Order of the Sinking Star PS5 hands-on gameplay

The world of puzzles is expanding, and a new constellation of enigmas is ready to shine. Order of the Sinking Star, a title developed by the acclaimed independent studio Thekla, is set to arrive on the PlayStation 5 later this year, promising a journey that blends deep mystery with ingenious gameplay.

As stablemates to celebrated titles like Braid and The Witness, Order of the Sinking Star immediately establishes itself as a masterclass in environmental storytelling. It doesn’t just present puzzles; it builds an intriguing world through style, character dynamics, and unfolding narrative.

While the game is packed with challenges, its true genius lies not solely in the complexity of its puzzles, but in how those puzzles are introduced. Exposition is handled subtly, forcing players to engage with the world immediately. The first experience positions the player as the Queen, lost in a strange palace that quickly morphs into an overworld, introducing core mechanics like manipulating objects and mastering the invaluable rewind/undo function.

The game leverages this design philosophy to introduce its cast of characters, each bringing unique puzzle-solving abilities. Exploring different sections of the game introduces players to varied methods of manipulation: one character can push blocks, another can pull them, and a third can magically swap positions with objects.

This setup quickly evolves into a dynamic system. Navigating areas like The Hearty Heroes of Hauling requires coordinating these skills—the warrior, the thief, and the wizard—to solve environmental obstacles. Another path guides players through traps utilizing gem beams in The Promise, while crossing waterlogged archipelagos involves using mirrors to navigate reflections.

What truly elevates Order of the Sinking Star is the concept of colliding worlds. The puzzles become exponentially more engaging when characters from different realms must interact, combining their disparate abilities to unlock solutions that no single character could manage alone. This layering ensures that the game remains fresh and infinitely deep, even as it builds on over a thousand challenges.

The complexity deepens as new elements are introduced—including monsters that require clever manipulation rather than combat, and characters like the bard who can charm obstacles. The narrative is woven through this gameplay, allowing for constant discovery. Even with a massive scope of 900+ levels and multiple endings, players will find worlds worth exploring.

From the initial introduction to the final revelations, Order of the Sinking Star demonstrates that true mastery lies not just in solving puzzles, but in orchestrating an unfolding story. Expect more to surface from this enchanting puzzler when it launches on the PS5 later this year.