Imagine diving into a puzzle game so vast and intricate that it could consume hundreds of hours of your life, challenging your brain in ways you never thought possible—yet leaving you wondering if it's all just too much to handle. That's the thrilling dilemma at the heart of Jonathan Blow's latest creation, Order of the Sinking Star, unveiled at The Game Awards 2025. But here's where it gets controversial: Is this masterpiece a beacon of innovation or an intimidating labyrinth that might frustrate more than it fascinates? Stick around, because we're about to unpack it all, and you might just discover layers of genius you've been missing in puzzle games.
Puzzle games have evolved dramatically since The Witness burst onto the scene in 2016, revolutionizing how we see game worlds as living puzzles waiting to be deciphered. For newcomers to this genre, think of it like solving a mystery where the environment itself is the clue—every tree, path, and symbol might hold the key to connecting dots in unexpected ways. Fast-forward to 2025, and titles like Blue Prince have kept the excitement alive by blending puzzle-solving with roguelike deckbuilding mechanics, where you build a deck of cards to tackle randomized challenges, adding a layer of strategy that's both addictive and replayable. And now, stepping into the spotlight is Jonathan Blow, the mastermind behind Braid and The Witness, who has assembled a larger team for his ambitious new project: Order of the Sinking Star.
This isn't just another puzzle game; it's a monumental undertaking. Blow himself describes it as featuring around 1,000 distinct puzzles, with a completion time that could stretch to 250 hours at a leisurely pace—or even 500 hours for those die-hard fans who refuse to leave any stone unturned. But the real magic lies in how the game builds upon itself, layering gameplay elements as you delve deeper. For beginners feeling overwhelmed, picture it like learning to cook: you start with basic recipes (simple mazes), gradually adding ingredients (complex mechanics) until you're whipping up gourmet meals (multi-step solutions).
I had the chance to catch an impromptu demo of Order of the Sinking Star, and it's clear this is a grid-based isometric adventure with a sprawling, branching overworld that integrates most of its puzzles seamlessly. Blow walked us through several in real-time, kicking off with straightforward block-pushing challenges that serve as a gentle introduction. These act as tutorials, showing how different characters interact with the world—take the thief, who can only pull objects toward them, or the wizard, who must exchange positions with items in their direct line of sight. It's a clever way to teach without hand-holding, letting players experiment and learn organically.
As the puzzles progress, things ramp up with added complexities that turn a simple journey from point A to point B into a brain-bending exercise. Imagine mirrors that teleport you or objects across distances matching your position from the mirror—perfect for bridging gaps in creative ways, like skipping over obstacles without touching them. Or hostile creatures that lurk on adjacent grid squares, ready to end your run if you step too close, forcing you to plan escape routes. Then there are beams that allow you to phase through walls, essentially letting you walk through solid barriers under specific conditions. Each mechanic is introduced gradually in basic setups, building difficulty without spoilers, which is standard fare in puzzle design but executed masterfully here. And just like in Braid, a handy rewind tool lets you step back as many moves as needed, encouraging experimentation rather than punishing mistakes with full restarts. But here's the part most people miss: the true brilliance emerges when these elements combine, testing your grasp of their interactions and pushing you to think several moves ahead. For example, you might need to use a mirror to teleport an object into position, all while dodging creatures and phasing through walls—it's like playing chess with the environment itself.
When you factor in how each character uniquely manipulates the grid, the depth explodes. Puzzles grow in scale and intricacy, demanding you juggle multiple variables. I witnessed one overworld room where you leap through gates to switch characters, strategically placing obstacles to suit each one's abilities. The wizard, who swaps with blocks across from him, could get trapped behind a gated one, so you'd have to maneuver—a thief pulling in a new block from afar, for instance—to set up a teleport that frees him. Another mind-bender involved a character cloning themselves by phasing through multiple mirrors simultaneously, letting you control duplicates at once for parallel problem-solving. These examples highlight how the game rewards creative thinking, turning what starts as simple mechanics into sophisticated symphonies of strategy.
Pulling back to the overworld's bird's-eye view reveals just how enormous Order of the Sinking Star promises to be—and honestly, it's a bit daunting. You can venture in any direction from the start, exploring puzzles as they unlock map sections, which adds a layer of freedom but also progression through interconnected challenges. This open-ended design might lead to those 'aha!' moments where solving one puzzle illuminates unsolved ones elsewhere, creating a web of revelations. Yet, and this is where it gets controversial, the sheer scale could intimidate newcomers, making the whole experience feel overwhelming rather than empowering. Plus, if you step away for a break, retaining all that built-up knowledge might slip away, like forgetting a long-forgotten phone number. Even tracking progress isn't foolproof, despite helpful map glints marking key spots—it's easy to lose track in such a vast space.
I chatted with Blow about how his team tackles player guidance while sticking to a largely hands-off philosophy. They're weighing a hint system or limited-use nudges to point players toward solutions without spoon-feeding, but Blow is cautious—it shouldn't become a crutch that dulls the satisfaction of discovery. Instead, the environmental design itself serves as a teacher, with visual cues like highlighted objects or patterns subtly guiding your eye to important details. This approach respects puzzle enthusiasts who thrive on autonomy, but does it risk alienating those who prefer clearer handrails? That's a debate worth having.
Beyond the mechanics, Order of the Sinking Star weaves in a narrative thread through its puzzle series, where overworld sections place you in control of characters from different timelines in the game's lore. These intersecting stories explore cooperation between civilizations, hinting at a broader message about human (or perhaps universal) collaboration and what befell their world. It echoes The Witness in its mysterious, unfold-as-you-go style, with little exposition upfront. But this time, characters have voice lines and brief interactions at crossroads, adding a touch of personality that makes the world feel alive. For story lovers, it's a subtle way to tie puzzles to a larger tapestry, encouraging you to piece together the 'why' behind the challenges.
On a technical note, the game showcases Blow's custom engine and programming language, developed alongside the project and slated for open-source release soon after launch. This could be a game-changer for indie developers, offering tools to create similarly intricate worlds—though some purists might argue it commercializes what should remain niche. As for when you can dive in, we're looking at a 2026 release on PC, with other platforms following later. Keep an eye on the full announcements from The Game Awards 2025 for more reveals, including the complete winners list.
Michael is the tech reviews editor at IGN, but he frequently dives into games coverage with reviews, features, and news.
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Now, what do you think? Is the potential overwhelm of Order of the Sinking Star a bold design choice that separates the puzzle masters from the crowd, or does it risk turning away players who might otherwise love it? Do you prefer games that guide you heavily or let you stumble upon solutions? Share your thoughts in the comments—I'm curious to hear if you side with Blow's hands-off approach or if you'd tweak it for broader accessibility. And if you're a fan of Braid or The Witness, how excited are you for this evolution? Let's discuss!
