Skip to main content

Orbital Gear

Orbital Gear Game Cover
82%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
story, optimization
82% User Score Based on 895 reviews

Platforms

LinuxPCMac OSSteam DeckWindows
Buy Nowfrom $1.08
Buy NowGet on Steam
Orbital Gear Game Cover

About

Orbital Gear is a single player and multiplayer platformer game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Night Node and was released on August 7, 2014. It received positive reviews from players.

Orbital Gear is a sidescroller shooter where you utilize the gravitation of celestial objects to give your mech momentum through space. Arm your Mech with two of twelve different weapons and destroy your enemies. Orbital Gear features classic multiplayer gameplay with new mechanics and 3D graphics. Orbital Gear has classic deathmatch as the basis for multiplayer pandemonium but it also have a spe…

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Orbital Gear screenshot
Orbital Gear screenshot
Orbital Gear screenshot
Orbital Gear screenshot
Orbital Gear screenshot
Orbital Gear screenshot
Orbital Gear screenshot
Orbital Gear screenshot
Orbital Gear screenshot
Orbital Gear screenshot
Orbital Gear screenshot
+6
Skip User Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 895 reviews
gameplay93 positive mentions
story4 negative mentions
  • Unique and innovative gravity-based movement and combat mechanics create a fresh and exhilarating gameplay experience.
  • Fast-paced, skill-based multiplayer with a wide variety of weapons and tactical depth.
  • Great local multiplayer and couch co-op experience with friends, supported by an energetic electronic/synth soundtrack and clean, functional graphics.
  • Small and mostly dead online player base severely limits matchmaking and multiplayer experience, making it hard to find games without friends.
  • Limited single-player content that mainly consists of repetitive time trials, lacking AI bots or offline modes to sustain long-term engagement.
  • Some issues with controls being difficult to master or unintuitive initially, and occasional technical problems including lag, balance concerns, and lack of polish.
  • gameplay
    163 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is praised for its unique and fluid gravity-based mechanics, offering fast-paced, exhilarating 2D arena shooter action that stands out with diverse weapons and tactical depth. While enjoyable and rewarding once mastered, the experience is limited by repetitive content, a sparse player base, and lack of substantial single-player modes or expansions. Ultimately, it delivers a fresh, solid gameplay foundation best appreciated in multiplayer settings despite some confusing controls and scant longevity.

    • “When matches are populated and teams are evenly balanced, the gameplay can be exhilarating, with players darting between planets and engaging in fast-paced, multidirectional firefights.”
    • “Orbital Gear is a genuinely fun fast-paced 2D arena shooter with a clever gravity mechanic that lets you run and rocket-jump between planets — once it clicks, the movement feels incredibly fluid and satisfying.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics are great, online and local multiplayer is fun, the many different types of weapons provide many different ways to play, and once you get used to the unique movement mechanic, it's an amazing feeling to use gravity to zoom around different "planets".”
    • “Split screen is pretty bad for gameplay, and it seems there's some trouble getting general multiplayer to work.”
    • “All the maps look the same and the gameplay is less than average.”
    • “This game's control scheme combined with the mechanics of its physics is absolute garbage.”
  • graphics
    65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Orbital Gear features a bright, neon-infused 2D side-scrolling aesthetic with smooth, stylish, and unique 3D graphics that many find visually appealing and fitting for its fast-paced gameplay. While some praise its polished visuals, color choices, and effects, a few note that the graphics can feel basic, dated, or problematic on certain setups, with occasional UI and display issues. Overall, the graphics are considered good and charming for an indie title, though not cutting-edge or highly detailed by modern standards.

    • “Visually, Orbital Gear embraces a bright, neon-infused aesthetic that complements its high-speed gameplay.”
    • “The graphics are very well done with a unique 3D sidescroller feel.”
    • “Great visual design and graphics, with beautiful and creative environments!”
    • “On the topic of visuals, the weak-looking 2D retro assets seem like they'd be more at home in a browser game or a mobile app.”
    • “Game doesn't display correctly; half of the menu is off screen; lots of graphical issues; completely unplayable.”
    • “For 5-10 USD you get a game that's practically dead with dated graphics and bad UI.”
  • music
    46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's electronic and synth-driven soundtrack is widely praised for its energetic, adrenaline-pumping vibe that perfectly complements the fast-paced gameplay and atmosphere. While most find the music captivating and a highlight of the experience, a few users feel it leans too much into generic or repetitive electronic styles. Overall, the soundtrack significantly enhances immersion and excitement, making it a standout feature.

    • “The soundtrack, with its electronic and synth-driven style, reinforces the game’s energetic tone, adding to the sense of momentum that defines the experience.”
    • “Smooth fast paced gameplay coupled with trippy, delicious space backgrounds and a killer and stylish soundtrack really makes this game worth a buy.”
    • “The sound effects are stellar, and the music is a fun, pumping, tron-style track that matches the on-screen action to a t.”
    • “Ok game with monotone and annoying music.”
    • “Musics are below standards, they sound like electro music from someone who just discovered how to make a synth work.”
    • “I don't really like the soundtrack at all.”
  • story
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is a mixed experience, with some players finding it unclear or lacking a strong narrative and introduction, while others appreciate its humor and mission variety. Solo missions tend to feel boring or repetitive, and there is a recurring call for more engaging single-player storyline content or offline modes due to low online player availability. Overall, the story aspect feels secondary to gameplay, with emphasis on practice and weapon choice rather than a deep narrative.

