Steam Drops 92% Rated Free Taster For 2026 Launch From Beloved Developer

If you enjoyed 2016’s The Witness or 2008’s Braid, then you’re clearly a fan of the beloved indie developer Jonathan Blow.

A titan of the puzzling genre, Jonathan returns to the world of gaming soon with the highly anticipated Order of the Sinking Star.

The game hasn’t yet settled on a release date, but we know that it’s coming to PC and Nintendo Switch 2.

You can, however, now sample a free slice of the game courtesy of a demo that’s landed on Steam just in time for Steam Next Fest.

You Have Until 22 June To Try This One Out

Order of the Sinking Star features more than a thousand hand-crafted puzzles.

“You are transported to a realm of curious magic, dangerous contraptions, and vicious monsters,” the synopsis begins.

“Explore four distinct worlds, each with its own mechanics, characters, and stories, and then watch as they all collide.

“As the worlds merge, and characters meet one another, puzzle systems intertwine, creating surprising new gameplay possibilities.”

It continues, “Blending exploration, storytelling, and ever-progressing mechanics, Order of the Sinking Star invites you into a mysterious, living puzzle unlike anything you've played.”

It’s difficult to outline exactly what Order of the Sinking Star’s puzzling involves as there are so many facets and variants scattered across the game.

Essentially though, Order of the Sinking Star’s puzzles are played out across richly themed grids.

You may need to move an object, for example, or overcome an obstacle with it being teased that puzzles build upon one another, revealing new mechanics and secrets.

Arc Games

You’ll step into the shoes of various playable characters including “a queen, a thief, a wizard, and a talking boat”, all of whom play an important role in the story.

“Through gameplay and notes you collect you learn more about this enigmatic realm. Piece by piece and clue by clue, you’ll uncover the secrets of the Order of the Sinking Star,” devs tease.

Order of the Sinking Star’s brand new playable demo is available until 22 June so you don’t have too long to get involved.

It offers a “meaningful glimpse of what awaits” in the full title.

At the time of writing, the demo already boasts a Very Positive score of 92% on Steam, with players spending up to five hours with the demo.

“Each puzzle is a unique surprise. I was immediately absorbed by the mechanics and the way they combine and play off of each other,” declared one impressed player.

Another added, “Absolutely worth a decade's wait. I can already tell this game will be up there with Braid and The Witness in terms of brilliant puzzles. An interesting plot is just an added bonus!”

That’s high praise. Get your fix while you can ahead of the game’s full launch further down the line.

Please note that the demo includes some computer-generated narration. It’s noted that the full release “will feature only human-recorded voiceover”.

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