Co-op gaming has quietly become one of the most beloved genres of the decade, and a new title is aiming to carve out its own space on Nintendo‘s latest hardware. Orbitals, now available for the Nintendo Switch 2, delivers the kind of buddy-driven adventure popularized by Hazelight’s breakout hits — and it wraps it all in a strikingly nostalgic 80s anime visual style that helps it stand apart from the crowd.
A Retro Anime Dream Brought to Life
The first thing anyone notices about Orbitals is its look. Rather than chasing photorealism or the familiar cartoon sheen of most modern Nintendo-adjacent releases, the game leans hard into the aesthetics of 1980s Japanese animation. Think hand-drawn character designs, expressive faces, and that unmistakable cel-shaded warmth that defined an entire era of anime classics.
2D Characters in a 3D World
What makes the presentation genuinely experimental is the way Orbitals merges dimensions. The game places flat, 2D anime-style characters inside fully 3D environments, creating a visual contrast that feels fresh rather than dated. It’s a bold stylistic gamble — one that gives the game a personality all its own and makes screenshots instantly recognizable. As Siliconera’s review highlights, this blend of 2D art and 3D space isn’t just a gimmick; it’s central to the game’s identity.
Co-Op Gameplay in the It Takes Two Mold
Gameplay-wise, Orbitals sits firmly in the lineage of It Takes Two and Split Fiction. That means the experience is built from the ground up for two players, with puzzles, platforming, and set pieces that demand genuine communication and teamwork. Nobody gets left behind, and nobody gets to be a passive passenger — both players are essential at every moment.
Why Switch 2 Is a Natural Home for This Genre
Nintendo’s hardware has always had a special relationship with couch co-op, and the Switch 2 continues that tradition with its built-in two-controller setup right out of the box. For a game like Orbitals, that’s a perfect match: you can hand a Joy-Con 2 to a friend or family member and jump straight into an adventure without buying extra accessories. Add online play to the mix, and Switch 2 owners finally have a stylish answer to the Hazelight-style co-op experiences that have thrived elsewhere.
Should You Play Orbitals?
If you’ve burned through It Takes Two and Split Fiction and are hungry for more two-player adventures, Orbitals is an easy recommendation — especially on Switch 2, where pick-up-and-play co-op feels right at home. The 80s anime aesthetic gives it a distinctive flavor, while the puzzle-driven, communication-heavy design ensures the journey stays engaging from start to finish. It may not dethrone the genre’s heavyweights, but it proves there’s plenty of room for creative new voices in the modern co-op revival.
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Source: Siliconera – Review: Orbitals Emphasizes Its 80s Anime and It Takes Two Style Co-op
Source: Siliconera