Order of the Sinking Star is coming to PS5, hands-on report

Independent developer Thekla, the studio founded by Jonathan Blow, is bringing its upcoming puzzle adventure Order of the Sinking Star to the PlayStation 5. According to a hands-on report published by the PlayStation Blog, the game is scheduled to launch on the platform later in 2026.

A New Puzzle Adventure from Thekla

Order of the Sinking Star serves as a design stablemate to Thekla's previous acclaimed titles, Braid and The Witness. The game builds upon the foundations of those earlier projects, utilizing their celebrated design philosophies as a starting point for its own mechanical structure.

While players can expect the head-scratching enigmas and mystery characteristic of Blow's previous work, this new title introduces a fresh approach to how the studio handles its world-building, player progression, and environmental interaction.

Character-Driven Narrative and Discovery

One of the most significant departures from Braid and The Witness is how Order of the Sinking Star delivers its narrative. According to the PlayStation Blog, the game features an "intriguing blend of characters" alongside an unfolding story.

Unlike the highly abstract and often solitary storytelling of its predecessors, this game features "talkative, controllable characters" that make the narrative much more explicit. However, Thekla is not abandoning its core philosophy; the game still maintains a "strong ethos of discovery." Rather than overwhelming players with heavy exposition, the story is delivered to the player in "small, sporadic chunks" as they explore the world and unravel its secrets.

Release Window

While a specific release date has not yet been announced, PlayStation 5 players can look forward to diving into the mysteries of Order of the Sinking Star when it arrives later in 2026. Further details regarding exact launch dates, pricing, and additional platform features remain unknown at this time.

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• PlayStation Blog Hero image: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XrFXxa8EJGk/hqdefault.jpg