0RBITALIS

71%
Game Brain Score Based on 226 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
0RBITALIS Game Cover
0rbitalis is a real class act, and one of the best puzzle games in recent memory. Minimalism is achieved without sacrificing sophistication, and for such a small game it has the potential for hours of engrossing gameplay.
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"0RBITALIS is an arcade-style single-player game with good mechanics and graphics, where you launch satellites into orbit and navigate through various celestial bodies, competing against rival probes and using features like teleports and bullet time. The Supernova Edition includes 100 levels, 39 achievements, a level editor, a digital art book, and a 12-track soundtrack."

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

71%
Audience ScoreBased on 226 reviews
gameplay19 positive mentions
story4 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique and engaging concept centered around orbital mechanics, providing a fun challenge for players.
  • The minimalistic art style and ambient soundtrack create a relaxing atmosphere, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
  • The game offers a variety of levels and mechanics, keeping gameplay fresh and encouraging experimentation with different launch strategies.
  • Many players find the game to be heavily reliant on trial and error, leading to frustration rather than a sense of accomplishment.
  • Performance issues, such as lag and a locked resolution, detract from the gameplay experience, making it difficult for some players to enjoy.
  • The lack of clear instructions or tutorials can leave players confused about objectives and mechanics, hindering their ability to progress.
  • gameplay74 mentions

    The gameplay of 0rbitalis is centered around orbital mechanics, offering a mix of simple controls and a variety of mechanics that can be engaging for players interested in physics and puzzles. However, many reviews highlight a frustrating trial-and-error approach, with a lack of clear feedback and guidance leading to a reliance on luck rather than skill. While the game can be addictive and visually appealing, it may become repetitive and lacks a strong sense of progression or clear objectives.

    • “The gameplay itself uses a small dotted red line coming out from your satellite that shows the path that the thing is going to take.”
    • “Addictive, fun, and beautifully simple orbital mechanics intuition puzzler.”
    • “The minimalist aesthetic and great soundtrack all draw the focus onto the gameplay itself, also being of a minimalistic approach.”
    • “The very limited amount of player feedback makes success and failure feel more based on luck than learning the mechanics of the game.”
    • “It throws you in at the deep end without a tutorial, and learning the mechanics can be incredibly frustrating.”
    • “Most of the gameplay consists of trial and error.”
  • graphics50 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalistic art style that is functional and clear, aiding gameplay without distractions. However, many users report significant performance issues, including framerate drops and lag, even on powerful systems, suggesting poor optimization despite the simple visuals. Overall, while the graphics are described as basic and sometimes charming, they are also criticized for being outdated and lacking depth, with limited options for customization.

    • “The minimalist aesthetic and great soundtrack all draw the focus onto the gameplay itself, also being of a minimalistic approach.”
    • “An easy to learn, difficult to master game that is presented in an entrancing, minimalist graphical style that is, like gravity, beautiful in its simplicity.”
    • “Very well designed levels and stunning graphics, seems that the developer paid a lot of attention to little details.”
    • “Level design is generally good, however many levels and menus suffer from framerate issues, and the graphics quality settings have no indication of high vs low settings.”
    • “The graphics are very basic.”
    • “For some bizarre reason I had problems with the graphics - the game ran very poorly at first, despite the fact that it seems like it shouldn't be so hard to run.”
  • music29 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its ambient and relaxing qualities that enhance the gameplay experience, while others find it monotonous and lacking in variety. Notably, the soundtrack by doseone is praised for its hypnotic and beautiful elements, though some moments can feel grating or generic. Overall, while the music complements the minimalist aesthetic and space setting, many players feel it could benefit from more variety and engagement.

    • “Hypnotic, beautiful, with a relaxing soundtrack by doseone, you should totally give this a go.”
    • “The music adds to the atmosphere to give an absolutely delightful gameplay experience.”
    • “The minimalist aesthetic and great soundtrack all draw the focus onto the gameplay itself, also being of a minimalistic approach.”
    • “Oh, and the music is... not great.”
    • “The 'music' is very monotone, and it would be nice if you could turn off the sound.”
    • “Cons- for those who expect games to have solid soundtracks, you will not find one here.”
  • story10 mentions

    The game's story is largely criticized for its absence, with many reviewers noting that it feels more like a series of fetch quests rather than a cohesive narrative. While there is a significant amount of content, players find it lacks depth and storytelling, making it feel more like a puzzle game without a compelling plot. Overall, the experience is described as fun but ultimately devoid of a meaningful story.

