Order of the Sinking Star is a sprawling puzzle adventure directed by Jonathan Blow, but the available hands-on coverage is a demo report—not evidence of a ten-hour run through the released game. Steam and Nintendo list an October 8, 2026 release; the US PlayStation Store still gives the PS5 version no date.
What is Order of the Sinking Star?
Order of the Sinking Star is a single-player puzzle adventure developed by Thekla, Inc. and directed by Jonathan Blow, whose earlier games include Braid and The Witness. Steam credits Arc Games and Gamirror Games as publishers. Its adventure connects four worlds, each with distinct characters and puzzle rules; as the worlds and characters converge, their mechanics can interact. ([Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/ marred))
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The puzzle systems include exploration, character abilities, moving blocks, beams, reflection-based movement, hazards, and narrative clues. In a January 2026 interview with PC Gamer, Blow described his design philosophy this way: “One thing that I used to try to tell people is, ‘Look, if you’re making a puzzle game—if it’s just a difficulty challenge that’s not really that interesting, you want it to be about something and you want what it’s about to be good.” That is Blow’s stated aim, not an independent verdict on how well the finished game achieves it. (PC Gamer, January 7, 2026)
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What does the hands-on preview show?
A July 21, 2026 PlayStation Blog preview by Corey Brotherson describes a demo that begins with the Queen, who learns grid-based object-pushing and an undo/rewind mechanic before opening up several routes. The examples offer a useful sense of how the puzzle rules vary between areas:
#1 Best Overall
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Brotherson reports that enemies and new character abilities add puzzle complications without turning the game into combat. Several hours into the demo, characters from different regions begin combining their powers. The fourth region was not available in that demo. These are observations from one preview build, not a complete account of the released game. (PlayStation Blog, July 21, 2026)
How long is Order of the Sinking Star?
A typical completion time has not been established by the sources available here. The scale figures are promotional descriptions, not measured playthroughs:
Rank #2
- PATHS & MODULES: Expansion introduces new strategic paths and asymmetric modules for each of the four global superpowers. Includes specialized gameplay modules and upgrades originally unlocked during the campaign.
- AUTOMA RULES: New rules allow you to play solo against one or several automas or to include them into your multiplayer games. With two difficulty levels, they will adapt their challenge to new players and seasoned ones.
- SUPERPOWER OBJECTIVES: Your objectives now reflect strategic orientations of real-world superpowers. NEW STRATEGIC ASSETS: Discover new tactical possibilities with these 12 new cards.
- NEW CARDS: 4 new ability cards enhance the game and give more interactions between players. 2 new growth cards sets renew your game experience. Replace or combine with growth cards from base game.
- SHAPING THE WORLD THROUGH STRATEGY & STRENGTH: Expansion - Diplomacy & Dominance add a new strategic layer to World Order with new challenges and game modes which will test your skills.
- Steam and Nintendo describe more than 1,000 handcrafted puzzles and hundreds of hours of unique gameplay.
- Thekla’s official game site says more than 500 hours await the most dedicated solvers. That is a claim about available content for highly committed players, not a typical completion estimate. (Thekla official game site)
- The July PlayStation Blog demo preview refers to 900+ levels, a separate figure from the storefront puzzle count. (PlayStation Blog, July 21, 2026)
None of these figures verifies a ten-hour playthrough of the final game. The preview describes several hours in a demo, with one of the four regions unavailable, so it should not be read as a review or a full-game time estimate. (Steam listing; Nintendo listing)
When does it come out, and which platforms are listed?
As of October 7, 2026, Steam and Nintendo’s US store list October 8, 2026, while the US PlayStation Store lists the PS5 release date as “to be determined.” The dates are storefront-specific; the PS5 timing should not be assumed to match the other two.
Rank #3
- 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.
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| Platform | Store listing and features | Practical details |
|---|---|---|
| PC (Steam) | Planned release October 8, 2026; single-player, Steam achievements, Steam Cloud, and Family Sharing. English full audio and subtitles are listed, with additional interface and subtitle languages. | Minimum requirements list Windows 10 or later, 8 GB RAM, DirectX 12, and 14 GB available storage. Check the current Steam page for updated requirements. (Steam listing, accessed October 7, 2026) |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | Nintendo’s US store lists a digital edition for October 8, 2026, for one player. TV, tabletop, and handheld play modes are listed. | Estimated download size: 18.9 GB. (Nintendo US store, accessed October 7, 2026) |
| PlayStation 5 | The US PlayStation Store lists the PS5 version, offline play, one player, DualSense vibration, and basic subtitles for the main story and main characters. | Release date: to be determined on the US listing. (PlayStation Store, US listing accessed October 7, 2026) |
Language coverage differs between the Steam and Nintendo store pages, so check the listing for the platform and region you plan to use rather than assuming identical localization. The cited listings do not establish cross-platform saves, performance comparisons, or feature parity.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is it coming to PS5?
Yes. The US PlayStation Store has a PS5 product listing, but as of October 7, 2026 it says the release date is to be determined. It lists offline play, one player, DualSense vibration, and basic subtitles for the main story and main characters. That is distinct from the October 8 dates listed by Steam and Nintendo. (US PlayStation Store)
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 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
Rank #4
- DESIGNED BY SCOTT ALMES: Created by the renowned designer of the Tiny Epic series, Starfall offers a clever and compact strategy experience. It combines accessible rules with deep tactical decisions, perfect for strategy gamers and hobbyists.
- UNIQUE "FALLING STAR" MARKET: Features a dynamic "Dutch Auction" mechanism. Night Sky Cards are placed on the board and their cost decreases as they are moved down the track. Players must decide: buy now at a high price, or wait for the price to drop and risk an opponent snatching it first.
- TIGHT RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: You start with a limited supply of Star Tokens (Currency), and you cannot gain more during the game. Managing your budget is critical; spending too much early on leaves you helpless in the endgame while rivals buy cheap stars.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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