Order of the Sinking Star: Kotaku review of four puzzle systems from Jonathan Blow
Kotaku reviews Order of the Sinking Star as Jonathan Blow’s latest puzzle game, praising the puzzles but being more critical of the story.
The review names four components: The Heroes of Sokoban, Promesst, Mirror Isles, and Skipping Stones to Lonely Homes. According to Kotaku, the puzzles are well designed, but the narrative or mystery layer is less convincing.
The review also places Order of the Sinking Star alongside other puzzle games with strong mystery setups, including Blue Prince, Animal Well, and Void Stranger. In that comparison, the puzzle design comes off better than the storytelling layer.
What happened
Kotaku published a review of Order of the Sinking Star and positions the game as Jonathan Blow’s latest puzzle project. The write-up mentions Thekla in connection with the game, but the exact role of the company is not further explained in the provided information. That means it remains unclear whether Thekla is acting as developer, publisher, or in some other capacity.
The review does not describe Order of the Sinking Star as a single puzzle concept, but as a bundle of different systems. Four names are explicitly mentioned: The Heroes of Sokoban, Promesst, Mirror Isles, and Skipping Stones to Lonely Homes. Kotaku presents these as separate puzzle forms with their own mechanics rather than one unified core mechanic.
The piece also gives concrete examples of those mechanics. The Heroes of Sokoban revolves around moving blocks with a group of adventurers who each have different abilities. Promesst is about activating switches in a maze to power machines that emit colored beams. Mirror Isles uses mirrors to reflect the protagonist across the map and later to split him or objects into multiple copies. Skipping Stones to Lonely Homes is about pushing stones into water so they bounce to the next platform, with interactions involving lily pads and other objects.
Kotaku is positive about the puzzle design itself. At the same time, the review says the narrative or mystery structure is less strong than in comparable puzzle games such as Blue Prince, Animal Well, and Void Stranger. That judgment is about the game’s story or larger mystery presentation, not the puzzles themselves.
The provided information does not make clear whether the four named parts are original mini-games within Order of the Sinking Star or mainly references to existing puzzle works. It also remains unclear whether the review is based on the full release or an earlier version of the game.
Timeline
October 7, 2026 — Kotaku publishes a review of Order of the Sinking Star and names Jonathan Blow as the creator of the game.
October 7, 2026 — The review links the game to Thekla, but does not further explain the company’s exact role.
October 7, 2026 — Kotaku describes Order of the Sinking Star as a project with multiple puzzle systems rather than one central mechanic.
October 7, 2026 — The review names four puzzle components or sequences: The Heroes of Sokoban, Promesst, Mirror Isles, and Skipping Stones to Lonely Homes.
October 7, 2026 — Kotaku gives examples of the individual mechanics, including moving blocks, activating switches, using mirrors, and bouncing stones across water.
October 7, 2026 — The review praises the puzzles, but raises concerns about the story and mystery around the game.
October 7, 2026 — In comparisons with Blue Prince, Animal Well, and Void Stranger, the puzzle structure stands out most positively.
October 7, 2026 — Kotaku publishes a review of Order of the Sinking Star, naming Jonathan Blow as the game’s creator.
October 7, 2026 — The review links the game to Thekla, but does not further clarify the company’s role.
October 7, 2026 — Kotaku describes Order of the Sinking Star as a project with multiple puzzle systems rather than one central mechanic.
October 7, 2026 — The review names four puzzle components or sequences: The Heroes of Sokoban, Promesst, Mirror Isles, and Skipping Stones to Lonely Homes.
October 7, 2026 — Kotaku gives examples of the individual mechanics, including block moving, switch activation, mirror use, and bouncing stones over water.
October 7, 2026 — The review praises the puzzles, but notes reservations about the story and mystery around the game.
October 7, 2026 — In comparisons with Blue Prince, Animal Well, and Void Stranger, the puzzle setup comes across most positively.
Background
Jonathan Blow is known for puzzle games where mechanics are central, and Order of the Sinking Star fits that tradition according to Kotaku. The review frames the game as a project with multiple separate puzzle structures rather than one unified core mechanic. That matches the way the piece breaks the game into four named components.
The four names mentioned in the review are not just labels, but concrete puzzle forms with their own rules. The Heroes of Sokoban is tied to a party of adventurers with different abilities. Promesst is described as a system of switches, machines, and colored output. Mirror Isles revolves around reflection and duplication through mirrors. Skipping Stones to Lonely Homes uses water, stones, and platforms as the basis for its puzzle solutions.
The provided information does not confirm the game’s release format. As a result, it is still unclear whether Order of the Sinking Star was fully available on October 7, 2026, or whether Kotaku reviewed a version that was not yet the final release. It is also not established whether the four named parts are original in-game segments or references to existing works or concepts.
The comparison with Blue Prince, Animal Well, and Void Stranger matters because those games are known for combining puzzles with mystery. Kotaku uses that comparison to make clear that Order of the Sinking Star, in the review’s view, excels most in puzzle design, while the narrative or enigmatic layer is seen as less convincing. That distinction is the core of the assessment in the source material.