Orbitals: a co-op adventure with massive potential

Nintendo Switch 2 is building an increasingly interesting library of exclusive games, and Orbitals could become one of the most distinctive additions yet. Developed by Tokyo-based Shapefarm and published by Kepler Interactive, the cooperative adventure is built specifically around two players and takes clear inspiration from the design philosophy that made games such as It Takes Two and Split Fiction stand out.

Orbitals is scheduled to launch exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 on September 3, 2026. Rather than simply adding a cooperative mode to a conventional adventure, Shapefarm has designed the entire experience around two players working together. Both local split-screen play and online cooperation are supported, while Nintendo Switch 2's GameShare functionality means players can enjoy the adventure with a friend using a single copy of the game.

Orbitals and its potential to shine on Switch 2

The comparison with It Takes Two is difficult to avoid, but it goes considerably deeper than the fact that both games are designed exclusively for two players. Orbitals' co-director Jakob Lundgren previously spent six years working alongside Josef Fares at Hazelight, contributing to the studio's approach to cooperative game design. That experience is particularly relevant because Hazelight has helped establish a modern template for narrative co-op games: two players should not simply experience the same game simultaneously. Instead, the mechanics should encourage them to communicate, divide responsibilities and constantly depend on each other.

Orbitals appears to follow precisely that philosophy. The game stars Maki and Omura, two inexperienced explorers attempting to save their deteriorating space-station home after it becomes trapped inside a mysterious cosmic storm. The two characters must venture beyond the storm and explore unfamiliar environments, with progression depending on genuine cooperation. The major difference is the game's identity. While It Takes Two constantly changes genres and environments to keep its gameplay fresh, Orbitals uses a science-fiction setting and a deliberately nostalgic visual language inspired by Japanese anime from the 1980s. Its aesthetic draws from the warmth and design sensibilities of classic anime, while hand-crafted cinematic sequences have been produced in collaboration with Studio Massket.

How was Orbitals made?

Nintendo's latest Creator's Voice video provides perhaps the most interesting look yet at the project. Running for more than seven minutes, the video features Shapefarm's Marcos Ramos, Jakob Lundgren and Hidetoshi Yoshida discussing the game's development, its inspirations and the challenges involved in creating a cooperative adventure from the ground up. The footage is particularly valuable because it goes beyond conventional gameplay promotion. The developers show previously unseen sketches and concept work, offering a glimpse at how Orbitals' retro-anime aesthetic evolved during production. The team also explains how its visual influences shaped the game's characters, environments and overall presentation.

This emphasis on the development process helps explain why Orbitals looks so different from many other Switch 2 games. The team isn't simply applying an anime filter to a conventional 3D adventure. The visual identity is being treated as one of the foundations of the game's world and storytelling.

The video also explores how the developers approached cooperative gameplay. Players will encounter situations where they must coordinate their actions to progress, but the game isn't entirely focused on traditional puzzles. Orbitals will also feature a selection of mini-games, including both cooperative and competitive activities, giving players opportunities to step away from the main adventure and simply have fun together.

Asymmetrical gameplay could be Orbitals' biggest strength

One of the most promising aspects of Orbitals is its asymmetrical cooperative design. The two players aren't necessarily expected to perform identical actions at the same time. Instead, each character can have different responsibilities, making communication an essential part of solving problems.

Earlier gameplay footage demonstrated this approach particularly well. In one sequence, one player has to repeatedly recharge a CH1B1 drone using a Beam Cannon while the other uses a Scrap Hook to manipulate objects, activate mechanisms and open paths. This is where the Hazelight comparison becomes especially interesting.

It Takes Two succeeded because its cooperative mechanics constantly made the two players feel useful to one another. The game frequently gives each character different tools or abilities, forcing players to understand what their partner is doing rather than simply playing independently next to them. Orbitals appears to be pursuing a similar design philosophy, although it is putting considerably more emphasis on puzzle-solving and environmental interaction.

That could ultimately be more important than its retro-anime presentation. A striking art style can attract players to Orbitals, but its long-term success will depend on whether Shapefarm can create the same feeling of discovery and shared accomplishment that defines the best Hazelight games.

Nintendo Switch 2 is becoming a natural home for co-op games

There is also a practical advantage to Orbitals launching on Nintendo Switch 2. Cooperative games have always been particularly well suited to Nintendo hardware, where local multiplayer remains an important part of the platform's identity. Orbitals takes that idea further by supporting local split-screen and online play, while GameShare makes inviting another player considerably easier. The structure is reminiscent of It Takes Two's Friend's Pass philosophy, which allows a player who owns the game to invite another person to experience the full adventure without requiring the second player to purchase another copy.

This is an important lesson from the recent success of cooperative games. The biggest barrier to playing a two-player adventure isn't necessarily the quality of the game; it is often finding a convenient way for two people to access it. By making cooperation easier, both Hazelight and Shapefarm are effectively designing their games around the social experience rather than treating multiplayer as an additional feature.

Orbitals has a difficult standard to meet

The biggest challenge facing Orbitals is therefore not its concept. The game already has an unusually strong identity, a compelling visual style and a development team with relevant Hazelight experience. The difficult part will be matching the consistency of It Takes Two and Split Fiction. Hazelight's games are known for constantly introducing new mechanics and situations so that cooperation rarely becomes repetitive. Orbitals will need to demonstrate that its puzzles, platforming, mini-games and exploration can maintain that same momentum throughout the adventure.

At the same time, it would be unfair to expect Orbitals to simply become "Nintendo's It Takes Two." Its strongest opportunity may be to take the fundamental principles of modern co-op design and combine them with something Hazelight does not offer: a lovingly constructed retro-anime universe.

The latest Creator's Voice video suggests that Shapefarm understands this distinction. The developers aren't presenting Orbitals as another generic cooperative platformer. They are building an experience around the idea that two people should feel like one team, while using the visual language of classic Japanese animation to give that experience its own personality.

With It Takes Two and Split Fiction demonstrating that there is still a huge appetite for carefully designed cooperative adventures, Orbitals could arrive at exactly the right moment. 

Orbitals launches on Nintendo Switch 2 on September 3, 2026, and you can pre-order Orbitals at the best price with our comparator already.