Order of the Sinking Star is an ambitious puzzle adventure from Jonathan Blow and Thekla, Inc., advertised as more than 1,000 interconnected puzzles across four worlds. But with its planned Steam release still a day away on October 7, 2026, there is not yet a basis for calling the finished game a masterpiece: the available coverage is a brief pre-release preview, not a full review.
What is Order of the Sinking Star?
Order of the Sinking Star is a puzzle adventure directed by Jonathan Blow and developed by Thekla, Inc. Steam lists Arc Games and Gamirror Games as publishers. Its official pitch describes four distinct worlds, each with its own rules, characters, and dangers, connected by more than 1,000 hand-crafted puzzles. As players progress, the game says, mechanics evolve and systems from different worlds combine. The story unfolds through play and notes found in the world. Steam’s official listing calls the design a “game design supercollider”—promotional language, not an independent assessment.
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The announced foundations include Skipping Stones to Lonely Homes and Mirror Isles by Alan Hazelden; Promesst 1–3 by Sean Barrett; and Heroes of Sokoban (1, 2, & 3) by Jonah Ostroff. The listing says the game builds on these designs and combines their systems in unexpected ways. It also credits design contributions from Zach Polansky (Enigmash), Patrick Traynor (Patrick’s Parabox), Marc ten Bosch (Miegakure), and others.
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How many puzzles are there, and how does progression work?
The official Steam description advertises more than 1,000 interconnected, hand-crafted puzzles spread across four worlds. That is the game’s stated count, not a separately verified tally. A PC Gamer pre-release preview describes an overworld that players can explore in a chosen order; fog clears as puzzles and stages are completed, and the systems become more complex as the worlds collide. The preview also says players do not need to solve every puzzle to reach the endgame.
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Those details come from a short, hands-off demonstration, so they describe the announced structure rather than confirming how the full game feels to play. The nonlinear layout may suit players who like choosing where to explore and returning to puzzles later; whether its guidance and progression work well across the complete adventure remains unreviewed.
How long is Order of the Sinking Star?
Jonathan Blow estimated to PC Gamer that a typical completionist might spend around 500 hours in the game, while stressing: “This is not a promise of any kind.” Treat the figure as a developer estimate, not a measured average, guaranteed campaign length, or time required to reach the ending. The same preview says reaching the endgame does not require solving every puzzle, so the estimate applies to a completionist approach rather than every player.
Rank #2
- Order Up: In this frantic tossing, fish flopping, order filling game, it's your team of fish mongers against the clock to fill orders by flipping cards and tossing the electronic fish back and forth.
- Flopping Fish Timer: Keep track of your time in each round with the wobbly fish timer that plays sound and flops around as you throw it between players!
- Fun, Cooperative Play: This cooperative game is perfect for your next family game night or group gathering as you play together to try and beat your score and climb the levels to Master Fishmonger! For 2-6 players ages 8 and up!
- 3 Levels: Once your team has mastered Level 1, there are 2 more levels of play, each with more fish, more orders, and more disruptions to try and beat the clock!
- Easy, Quick Play: With easy-to-follow setup instructions for each level of play, Order Up! Fish Market is quick and fun to play, so you can test your skills again and again to improve your score and try to beat level 3!
What platforms is it coming to?
The official website announces versions for Steam, Nintendo Switch 2, and PlayStation 5. Steam’s launch announcement also references Steam Deck. These are announced platforms; check each live storefront for current release status and availability before buying.
Can your PC run it?
Steam lists the following Windows requirements. The store page is the place to confirm the latest specifications, since requirements and availability can change.
| Requirement | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | 64-bit Windows 10 or later with latest update | Not stated on Steam |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-6600K or AMD Ryzen R5 1600 | Intel Core i5-9600K or AMD Ryzen R5 3600 |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Ti, AMD Radeon RX 580, or Intel Arc A380 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 2070 Ti, AMD Radeon RX 5700, or Intel Arc B5700 |
| DirectX | Version 12 | Version 12 |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Storage | 14 GB available space | 14 GB available space |
The listed graphics model names are reproduced as Steam displays them. Verify the live listing if you are checking compatibility against a specific PC.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is it worth buying?
There is not enough post-launch evidence to give a responsible verdict on puzzle quality, performance, accessibility, value, or whether the game earns “masterpiece” status. Steam showed no user reviews in the pre-release information available on October 7, 2026, and the PC Gamer preview was not a full-game review. The planned Steam launch date is October 8, 2026; wait for full-game reviews or assess the released build if you need evidence beyond the announced design and preview.
Rank #4
- FUN and fast-paced board game that will have players strategising and sabotaging. Sinking City can be enjoyed all year round and is a must-have addition to games collections for school summer holidays or cosy winter nights.
- PLAYERS : 2+6 or teams
- AGES: 13+
- CONTENTS: Game Board, Instructions, 1 x Wooden Die, 6 x Playing Pieces, tokens, tiles, cards
- Let the games continue, this product has been designed to keep , please enjoy, replay, and give away for further play
For now, the clearest way to judge fit is to consider whether you want a very large, interconnected puzzle adventure and are comfortable exploring a nonlinear world. The official site lists Steam, Nintendo Switch 2, and PlayStation 5; Steam also references Steam Deck. Check the relevant storefront for live availability and platform-specific details.
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