    • “Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
    • “The controls are perfectly made for keyboard, the community is huge (surprised it's not an MMO) and the story for part is just wonderful.”
    • “No story, no introduction.”
    • “At first, you have no clue what to do because the game is unclear about it, so you start with missions and you muddle through that because of the trailer you saw of the game was cool and it had good reviews.”
    • “This game seriously needs more people, or even a one player storyline mission set.”
  • humor
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is widely praised for its humor and ability to generate laughter, especially when played with friends. Players find it hilarious and entertaining, often highlighting the fun chaos in multiplayer matches. Despite some offline missions being dull, the overall comedic experience makes it a great casual time-waster.

    • “A friend bought it for me for .99 and we were laughing at the shenanigans the whole time!”
    • “Really good fun game, get a few mates playing and it's hilarious.”
    • “I recommend playing this with friends; six of us in a private match got hectic and hilarious.”
  • optimization
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is subpar, with noticeable performance inconsistencies, poor netcode, and occasional technical issues that impact competitive play. It runs slower than expected, affecting smooth gameplay and precision.

    • “Technical issues, including occasional balance concerns and performance inconsistencies, further affect the experience, particularly in competitive matches where precision is important.”
    • “It's alright bar some poor performance, netcode and balance problems.”
    • “Seems not optimized, unnecessarily slow for what is actually running.”
  • replayability
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers moderate replayability through a single-player challenges section and ongoing developer updates, but its primary PvP focus limits replay value without an active player base. Replayability is strongest in local co-op or with friends, while solo play may feel less engaging over time.

    • “Single-player mode includes a challenges section with 80 levels that utilize all the game's weapons and items, offering solid replayability even if local co-op is not an option.”
    • “This game has great replay value, especially when played with friends.”
    • “The developers at Night Node continuously update the game with new content and fixes, significantly enhancing its replay value.”
    • “All in all, I recommend this game, but not for $10 given its lack of a player base despite the game's heavy reliance on needing one to keep its replayability since it's a PvP game first and foremost.”
    • “Lack of replayability.”
    • “Single-player does have a challenges section with 80 levels utilizing all the game's weapons and items; this offers some replayability if local co-op is not an option for you.”
  • stability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game runs smoothly on Linux without glitches or bugs, but some users experience freezes during startup. Overall stability appears good once the game is running.

    • “Runs great on Linux!”
    • “I did not play that much, but found no glitches or bugs.”
    • “Freezes on start up.”
  • grinding
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Grinding in the game mainly involves spending time in local multiplayer to unlock achievements, as the online mode is inactive. However, weapon trials offer a more enjoyable experience, and since all items are unlocked from the start, there's no need for extensive farming of weapons or skills.

    • “Online is dead as a doornail, and if you want the achievements prepare to spend some time grinding in local multiplayer against your own controllers one kill at a time, but the weapon trials are at least decently fun.”
  • atmosphere
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its energetic multiplayer chaos, detailed environments, and an awesome soundtrack, evoking a nostalgic feel similar to Quake 3.

    • “Fun multiplayer madness with great attention to atmosphere, awesome soundtrack, and fast-paced action.”
    • “I love the atmosphere in this game, it reminds me of Quake 3.”
  • monetization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization is praised for having no in-game purchases, ensuring a fair experience for all players.

    • “It is really interesting and there are no in-game purchases, making it fair for all players.”
  • emotional
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game evokes strong emotional responses, including moments that can bring players to tears.

Skip Game Offers

Buy Orbital Gear

Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like Orbital Gear

Games Like Orbital Gear

Robot Roller-Derby Disco Dodgeball Image
92%3.9kreviews

Robot Roller-Derby Disco Dodgeball

2015Casual Shooter
LinuxPCMac OS+1
Games like Robot Roller-Derby Disco Dodgeball
Strike Vector Image
70%1.1kreviews

Strike Vector

2014Arcade Shooter
PCWindows
Games like Strike Vector
Ratz Instagib Image
92%3.2kreviews

Ratz Instagib

2016Casual Shooter
PCMac OSWindows
Games like Ratz Instagib
The Mean Greens: Plastic Warfare Image
74%4.8kreviews

The Mean Greens: Plastic Warfare

2015Shooter
Nintendo SwitchPCPlaystation 4+4
Games like The Mean Greens: Plastic Warfare
Invisigun Reloaded Image
90%481reviews

Invisigun Reloaded

2017Action
Nintendo SwitchPlaystation 5Playstation 4+11
Games like Invisigun Reloaded
More games like Orbital Gear
Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Orbital Gear is a platformer game with science fiction theme.

Orbital Gear is available on PC, Mac OS, Steam Deck, Windows and others.

Orbital Gear was released on August 7, 2014.

Orbital Gear was developed by Night Node.

Orbital Gear has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked Orbital Gear for its gameplay but disliked it for its story.

Orbital Gear is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Robot Roller-Derby Disco Dodgeball, Strike Vector, Ratz Instagib, The Mean Greens: Plastic Warfare, Invisigun Reloaded and others.