    • “There are a couple of levels that just took way too long due to RNG, but despite this, I highly recommend trying this game and completing the base story.”
    • “Did you as a kid marvel at the science behind the NASA Voyager missions?”
    • “The opening missions challenge you to keep your satellite in the planetary system for a set time.”
    • “Story: 01/10”
    • “There's no story.”
    • “No story in this game (as yet), it's purely a puzzle game.”
  • optimization9 mentions

    The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting locked resolution and framerate, limited video settings, and performance issues that persist regardless of hardware capabilities. Many describe the experience as reminiscent of a poorly optimized flash game, leading to a frustrating grind rather than enjoyable gameplay. While some find the core concept appealing, the overall execution suffers from significant optimization flaws that detract from the experience.

    • “Despite a few problems with the game's performance, the gameplay is enjoyable and keeps the player engaged in beating their previous records.”
    • “The concept is solid, but the game does nothing to actually follow up on it other than a mere visual presentation, which is apparently not graphically optimized.”
    • “It seems like it has some serious optimization issues on high-quality graphics settings, but lowering them doesn't seem to change much except for a distortion effect on the screen.”
    • “Starts out okay, but gradually and surely it becomes an unfun grind of trial and error. Not to mention the locked resolution and framerate; the game feels like a poorly optimized flash game.”
    • “You can't change the video settings in any meaningful way, so if you have any problems with performance, you're stuck with them.”
    • “It seems like it's got some serious optimization issues on high-quality graphics settings, but bumping them down doesn't seem to change much except for a distortion effect on the screen.”
  • atmosphere9 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive quality, reminiscent of titles like Osmos and Pixel Junk: Eden, creating a unique and engaging world for players. The combination of simple yet appealing graphics and a well-crafted soundtrack enhances the overall experience, making it a standout feature of the game. However, some players noted inconsistencies, such as the automatic decay of orbits that detracts from the narrative immersion.

    • “I really enjoyed the game, as the atmosphere it creates and the idea of the game itself are very well made and executed.”
    • “The atmosphere in the game is immersive in its own way, and you will feel like you're in your own little world.”
    • “The music adds to the atmosphere to give an absolutely delightful gameplay experience.”
    • “There is no aerobraking when you are deep in a planet's atmosphere.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    Replayability is generally viewed as high for those who enjoy the game and seek to improve their skills, offering hours of fun and challenges. However, some players find it less appealing after a quick completion, indicating that its replay value may not resonate with everyone. Overall, it caters well to competitive players but may not hold long-term interest for casual gamers.

    • “Not everyone's cup of tea, but if you like it, it's hours of replayable fun and frustration.”
    • “I beat it pretty quickly, but the replay value is definitely there.”
    • “A really simple game with great atmosphere and high replayability.”
    • “I beat it pretty quickly, but the replay value is definitely lacking.”
    • “I'm not one of those players trying to top the leaderboards, so the replayability is not very good.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as both mind-blowing and frustrating, often eliciting a mix of laughter and exasperation, particularly during challenging gameplay moments. Players find the combination of difficulty and comedic elements to create a uniquely entertaining experience, even when faced with setbacks.

    • “Funny or better to say mind-blowing (like a 'kill me now' situation) game.”
    • “Funny and hard game... frustrating... especially when you cannot set the satellite to orbit for more than 4-8 seconds.”
    • “Fast, challenging, and funny.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mix of luck and tedium, with some levels feeling overly challenging without requiring skill. This leads to a lack of motivation to replay the game, as the effort often feels unfulfilling despite the challenge it presents.

    • “Some of the challenge levels are complete luck, with no skill involved, and some of the levels are just incredibly tedious to complete.”
    • “I would not mind this as it does add an aspect of challenge to the game; unfortunately, there is no desire when you finish playing to go back to it, because you know it's tedious work and not all that fulfilling when you finally get through.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Overall, the game demonstrates decent stability, with users noting some lag in controls but reporting no significant glitches.

    • “The game frequently crashes, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
    • “I experienced constant frame drops and stuttering, which ruined the immersion.”
    • “There are numerous bugs that disrupt gameplay, leading to frustrating moments.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

60% average critic score

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