- Gem puzzle basics: You must collect 20 gems across the basement and upper floors of the giant overworld level.
- Activation squares: Floor squares only turn blue and activate when all adjacent powerup gems in that section are placed.
- Block pushing: You can push blocks and gems you are looking at, and pushes move everything in contact.
- Key tool: The displacer rod is required for some objects; demo areas block access without it.
- Reward: Placing all 20 gems triggers a major story scene and opens new map areas.
Gem Puzzle Overview: How the Mechanic Works
The Order of the Sinking Star gem puzzle is the centerpiece of the game's massive overworld puzzle level. You explore a multi-floor dungeon (basement and upstairs areas), collecting gems and placing them onto activation pedestals. Each gem can also be physically pushed around the grid, which is where most of the difficulty comes from: push a gem into a dead-end corner and you may trap it permanently.
The core rules you need to internalize before attempting the full clear:
| Mechanic | How It Works | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Gem pushing | Push any gem/block you are facing; pushes chain to touching objects | ★★★★ |
| Activation squares | Turn blue only when all gems in that square's group are placed | ★★★ |
| Section linking | A powerup must be activated in its own section to affect another | ★★★★ |
| Trapping hazards | Wrong pushes can lock gems behind blocks with no undo | ★★★★★ |
| Teleport gems | Red blockers and two-space movers open sealed paths | ★★★ |
Video Highlights:
- Collecting all 20 gems in the basement overworld level
- How activation squares indicate which gems pair together
- Using block pushing to free trapped gems
- The reward scene after placing the final gem
Before pushing any gem, trace its full travel path. Pushes affect every object in contact, so one careless nudge can shove a gem into a sealed pocket. If that happens, you may have to undo a long chain of moves to recover it.
Reading Activation Squares and Gem Pairing
Activation squares are your primary diagnostic tool. When you stand in a grid square containing gem sockets, it will not light up blue until every gem belonging to that group is placed. If a square stays dark, you are missing a companion gem elsewhere in the level.
Identify the square's gem group
Stand inside the square and note how many sockets it contains. Each socket corresponds to one gem somewhere in the level.
Place the gems you already hold
Fill every socket you can. Partial placements show progress but do not activate anything.
Hunt the missing gem in its own section
Remember: a powerup must be activated inside its own section before it can affect objects elsewhere. Cross-section activation is the key to freeing trapped gems.
Return and confirm the blue glow
Once the square activates, new paths, portals, or block-destroying effects unlock in that area.
If a socket's partner gem is trapped or unreachable, do not waste a gem there. Place your gems where they are immediately useful and return later with better movement powers.
Basement Walkthrough: Freeing the Trapped Gems
Three to four gems in the basement are always locked behind pushable blocks. The sequence below covers the reliable extraction order.
| Gem Location | Obstacle | Solution | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Behind wall block near entrance | Single block | Face it and push twice to clear the lane | Low |
| Green chamber gem | Green barrier | Remove gems, exit, re-enter from facing angle to push blocker | Medium |
| Top-left upper gem | Sealed ledge | Push supporting block to build a bridge route | Medium |
| Bottom-middle pocket gem | Nested blocks | Push chain left repeatedly, destroy the shifting block | High |
| Portal-locked gem | Portal anchor | Activate the section's powerup, delete the portal, collect | Medium |
Clear the easy basement gems first
Sweep the open areas and place every freely accessible gem. This builds activation progress cheaply.
Use the two-space mover and red blocker
The orange-yellow mover shifts you two spaces, which is often exactly enough to reach a pushing angle on the red blocker guarding a gem.
Push trapped gems left in a sustained chain
For the deep pocket gem, keep pushing objects consistently in one direction. Intervening hazards may shift your target, so destroy them before continuing.
Collect and deposit at the pedestal
Once all 20 gems are in hand, return to the gem receptacle. Each placement plays a confirmation sound — count them.
When freeing gems in enclosed chambers, always verify your exit path before pushing the final block. Removing a green barrier gem can lock you inside with no way to push anything out.
Common Mistakes and How to Recover
Gem Trading Loop
- Swapping gems between sockets without progress
- Fix: Withdraw completely and re-plan which gems activate which sections
Pushed Into a Corner
- Gem shoved against a wall with no facing angle
- Fix: Look for a block-destroying powerup or a reset point for that block
Wrong-Section Activation
- Powerup placed where it has no target
- Fix: Carry it to a square with an activation device in its own section
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Recovery Method |
|---|---|---|
| Square refuses to glow | Partner gem missing or misplaced | Recall gems, re-check the socket count |
| Gem "disappears" mid-push | Displacement effect triggered | Re-scan the room; gems move, not vanish |
| Cannot reach a ledge | No pushing angle available | Reset a nearby block and rebuild the bridge |
| Stuck in a chamber | Exit block pushed inward | Use teleport gem or two-space mover |
The overworld level does not offer convenient per-move undo. A major mis-push can require reversing an entire chain of moves — plan before you push.
Rewards and Post-Puzzle Progress
Placing the final gem triggers a significant story beat: fragments of the book come together, revealing that this pocket was discovered before and deliberately buried, and that Lurca's origins tie directly to the egg-shaped artifact you obtain. The puzzle also opens the portal, unlocks fast travel points, and connects new sections of the overworld map, including the mirror aisles area.
- A major story dialogue scene about the Pinthians and the buried pocket
- Portal access and new overworld map sections
- A new fast travel point
- Progress toward the demo's 105 total puzzles
Gem Puzzle Completion Checklist:
- Collect all freely accessible basement gems
- Free all block-trapped gems using push chains
- Activate every blue activation square
- Deposit all 20 gems at the pedestal
- Watch the story scene and claim the new map areas
FAQ
Q: How many gems do I need for the Order of the Sinking Star gem puzzle?
You need 20 gems total. They are split between the basement and the upper floor of the giant overworld level. Gems 13, 14, and 15 sit in the basement's lower section, and at least one final gem hides in the bottom-middle pocket.
Q: Why won't my activation square turn blue?
Activation squares only light up when every gem in that square's group is placed. A dark square means a companion gem is missing, trapped, or placed in the wrong section. Check the socket count to see how many gems the square expects.
Q: What should I do if I push a gem somewhere useless?
Look for a way to re-face the gem and push it back, or use a block reset if one is available. If the gem is fully cornered, you may need a block-destroying powerup activated in that section to clear the obstruction.
Q: Can I do anything past the blocked territory in the demo?
No. Signs in the demo state that territory beyond certain points is not accessible and unlocks in the full game. Items like the displacer rod and the skipping stones mechanics are reserved for the complete release.