- Order of the Sinking Star review: A stunning Sokoban-based puzzle game directed by Jonathan Blow.
- Core hook: Over 1,000 puzzles built on simple push-block rules with escalating twists.
- Regional mechanics: Pull-only characters, position swapping, mirrors, and placeable crystals.
- Story so far: Told via audio notes and dialogue; narrative is secondary to the puzzles.
- Verdict: Already one of the most polished puzzle experiences of 2026, even in early access.
Order of the Sinking Star Review Overview
This Order of the Sinking Star review breaks down the latest puzzle game from director Jonathan Blow, the mind behind Braid and The Witness. If you know those titles, you already know the formula: simple mechanics that are easy to pick up, followed by puzzles that grow deceptively complex. You play as a girl who wakes in a realm of magic and monsters, starting from the center of a massive map and free to explore visually distinct regions in any direction.
Video Highlights:
- Hands-on impressions from the Steam Next Fest early access demo
- Over 1,000 Sokoban-based puzzles with creative rule variations
- Mirror mechanics and crystal placement highlighted as standout systems
- Story delivered through audio notes and character dialogue
The core loop is instantly familiar to anyone who has touched Sokoban since Hiroyuki Imabayashi created it back in 1981: push objects to target locations. Boxes can only be pushed, never pulled, and every move risks boxing yourself into a deadlock. What makes this game special is how radically it reinvents that foundation without ever abandoning it.
| Aspect | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Puzzle Design | ★★★★★ | Consistently inventive, deceptively simple solutions |
| Accessibility | ★★★★☆ | Easy to learn, no hand-holding tutorials |
| Story | ★★★☆☆ | Intriguing but secondary; not all characters voiced yet |
| Polish (Early Access) | ★★★★★ | Remarkably refined demo build |
| Difficulty Curve | ★★★★☆ | Steady escalation, occasionally brutal |
If you loved The Witness or Braid, this is an easy recommendation. Even players who consider themselves bad at puzzle games will find the core mechanics welcoming — the challenge ramps up gradually, and stumped moments feel fair rather than cheap.
Core Mechanics: Sokoban Reimagined
The genius of Order of the Sinking Star is that no matter how complex the mechanics become, the goal never changes: get an object to its target location. Only the methods shift, constantly and cleverly.
Push (Classic Sokoban)
- The baseline rule set
- Push boulders toward targets
- Avoid deadlocks and self-trapping
- Taught by the first character you meet
Pull-Only Character
- Can only pull boulders behind her
- Inverts classic Sokoban logic
- Forces entirely new route planning
Position Swap
- Switch places with a boulder by looking at it head-on
- Works at any distance
- Enables creative long-range setups
Multi-Character Puzzles
- Control two or more characters at once
- Actions can undo each other
- Positioning every actor matters
Multi-character puzzles are where things get seriously tricky. One character can pull a boulder out of the way, but if she is not positioned carefully, another character may switch places with her just by looking at her — undoing an entire solution in a single glance.
Characters with the swap ability trigger on line of sight. Before committing to a move, check every direction each character is facing. A single misaligned glance can collapse minutes of careful setup.
Region-by-Region Breakdown
Each cardinal direction from the map's center leads to a region with its own mechanical identity. Story fragments surface as you revisit the memories of other characters solving their own puzzles.
| Region | Signature Mechanic | Complexity | Review Impression |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Area | Classic push, pull, and swap rules | Low to Medium | Perfect teaching pace |
| Eastern Region | Mirror mechanic — swap with your reflection | Medium to High | Reviewer's favorite; deeply satisfying solutions |
| Western Region | Pick-up and place crystals to open pathways and break objects | High | The most complex region in the demo |
Swapping positions with your reflection creates puzzle setups that feel almost impossible until the solution clicks. When it does, the payoff is one of the most satisfying moments in the entire demo — expect at least one puzzle in the mirror aisles to stump you for hours.
Story, Presentation, and Voice Work
The narrative is delivered through collectible audio notes and conversational dialogue with characters scattered across the realms. In the early access build, not all characters are voiced yet, but the voice work that exists is excellent.
Honest assessment from our playtime: the story has not gripped us in any meaningful way yet, and we have not collected enough fragments to piece the plot together. That could easily change in the final build. For puzzle fans, this rarely matters — the puzzles are the draw, and they deliver in full.
Start at the Map Center
You begin as a girl in a magical realm with no explanation. Pick any direction and start exploring.
Learn Each Character's Rules
Every new character introduces a twist on Sokoban. Master one rule set before combining characters.
Collect Audio Notes
Story fragments are optional but reward thorough explorers who revisit cleared areas.
Tackle Multi-Character Puzzles
Coordinate two or more characters simultaneously, accounting for sightlines and undo risks.
Conquer the Eastern and Western Regions
Mirror swaps and crystal placement represent the peak of the demo's difficulty and creativity.
Step away. One of the most consistent experiences reported with this game is that solutions arrive when you least expect them — in the shower, on a walk, mid-conversation. Frustration in the moment is normal; the answer is usually simpler than it looks.
Review Verdict and Player Checklist
Our Order of the Sinking Star review verdict: even in early access, this is shaping up to be one of the most polished and ingenious puzzle games in years. Hours disappear while playing, and stumped puzzles occupy your mind long after you close the game. That is the hallmark of great puzzle design.
Demo Completion Goals:
- Clear all puzzles in the starting region
- Master the pull-only and swap characters
- Complete the Eastern region mirror puzzles
- Unlock and use crystal placement in the West
- Collect every available audio note
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Over 1,000 puzzles with inventive variations | Story has yet to prove compelling |
| Simple rules, deep consequences | Not all characters are voiced yet |
| Excellent existing voice work | Some puzzles may wall casual players |
| Gorgeous, mechanically distinct regions | Demo leaves key narrative questions open |
If you enjoy puzzle games that respect your intelligence and never pad their content, this belongs at the top of your wishlist. Watch the official Steam page for the full release, where the narrative and voice work should be complete.
FAQ
Q: What is Order of the Sinking Star?
It is a Sokoban-based puzzle game directed by Jonathan Blow, best known for Braid and The Witness. It features over 1,000 puzzles where you push, pull, and swap objects to target locations, with each region introducing new mechanical twists.
Q: Who made Order of the Sinking Star?
The game is directed by Jonathan Blow, the designer behind the acclaimed puzzle titles Braid (2008) and The Witness (2016). His signature style of simple mechanics with deep, emergent complexity is fully present here.
Q: Is the story important in this Order of the Sinking Star review?
The story is told through audio notes and dialogue but is secondary to the puzzles. In the early access build, not all characters are voiced, though the existing voice work is excellent. Puzzle fans can safely treat narrative as a bonus.
Q: Which region is the hardest?
The Western region is the most complex, introducing crystals you can pick up and place around the map to open pathways and break objects. The Eastern region's mirror mechanic is the fan favorite for its satisfying solutions.