Publishers Arc Games and Gamirror Games have released *Order of the Sinking Star*, the latest title from Jonathan Blow (*Braid*, *The Witness*) and developed by Thekla. As of this writing, the game has an “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating on Steam, with 96% of 500 reviews being positive.
Over 1,000 Handcrafted Puzzles… A Masterpiece of Madness
This title is Jonathan Blow’s new puzzle-adventure game, released a full 10 years after *The Witness*. Its most striking feature is its sheer scale: it includes over 1,000 handcrafted puzzles and hundreds of hours of gameplay, aiming to become the definitive puzzle-adventure game of this generation.
The game features designers who have collaborated on its development for many years, and Blow describes how he was able to bring together the ideas of the industry’s most talented puzzle designers by creating a sort of “game design supercollider.”
In the game, players control a cast of unique heroes—including a queen, a thief, a warrior, a wizard, and a talking ship—as they explore four vast worlds, each with its own distinct mechanics and story. As these worlds collide and merge, the puzzle mechanics become intricately intertwined, offering unexpected new gameplay experiences.
The game features a nonlinear, open-world design, so if you get stuck in one world, you can move to another and return once you’re ready. It appears to be designed to be enjoyable for both hardcore puzzle fans and beginners alike.
This title was counted among the most-played demos at the Steam Next Fest held in June, already demonstrating its high level of polish.
Key Features
An innovative puzzle adventure featuring
dozens of game mechanics that challenge you with a thousand intertwined trials, offering hundreds of hours of unique gameplay. Each puzzle builds upon the elements that came before, and discovering new elements satisfies your curiosity and thirst for exploration.Choose your path and set your own pace as you freely explore four
vast and mysterious worlds. Each world has its own rules, dangers, and secrets, and you can tackle the puzzles you discover whenever you like.Control
an unexpected cast of heroes: a queen, a thief, a warrior, a wizard, and a talking ship—a diverse cast of heroes takes the stage. Each character possesses abilities that complement one another, weaving a captivating story.Unraveling
a Grand Mystery As characters meet and worlds collide, the story begins to unfold. Through gameplay and the journals you collect, the truth behind this mysterious realm is gradually revealed.
“Order of the Sinking Star,” which also supports Japanese, is now available on PC (Steam). It is scheduled for release on PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026.
