Orbitals Delivers a Charming Co-op Experience with Retro Anime Style

Orbitals is a two-player co-op puzzle adventure that evokes the look and feel of 1990s anime. While its puzzles rely on familiar mechanics, the game's charming characters and nostalgic presentation make it an enjoyable 10-hour journey. It supports local and online play, with a friend pass for co-op partners.

Orbitals requires two players for its entire campaign, offering both local split-screen and online co-op, with a friend pass that lets a second player join for free when paired with the owner. The game's roughly 10-hour runtime is built around coordinated puzzle-solving, and the screen always shows both players' perspectives simultaneously, reinforcing the need for teamwork. The story follows Maki and Omura, who are reprinted via an I.M. machine after their colony is damaged, and tasks them with collecting Cassettes to power their ship.

The visual presentation deliberately channels early 1990s anime, with a player-select menu that evokes the era of Toonami broadcasts. The narrative touches on philosophical questions about identity after repeated reprints, though the review notes these ideas are not fully explored. The game's structure includes ship-based combat segments where players divide roles, such as piloting and manning a gun, adding variety to the puzzle-focused core.