Orbital Bullet is a classic action roguelike with an unconventional twist. Developed by SmokeStab, it relies on familiar 2D sidescrolling mechanics, but instead of moving from left to right, the levels rotate – creating the feeling of running around a small planet.

According to the testers at Tech-Gaming, the 360-degree perspective in Orbital Bullet does more than introduce a visual novelty – it also opens up new strategic possibilities. Projectiles follow the circular structure of the levels, which are built around a central core and linked to additional stages via ziplines or teleporters. Beyond that, the gameplay remains firmly rooted in roguelike traditions: procedurally generated runs encourage players to push as far as possible before starting over after each defeat. Progress, however, is not entirely lost – nanobytes collected along the way can be exchanged for permanent upgrades.

With dynamic skill trees, more than 40 weapons and upgrades, four playable classes with unique abilities, and a streak system that increases difficulty after each successful run, Orbital Bullet offers solid long-term motivation. In Tech-Gaming’s review, the game scored 73 out of 100. Criticism focused on finer details, including an uneven difficulty curve, imprecise enemy attacks, and minor UI issues. On Steam, the game has received roughly 750 user reviews so far, with 86% rated positively.

90% discount on Steam

Orbital Bullet launched in March 2022 and typically sells for around $17 on Steam. At the moment, however, it is available for just $1.70 thanks to a 90% discount, valid until January 20. According to SteamDB, this price has been offered several times before, but it remains the lowest the game has ever reached. One drawback is the lack of Steam Deck compatibility (currently available for around $480 on Amazon).

Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.

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As a child in the 90s, my Gameboy was my steady companion. After school, the PlayStation was fired up. When I finally got my first PC, I was completely hooked. My passion for gaming has never waned since. For me, writing for Notebookcheck means reporting on topics that are really close to my heart – in addition to gaming, I also like to write about e-mobility, photovoltaics and innovative gadgets. When I’m not sitting at my computer, I’m probably on water rescue duty on the Baltic coast or trying to counteract the downsides of my geek life – namely sitting for long periods – at the local swimming pool.