Orbitals, the inaugural original IP from developer Shapefarm, is shaping up to be a captivating two-player cooperative adventure with a distinct '80s and '90s anime aesthetic. The game aims to deliver a "retro anime experience for two," according to creative director Marcos Ramos. Its development team boasts significant experience in the co-op genre, with game director Jacob Lungden having served as a level designer on well-regarded titles such as Hazelight's A Way Out, It Takes Two, and Split Fiction.
The visual style of Orbitals directly channels classic anime, reminiscent of shows like Dragon Ball and Ranma ½. This retro inspiration extends to its character animations, which are set to run at 24 frames per second, aligning with the typical rate of traditional animation. The game itself is capped at 30 frames per second, a performance target that did not detract from the gameplay experience during a preview session. The cel-shaded graphics maintain a cohesive look, even alongside animated cutscenes that echo older animation techniques.
Players step into the roles of best friends Maki or Omura, navigating a space station in third-person perspective via split-screen co-op. The narrative involves preparing for a journey to investigate a supernatural cosmic storm threatening their home. The preview highlighted a refreshing level of flexibility in task assignment, allowing players to choose their roles for various missions, a departure from the more rigid assignments seen in games like It Takes Two. This flexibility extends to piloting spacecraft, where one player can take the controls while the other mans the guns.
The gameplay loop involves a variety of unique tasks and puzzles that often require coordinated use of tools like the Scraphook and the Liquid Launcher. Some challenges involve engaging minigames that test reflexes and quick thinking. One particularly engaging minigame required players to enter specific color-coded sequences, with mechanics that could swap colors or reset progress, demanding rapid communication and adaptation.
Orbitals' animation is being handled by Studio Massket, a Tokyo-based animation studio with credits on numerous anime series, including work on the third season of To Your Eternity and the music video for Cyberpunk: Edgerunners' ending theme. The game is slated for an exclusive release on the Nintendo Switch 2 on September 3, 2026. It will support split-screen couch co-op and online play via Gameshare, meaning only one copy of the game is needed to play online with a friend.