons to play it, and its short runtime is both a strength and the reason we would wait for a sale.
We bought our own copy. We finished the story in about seven hours of local split-screen co-op on Nintendo Switch 2, docked on a TV, with Mrs. Video Games playing Maki and Mr. Video Games playing Omura the entire way through. We never swapped.
Orbitals is developed by Shapefarm and published by Kepler Interactive, and it launched on September 3, 2026, exclusively on Switch 2 for $39.99 (the Deluxe Edition is $49.99). It is two players only: the eShop listing states that it does not support single player, so you play either in local split-screen or online.
Puzzles That Ask More Than You Expect
We went in expecting a gentle co-op puzzler, and that is not what Orbitals is. The puzzles were surprisingly challenging, and some of them asked for real skill on top of the thinking: precise platforming and shooting that both of us had to get right before the pair of us could move on.
That is the Portal 2 half of the comparison, and it is a big part of why the game stuck with us. Shapefarm built Orbitals around asymmetric co-op, with each character carrying their own tools, so progress depends on both players doing their part rather than one person solving while the other watches.
The controls were great, which matters once the game starts asking for precision. We played with Joy-Con slotted into the grip that turns them into a standard controller, and the handling never got in our way.
One thing worth knowing: the challenge is a plus for a pair of experienced players, but if your partner rarely picks up a controller, a few sections test hands as well as heads.
Seven Hours With the Throttle Down
Orbitals is nonstop action and fun from the opening theme to the credits. We finished in about seven hours, and the length works in its favor. It never settles into a slow stretch where you are waiting for the game to get back to the good part, and it ends while it still feels fresh.
Plenty of co-op games stretch a good idea across twice the runtime it can support. Orbitals says what it has to say, keeps both players busy the whole time, and gets out.
The Music and Art Are the Real Stars
The best thing about Orbitals is how it looks and sounds. Shapefarm went for the warmth of classic Japanese anime, and the art direction is the standout of the whole package. The hand-crafted cutscenes from Studio Massket are a treat every time one starts, and the same retro style carries through everything you play between them.
The soundtrack is just as strong. It opens with the theme song, Accelerating Destiny, and the music holds that level the rest of the way. Full voice acting is included in English, Japanese and six other languages.
Cute Characters, Forgettable Story
The story is the weakest part of Orbitals, and also the least important. Maki and Omura set out to save their crumbling station home from a supernatural cosmic storm, and we will not spoil anything past that setup. It did the job of moving us from one set piece to the next and not much more.
The characters are cute and good company for seven hours. Nobody should buy Orbitals for its plot, but nobody will be buying it for that anyway.
Performance: Smooth in Split-Screen
Split-screen can be hard on performance, and Orbitals showed no strain at all. Docked on a TV with the screen divided between us, we had no performance issues of any kind across the whole playthrough. Load times were okay: not a highlight, never a problem.
Stability: Not a Single Bug
Stability is a separate question, and the answer is just as good. We did not hit a single bug, crash or softlock from start to finish, and checkpoints never sent us back far enough to be frustrating. In a co-op game, where one broken moment costs two people their evening, that is worth a lot.
Should You Buy Orbitals?
Yes, if you have someone to play it with. If It Takes Two, Split Fiction or Portal 2’s co-op campaign is your idea of a good night, Orbitals is an easy recommendation, and a strong addition to anyone’s list of Switch 2 co-op games.
Wait for a sale if you can. Seven hours for $39.99 is the one thing that stops us from saying buy it today. They are a great seven hours, but at a discount Orbitals becomes an easy call.
Skip it if you only play alone. There is no single-player mode. For online co-op, the eShop listing says you can play through Switch 2 GameShare or the Orbitals Global Friend’s Pass, and online play requires Nintendo Switch Online. If you are still shopping for the console itself, here is how to buy a Switch 2.
The verdict
What we loved
- Puzzles that are genuinely challenging, with real platforming and shooting skill checks
- Nonstop action from start to finish, and the short runtime keeps it tight
- Music and art direction, anime cutscenes included, are the standouts
- Great controls and smooth split-screen performance
- Not a single bug, crash or softlock in our playthrough
What we did not
- A story that is easy to forget
- Seven hours is thin for $39.99
A sharp, gorgeous co-op adventure that asks real skill of both players and never slows down. The story is forgettable and seven hours is short for the price, so we would grab it on sale, but we would absolutely grab it.
How we review games explains what our scores mean, and our list of the best Switch 2 games of 2026 so far is the place to find what to play next.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Orbitals worth buying? Yes, especially for fans of It Takes Two, Split Fiction and Portal 2’s co-op. We scored it 4/5, though at seven hours for $39.99 we think it is best bought on sale.
How long is Orbitals? We finished the story in about seven hours of local split-screen co-op.
Can you play Orbitals solo? No. The eShop listing states that it does not support single player. You need a second player, either in local split-screen or online.
Is Orbitals only on Switch 2? Yes. It launched on September 3, 2026, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2.
Does Orbitals have online co-op? Yes. Alongside local split-screen, you can play online through Switch 2 GameShare or the Orbitals Global Friend’s Pass. Online play requires a Nintendo Switch Online membership.