Order of the Sinking Star Overview
Order of the Sinking Star is a narrative puzzle adventure developed by Thekla, Inc., led by renowned game designer Jonathan Blow, known for titles such as Braid and The Witness. The game transports players to a realm filled with magic, enigma, and complex mechanics.
Designed as a "game design supercollider," the project aims to push the boundaries of puzzle game design. Rather than relying on a single concept, the game synthesizes ideas from multiple puzzle designers to create an expansive experience. Players will navigate four distinct worlds, each with its own mechanics, characters, and stories, which eventually collide and intertwine. The game boasts over 1000 hand-crafted puzzles, offering hundreds of hours of gameplay for dedicated solvers.
Character Voice Cast
The developers have confirmed an extensive voice cast that brings the game's narrative to life. The ensemble includes talent from across the film, television, and gaming industries:
- The Queen: Emily O’Brien (Death Stranding, Starfield)
- The Warrior: Liam O’Brien (Critical Role, The Legend of Vox Machina)
- The Wizard: Darin De Paul (Overwatch, Marvel's Spider-Man)
- The Bard: Anjali Bhimani (Overwatch, Ms. Marvel)
- The Sailor: Erica Luttrell (Apex Legends, Steven Universe)
- The Druid: Matthew Waterson (X-Men ’97, Hades II)
- Additional Talent: Erik Braa, Andrew Kishino, Jamieson K. Price, Sabrina Fest, and others.
Creator Jonathan Blow also makes a special appearance in the voice cast.
Gameplay and Design Foundations
The gameplay of Order of the Sinking Star is built upon the foundation of four specific puzzle titles, which the developers credit as the starting point for their design exploration:
- Skipping Stones to Lonely Homes by Alan Hazelden: A serene puzzle game focused on creating paths by throwing stones into water.
- Mirror Isles by Alan Hazelden: A top-down game centered on swapping positions with reflections.
- Promesst 1-3 by Sean Barrett: An abstract grid-based puzzler involving light beams.
- Heroes of Sokoban (1, 2, & 3) by Jonah Ostroff: A fantasy-themed game featuring unique hero classes with specific movement and pushing mechanics.
While these titles provided the starting point, the game is designed to explore the possibilities of merging these worlds, creating a vast, intricate puzzle landscape. The project also incorporates design contributions from developers such as Zach Polansky (Enigmash), Patrick Traynor (Patrick's Parabox), and Marc ten Bosch (Miegakure).
Release and Platform Information
Order of the Sinking Star officially releases on October 8, 2026. The game is available on the following platforms:
- PC (via Steam)
- Nintendo Switch 2
- PlayStation 5
Regarding localization, players should note that while the game launches with full Chinese text support, the Chinese voiceover is currently in production. According to developer updates shared with the community, the team is working closely with Gemiuster to ensure the quality of the voiceover, with an expected release approximately one month after the game's initial launch.
