My Nintendo appointment at Summer Game Fest 2026 was intense, with over 10 playable titles in a 2.5-hour window. One of those titles was Orbitals, which everyone seemed eager to get their hands on—even those without Nintendo appointments. I, on the other hand, wasn’t as familiar. During the appointment, I hopped onto a futon couch with a representative from Kepler Interactive while others in front of me sat on beanbag chairs, playing the two-player title and having a blast. It was clear there was something special here.
Nintendo didn’t bring first-party titles to SGF 2026. Instead, they brought third-party games that were recently released, just announced, or even coming soon to the Nintendo Switch 2. I was able to talk about all of the titles so far, except Orbitals, so it is finally time to complete that Summer Game Fest coverage!
Orbitals follows Maki and Omura, two friends who grew up together on a destroyed space station. Many years later, the threat of another major storm risks the life that they have come to know, and they must now work together to save what is left of their home. The journey takes the pair to several locations, including asteroids, planets, and outer space itself.
“Orbitals just oozes style, and that isn’t just during cutscenes.”
During my appointment, I learned a lot about the inspiration behind Orbitals’ design. The title was meant to pay homage to anime from the late 80s and early 90s. Had I not gone hands-on or physically watched others play, I really would have believed we were watching an episode of an anime series. Some of the animations were even rendered at 24 or 12 FPS, as in traditional anime productions.
Orbitals just oozes style, and that isn’t just during cutscenes. Gameplay also holds steady in this style, and it is absolutely stunning. It feels like a completely unique experience. Cutscenes, however, have been hand-crafted by Studio Massket, who has a long list of major credits behind them.
The game is built around two-player co-op gameplay and is not able to be played solo. One player takes on Maki and the other, Omura, and you work together in a variety of ways. One example was one player piloting a ship while the other is the gunner. Each player will have access to unique tools, such as the Scraphook or Liquid Launcher, and they will need to work together while solving puzzles and moving through the world.
Orbitals is the first original title by developer Shapefarm, but make no mistake, this team definitely has experience. Game Director Jakob Lundgren brings extensive experience with two-player titles after working on games like A Way Out, It Takes Two, and Split Fiction. In a post on Shapefarm Tokyo’s Instagram, Lundgren talked not only of his experience, but his passion, which is already evident, even in the short time I had with Orbitals.
“It is clear that Shapefarm Tokyo is doing something really special here, and that Orbitals is not only going to be a gorgeous game, but a satisfying co-op experience as well.”
“For as long as I can remember, I’ve been wanting to make games. Back in my childhood days, career counsellors used to tell me it was an exciting dream, but I should focus on something a bit more realistic. Now I’ve spent the last decade exclusively making co-op games. I love the idea of sharing a well-crafted, self-contained gaming experience together with someone. Seeing two people laugh and connect over the games I make is something I’m sure I’ll never grow tired of.”
Orbitals will be playable on Nintendo Switch 2 via local or online co-op with Nintendo GameChat. What is even more exciting is that only one player needs to own the game, thanks to GameShare. Original Switch owners can still play the game locally via GameShare, but they cannot participate in online co-op, sadly.
While anime isn’t something I traditionally gravitate towards, the lineup at the Orbitals station and chatter online really speaks to the excitement around the game. After spending some time with the game, it is clear that Shapefarm Tokyo is doing something really special here, and that Orbitals is not only going to be a gorgeous game, but a satisfying co-op experience as well.
Orbitals will release exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 on September 2, 2026, for $53.29 CAD for the standard digital edition, $66.99 for the Digital Deluxe Edition, and $69.99 for the physical edition. You can head to Nintendo’s official site to preorder now.
