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About Orbital
Orbital is a 2D space exploration and colony simulation game from Night Sky Dogs, released on June 30, 2026 for PC. It tasks you with traveling through star systems to scan planets, establish colonies, and guide alien civilizations through branching story events. The game blends resource management with narrative decision-making, letting you choose how life evolves on each world. Its art style is minimalist yet charming, focusing on the quiet wonder of cosmic discovery. Think of it as a slower, more introspective take on space colony games, where pacing and choice matter more than combat or conflict.
Gameplay
You control a spaceship moving in a top-down 2D view, navigating solar systems by jumping between stars. Each planet you land on requires balancing resources like energy, food, and population to sustain colonies. The real depth comes from story-driven events, like mediating wars or deciding which species to prioritize, that shape a civilization’s future. Sessions feel methodical: scan a planet for 10 minutes, build infrastructure for 15, then spend 5 minutes resolving a dialogue tree. Controls are straightforward, with mouse clicks handling most actions. The game lacks time limits, letting you pause exploration for as long as needed.
What Players Think
Orbital holds a 4.3/5 on PlayPile, with 82% of Metacritic critics calling it “a serene yet thoughtful experience.” Players average 15, 20 hours, and 78% finish all story arcs. Community moods lean heavily toward “relaxed” (65%) and “curious” (30%), though 5% report frustration with resource management tutorials. One user wrote, “Feeling the weight of choices without pressure is rare.” Another noted, “The slow burn pays off.” The game costs $39.99 and includes 45 achievements, with 92% of players unlocking at least 20.
PlayPile's Take
Orbital works best for players who enjoy slow-paced, narrative-driven management. Its $39.99 price tag and optional achievements make it a low-risk buy. If you’re tired of frantic space sims and want something where reflection matters more than reflexes, this fits. But skip it if you crave action or don’t care about branching stories. The game’s real strength is its ability to make cosmic loneliness feel peaceful, not empty.
Game Modes
Single player
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