Arc Games and Thekla have released a new Order of the Sinking Star trailer detailing its nonlinear structure, four main puzzle regions, and the Gold Rooms that eventually combine their mechanics.
Led by Braid and The Witness designer Jonathan Blow, the puzzle adventure features more than 1,000 handcrafted puzzles and launches October 8 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Four Paths Branch From the Central Hub
Players begin in a large central hub with four routes extending north, east, west, and south.
There is no required order for tackling them. Players can leave a difficult puzzle behind and try another region before returning later.
Each route focuses on different characters and puzzle rules.
The North, called The Hearty Heroes of Hauling, follows a party of a Warrior, Thief, Wizard, Bard, Cleric, and Druid who run a moving company. Each character has an ability such as pushing, pulling, or teleporting, with puzzles asking players to combine those actions.
The East, known as the Mirror Isles, follows a Trader who uses magical mirrors to swap positions with objects and reflections across a chain of islands.
Light Beams and Route Planning Shape the Other Regions
The West, called The Promise, stars an Explorer traveling through underground caverns.
Players use giant gems to redirect colored light beams, activating abilities that include passing through walls, breaking boulders, and teleporting across long distances.
The South, Skipping Stones to Lonely Homes, follows a stranded Sailor moving between islands.
Its puzzles revolve around planning routes, redirecting rivers, controlling lily pads, and predicting where massive skipping stones will land.
Gold Rooms Combine Puzzle Mechanics
Progressing far enough brings players to the Gold Rooms, which change the game’s structure.
Completing one connects two previously separate regions, creating six larger combination areas where characters and puzzle systems interact.
One example pairs the Explorer’s colored light beams with the Trader’s mirrors. Another brings the northern moving crew into puzzles involving the Sailor’s skipping stones.
The central map also expands as players progress, opening additional areas and increasingly interconnected challenges.
Order of the Sinking Star Launches October 8
Thekla says Order of the Sinking Star contains more than 1,000 handcrafted puzzles, dozens of mechanics, and an ensemble voice cast that will be announced closer to release.
Order of the Sinking Star launches October 8 for PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2.
