How Many Puzzles Are in Order of the Sinking Star?

The Scale of Order of the Sinking Star

If you are wondering about the size and complexity of Order of the Sinking Star, you are likely looking for an idea of the time investment required. According to the official game website, the full game is designed to be an expansive narrative puzzle experience.

The game features over 1,000 hand-crafted, interconnected puzzles. Developer Thekla, Inc. estimates that for the most dedicated solvers, this content equates to more than 500 hours of gameplay. It is important to distinguish this from the earlier demo builds, which provided a limited slice of the experience. The full release is designed as a "game design supercollider," where mechanics from various puzzle sub-genres are merged to create a vast, intricate landscape rather than a single, linear progression path.

Gameplay Mechanics and Puzzle Diversity

The high puzzle count is supported by a variety of mechanics drawn from different puzzle design philosophies. The game is not limited to one style; instead, it incorporates elements from four distinct worlds, each with its own set of rules and characters.

Based on insights from the developer and community observations, the puzzle design foundation relies on merging systems from several influential indie puzzle titles:

• Movement and Positioning: Drawing inspiration from games like Heroes of Sokoban, players manage distinct hero classes—such as warriors and mages—each with unique pushing and pulling capabilities. You must consider their positioning carefully to navigate levels without getting stuck.
• Spatial Manipulation: Mechanics include top-down environmental puzzles where you swap places with reflections using a "magical looking glass" or manipulate light beams within grid-based cave environments.
• Interconnected Systems: The core challenge often arises when these disparate mechanics begin to overlap. As the four worlds collide, you will need to apply knowledge gained in one area to solve problems in another.

Exploring the Four Worlds

The game’s structure is divided into four distinct worlds. Players start by exploring these areas individually, learning their specific mechanics, characters, and stories. As you progress, these worlds begin to collide, intertwining their gameplay systems.

This structure allows for a "combinatoric explosion" of possibilities. Rather than repeating the same type of challenge, the game forces you to constantly adapt to new relationships between your avatar, the environment, and the objective. Whether you are managing hero classes to reach an exit or utilizing mirrors to clone your position, the game intends to push puzzle design past traditional limits.

FAQ

What platforms is the game available on?

Order of the Sinking Star is available on Steam, Nintendo Switch 2, and PlayStation 5.

Is the demo content part of the final game?

The demo provided a specific, limited look at the game's mechanics during its development phase (such as the Next Fest build). The full game is a significantly larger, complete experience with over 1,000 puzzles, far exceeding the content found in any pre-release demo.

Who is the developer of the game?

The game is developed by Thekla, Inc., led by renowned game designer Jonathan Blow, known for his previous work on titles like Braid and The Witness.