Order Of The Sinking Star | PC Demo Review
Although there are plenty of concerns with many aspects of the modern gaming industry, I have appreciated a resurgence of video game demos. I remember getting demos with other video games or magazines and playing them so much until I could actually get the game. Or sometimes, that would be my only experience of the game. With demos nowadays, I usually will only play once and then purchase the game if I enjoy it.
As most know, demos are typically short, taking about 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the length of the full game. So I was shocked when Jonathan Blow, lead developer at Thekla Inc. and of The Witness and Braid fame, said the demo of his upcoming puzzle game, Order of the Sinking Stars, will probably take about 40 to 50 hours to complete. While this was an exaggeration, as it took me roughly 15 hours to finish the 105 puzzles, this is still a sizable demo. The thought of the full game’s length is daunting.
What is Order of the Sinking Star?
Order of the Sinking Star is such a unique game that I struggle to describe what makes it so special. In concept, it is simply a Sokoban-style puzzle game, focusing on moving objects on a grid-based level to progress. However, it is much more complex than that, with four distinct regions with seemingly separate stories, but interconnected through the massive Overworld (so massive, there is a mini fast-travel system). Each region may follow the Sokoban-style puzzle format, but each region has a different set of characters and concepts used to create these puzzles. Except for the region Skipping Stones, which is unavailable in the demo, I will briefly describe each region in an attempt to convey the depth of this unreal game.
The Hearty Heroes of Hauling
The region to the North is called The Hearty Heroes of Hauling, which follows a moving company that an evil magistrate hires. Each employee has different abilities. One can only push objects, another pulls, and a wizard can trade places with people and objects. Some levels only use one character, while others have multiple. Levels will also differ by the types of objects to move, such as crystals or rocks, and monsters to avoid, such as goblins and fire-breathing dragons. This was the largest region available during the demo.
The Mirror of Isles
In the Eastern region, The Mirror of Isles, a trader must navigate a world full of mirrors, seemingly led by a woman. The mirrors can be used to transport either the trader or objects the same distance away from the mirror, but at a 90-degree angle. Some levels will also introduce multiple mirrors. There are several ways to use these multiple mirrors, including duplicating the trader and objects. This is the second-largest region in the demo.
The Promise
In the demo, the western region known as The Promise is only one level, but it is very different from the other regions. You play as a gem miner who collects crystals. The crystals can be used to activate boxes, which allow him to possess different abilities, such as breaking rocks or traveling through walls. You need to determine which of these boxes to activate to get the next possible crystal, and eventually, all 20 to finish the level. This might be the only level in the region, but it did take me the longest single puzzle to complete due to its length and intricacies.
Overall Thoughts
Each puzzle is well-crafted and continues to feel fresh even after 105 puzzles. Order of the Sinking Star does what makes any puzzle game great: providing a challenge that, whenever you finally figure the puzzle out, you feel that satisfaction. It also balances difficulty by easing the player into a new ability/concept, then increasing the challenge to create those “a-ha” moments. And while it seems each region is distinct, there is a promise of interconnection between the regions with the blending of the puzzles, even if it is not fully realized in the demo, with only a couple of these puzzles.
Honestly, I could not be bothered with what the story is or how these will be intertwined, if they even will be. I find it difficult to follow the story for a couple of reasons. First, there are no cutscenes, and dialogue is present at the beginning and end of each puzzle. While most puzzles can be completed in a couple of minutes, it often takes a while to figure out how to solve them. By that point, I had forgotten what was even said at the beginning. Also, you can switch between regions, which would break up the story and make it even more difficult to follow. To understand the story, I will likely need to watch a YouTube summary video that dissects it.
Even though the story is hard to follow, if the demo is any indication of its potential, Order of the Sinking Star is going to be a special puzzle game when it releases. I hope I conveyed how impressive this demo is; if not, please watch the trailer for this game. If the trailer interests you at all, you really should check out this massive demo, as its availability has now been extended to July 31st. I am eagerly anticipating the full release of Order of the Sinking Star, even if the anticipated length is absolutely terrifying.
To hear me talk more about Order of the Sinking Star, be sure to listen to June 25th, 2026 episode of The Gaming Outsider Podcast around the 1:16:20 time stamp.
This review is based on a PC demo copy provided by Sandbox Strategies for coverage purposes. As of this writing it is exclusive to that platform.
