Orbitals (video game)

Orbitals
DeveloperShapefarm
PublisherKepler Interactive
Directors
  • Marcos Ramos
  • Jakob Lundgren
DesignerHugo Sanchez Westberg
ArtistJohannes Varmedal
EngineUnreal Engine 5
PlatformNintendo Switch 2
ReleaseSeptember 3, 2026
GenrePuzzle-adventure
ModeMultiplayer

Orbitals is an upcoming puzzle-adventure video game developed by Shapefarm and published by Kepler Interactive. It is scheduled for a worldwide release in September 2026 for the Nintendo Switch 2.

Gameplay and premise

Orbitals is a puzzle-adventure game played from a third-person perspective. The story follows Maki and Omura, two space explorers who must work together to prevent a space station from being destroyed by a deadly storm.[1] It is a two-player cooperative game, and players must learn to use various tools and gadgets to open up new pathways and complete puzzles.[2] Gameplay is asymmetrical, indicating that the two players must assume different roles and synergize with each other to succeed.[3]

Development

The game is currently being developed by Shapefarm, a studio based in Tokyo, Japan.[1] Marcos Ramos and Jakob Lundgren served as the game's creative director and game director respectively, the latter of whom previously worked at Hazelight Studios, serving as a designer for A Way Out, It Takes Two, and Split Fiction.[4] Orbitals was designed to be an accessible experience, with Lundgren adding that the game was "never too difficult". As with Hazelight's previous games, the team used asymmetrical gameplay to facilitate cooperation and interaction among the two players. The game was also designed to be a short experience, as the team wanted players to finish the game.[5] It also has a larger emphasis on puzzle-solving than platforming.[6]

While its gameplay was largely similar to Hazelight's games, the studio wanted the game to stand out through its art style.[6] Shapefarm teamed up with Studio Massket, the anime studio behind projects such as Lycoris Recoil, for the game's cutscenes.[1] The game's visuals were inspired by Cowboy Bebop, Dragon Ball, and Neon Genesis Evangelion. The two lead characters, meanwhile, were inspired by Sailor Moon and Ranma, while the story drew influence from films created by Studio Ghibli.[5]

The game was announced at The Game Awards in December 2025.[3] Shapefarm is one of the founding members of Kepler Interactive, which will serve as the game's publisher. It will be released for the Nintendo Switch 2 on September 3, 2026.[7] It utilizes the Switch 2's GameShare functionality, which allows the player who purchased the game to invite a friend to play for free.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 LeBlanc, Wesley (December 11, 2025). "Orbitals Is A Co-Op Puzzle Adventure Inspired By Classic Anime Coming Exclusively To Switch 2 Next Year". Game Informer. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  2. ↑ McClure, Deven (April 23, 2026). "Orbitals Doesn't Just Capture The Retro Anime Look, But Its Childlike Wonder As Well". GameSpot. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  3. 1 2 Koch, Cameron (December 11, 2025). "This Switch 2-Exclusive Co-Op Game Is A Retro Anime You Can Play". GameSpot. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  4. ↑ Norman, Jim (April 23, 2026). "New Orbitals Gameplay Trailer Makes Us Even More Excited For The Anime Co-Op Adventure". Nintendo Life. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  5. 1 2 James, Ford (April 23, 2026). "This retro anime co-op game could be the next It Takes Two". Polygon. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  6. 1 2 Regan, Tom (April 23, 2026). "'It ended up being pretty much co-development' - how 80s anime, a legendary Gundam director and It Takes Two talent combined for the Switch 2's next hit Orbitals". Eurogamer. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  7. ↑ Norman, Jim (June 11, 2026). "Anime Co-Op Platformer 'Orbitals' Finally Picks Up A Release Date, Exclusively On Switch". Nintendo Life. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  8. ↑ Daniels, Joelle (February 5, 2026). "Orbitals Gets New Trailer Showcasing Co-Op Tools, Gameplay and Story, Out This Summer". GamingBolt. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.