As the Nintendo Switch 2 enters into its second year in the public eye, people are clamoring more and more for excitement. Though the system began with a relatively strong launch with Mario Kart Tour as well as Switch 2 upgrades for existing titles, the initial beginning was slower. Then 2026 is where we pick up the momentum. Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, Splatoon Raiders, both great entries to existing franchises. Now, Nintendo is taking a bold step forward and claiming a brand new IP for a Switch 2 exclusive. Created by Shapefarm and published by Kelper Interactive, players on the Switch 2 now have their very own, unique co-op adventure with Orbitals, one of the sincerest, most categorically creative titles that I’ve had the pleasure to experience.

Yes, you two, I mean it.

Designed as a co-op adventure, players will have to pair up to control the duo of Maki and Omura, two space denizens who have lived their whole lives aboard a space ship somewhere out in the deep reaches of the unknown. Braving years of survival and flight from an oppressive and unknown entity, their home station is now trapped in a massive cosmic storm, and life for the pair, as well as the loving and supportive “family” aboard the ship, is in peril. Maki and Omura have a connection that no one else seems to possess, and they volunteer to venture out beyond asteroid fields, wormholes and ancient, aggressive technology to discover what could be their salvation. Along the way, they’ll also discover the truth about their home and the difference between the family you’re born into…and the family you gather yourself.

As a co-op adventure, there’s a few things you should know. First, if you’re nervous because you’ve never heard of Shapefarm, know that some former members of Hazelight Studios, the force behind Split/Fiction and It Takes Two are present, so the co-op nature is well handled. Secondly, this was a slam dunk from Nintendo from the beginning, at least in terms of appeal and presentation. A game where players needed to work together, either locally or online, using a few controllers or a couple of consoles, whichever is most helpful. Players can decide to be either Omura or Maki, with each character having different voices and quips throughout the game, but ultimately, are as versatile as the other in terms of how they can perform and succeed within the game’s elements. Everything – and I mean everything – is contingent on puzzle solving, logical thinking, and teamwork.

Being able to syncronize your shots means finishing this repair work that much faster.

This is a bit of a departure for classic Switch sharing, though. Many players have gotten used to being able to pop off a Joy-Con and hand it to someone, an action made iconic by the very first Switch reveal trailers. That simply isn’t the case with Orbitals, a game infinitely more complex than the average Kirby or Mario Party. Maki and Omura move in a bizarre combination of 2D movement in a 3D movement, with it not always being clear how to move. When the two characters are existing as themselves, either in space suits or walking on the ground, you have a better sense of what your boundaries are and how to explore within them. Even with twin joysticks, you have a sense of centering, so you know what is and isn’t possible.

When you pilot the miniature spacecraft to venture further out into the starry future, however, you can get disoriented as to where you can and cannot fly. Multiple instances involve you needing to take evasive actions to avoid being shot. In these moments, you and your partner have nearly the same but not quite the same viewpoint, and you might lose track of your actions (either as the pilot or the gunner) as you try to constantly readjust your perspective on the fly. This results in a lot of dizzying perspective that, thankfully, is smooth enough to not make me motion sick, but still unseats me from where I think I can be. There was one puzzle relatively early on that stuck me for a few minutes because I didn’t know I could go further right and push an explosive into a damaged doorframe. My own fault, but still annoying.

This degree of grand reveal scratches some old-ass Kurosawa sensations.

Orbitals is a perfect poster child for why Nintendo’s GameChat should exist. If you’re playing with someone next to you, sharing thoughts and ideas about what to do next comes naturally and easily, as conversations do. I cannot, in any way, fathom how you could work this out if you weren’t talking through your thought processes with others. While Shapefarm claims they made Orbitals less difficult than existing co-op titles, that’s like saying lacrosse is easier than ice hockey because you’re not wearing skates. At every puzzle, I had to stop, think and share my perceived solution with my co-pilots, both of whom were my daughters. Even with helpful indicators about what can and cannot be moved, sometimes working out how you’ll activate a sequence of machines, or get the timing right to dash through a limited doorway requires patience and talking.

Which is fine, because Orbitals is such a gorgeous, sensorially stunning landscape to spend time within. While I’ve always been a fan of the old school style of anime, Shapefarm took incredible care to not only lock down the drawing style, but also make the movement and actions feel both current and nostalgic. There’s a fluidity to how simple ideas like jumping from high platforms or the minor recoil of various weapons translates onto the screen, and the Switch 2 makes the entire production feel so smooth and downright expensive. This is one of those few times where an adventure in space doesn’t feel disembodied or lonely, but warm and alive. The influences of the past, particularly Cowboy Bebop (which so many Japanese devs don’t even recognize) is present when things get funky and fast. It doesn’t just look the part: it feels the part.

As you can see, GameShare still allows for beautiful, if more cramped, visual space.

One thing that lets this game breathe is the downtime between the puzzles. A lot of Orbitals is spending a large chunk of time figuring out timing and procedure, talking it out with your teammate, and then executing the moves time after time: who gets what tool gun, which way we should move the giant piece, etc. But then there are moments of in-between where you’re simply existing, you and a friend, traversing and exploring somewhere no one they know has ever seen or conceived. You can tell Omura and Maki are doing their best to support and comfort the other while putting on a brave face, but they’re both basically still kids, far from home, and it’s scary. This comes through brilliantly with the writing, and the moments between ripping out your hair in frustration lets you see these characters, sympathize, and get pulled deeper into their world. 

And, with zero complaints, these moments of shifting to a focus on observation and listening help pad out the game in a meaningful way. There’s a reality where Orbitals is back-to-back puzzles and action, and you could probably bang the whole thing out in three hours, maybe four, and have a good time. But then you wouldn’t get all of the incredible atmosphere of it all. The soundtrack is enveloping, pulling you into this world of classic anime ideas and displays, fully formed with Ayukawa Mami’s incredible opening song. You can see and feel all the different influences, from Dragon Ball to Ranma ½, and an overarching feeling of the journey being more than the destination. This isn’t just an incredible game to play, it’s a pleasure to watch and see how it comes together. It’s cinematic without being self-indulgent, and that’s fantastic.

I KNOW YOU WANT TO LEAVE, I’M BUSY PETTING THE SPACE PUPPY.

Orbitals marks a new step forward for Nintendo and their fanbase. Every time we break into a different zone, it feels like the company shifts and changes. Nintendo recognizes their players are growing up, and even the gaming habits of the new generation are different. While they continue to support classic approaches, this new realm of complex, cooperative gaming is one that keeps the mission statement of Nintendo alive while adapting to the times. Shapefarm has created something magnificent, if challenging, and it’s a clear invitation to fans the world over.  It’s a change, but a wonderful one. As Sadie Williams said, “I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.” So let’s venture into this new dark together. It’s unknown, but we have each other, and that means the whole damn universe.

Orbitals is available now on Nintendo Switch 2.

Reviewed on Nintendo Switch 2 with Switch Lite for GameShare.

A copy of Orbitals was provided by the publisher.