Game OnrampStuck at the Skipping Stones Orb?
Recognize the first-level shrine, then reveal one of three hints at a time. Stop as soon as an idea clicks.
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Order of the Sinking Star Guide & Puzzle Help
Published
Order of the Sinking Star is a nonlinear puzzle adventure by Thekla. Explore four worlds with different rules, then discover how their mechanics combine. If one challenge blocks you, take another path and return later. For the Skipping Stones Orb, start with gradual hints.
- Adventure
- Single-player puzzles
- Worlds
- 4 · explore at your pace
- Puzzle scope
- More than 1,000
- Released
- October 8, 2026
Start with what you are trying to do
Choose your next step
| Where you are | What to do next | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| At the Skipping Stones Orb / shrine | Open the gradual Orb hints above. | Match the first-level shrine before revealing a clue. |
| At a different puzzle | Identify the world, level and board first. | A clue for one region may use a mechanic your board does not have. |
| Repeating the same failed idea | Try another route through the Overworld. | A different challenge can teach an interaction you have overlooked. |
| Time-speed input seems unresponsive | Check your installed update and the official October 9 notes. | The notes address a specific Skipping Stones-first R2 issue. |
The four worlds: what to pay attention to
Official source
The Overworld branches north, east, west and south. Choose the kind of puzzle you want to investigate; the official overview gives no required starting order. These are world-level mechanics, so use them to orient yourself rather than as a move sequence for every board.
| Direction / world | Core interaction | A useful question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| North · The Hearty Heroes of Hauling | A moving crew whose heroes manipulate objects in different ways. | Which hero can make room for another hero’s action? |
| East · The Mirror Isles | The Trader and objects exchange places with their reflections. | Where will the reflection land when I change my position? |
| West · Vault of the Beamcasters | The Explorer channels colored beams through large gems to gain abilities. | Which beam or combination could open the blocked route? |
| South · Skipping Stones to Lonely Homes | The Sailor crosses water using stones, currents and rideable lily pads. | How will this movement affect the next crossing? |
How the worlds come together
Official source
Later, Gold Rooms connect regions so that heroes and puzzle systems can interact across worlds. The official overview gives examples involving beams with mirrors, and the moving crew with skipping stones. A rule learned in one region can become part of a new combination elsewhere.
The west was called The Promise in the September overview. The launch announcement renames it Vault of the Beamcasters. Use that current name when matching your map to older guides.
A spoiler-conscious way to get unstuck
- 1Name the world and locate the exact level or shrine. Note which characters and movable objects are present.
- 2Describe the obstacle in one sentence: for example, reaching land, directing a beam or positioning a reflection.
- 3Choose a clue for that exact puzzle. Read the mildest hint, then return to the game and test one idea.
- 4If you still feel stuck, explore a different Overworld path and come back with fresh observations.
When the problem may be an input or checkpoint issue
Official patch
The official update titled “Update notes for October 9” fixes R2 time-speed input failing after the first puzzle solve when starting with Skipping Stones. It also fixes checkpointing in a few Skipping Stones levels and an undo issue while on a Rover.
If you have one of these symptoms, check that your game is updated before following older advice. Puzzle difficulty alone does not identify a bug; match your symptom to the patch note.
Quick questions before you play
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is this mainly an RPG with combat builds? | It is a puzzle adventure: focus on object interactions, character abilities and exploration. |
| Where can I play? | The official launch announcement lists PC via Steam, Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch 2 and PS5, plus GeForce NOW. |
| Who made and published it? | Thekla, Inc. developed it; Steam lists Arc Games and Gamirror Games as publishers. |
| Does this guide solve all 1,000-plus puzzles? | This page orients you to the worlds and leads to one focused Orb hint guide. For another puzzle, identify its board before choosing a walkthrough. |
| Can I leave a difficult world and return? | Yes. The official overview describes free backtracking and exploring another region at your own pace. |
Order of the Sinking Star | PS5 Announcement & Extended Overview Trailer
The privacy-enhanced player loads only after activation and never autoplays.
Order of the Sinking Star
A nonlinear puzzle adventure with four worlds, distinct heroes and more than 1,000 interconnected puzzles.
- Developer
- Thekla, Inc.
- Publisher
- Arc Games / Gamirror Games
- Platforms
- Windows PC, Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5
- Release
- Released ·
Guide scope
Use this guide for
- Four-world orientation and exploration choices
- Community-sourced Orb hints
- October 9 patch context
Beyond this guide
- A complete puzzle-by-puzzle walkthrough
Sources and version notes
World mechanics and launch facts use official sources. The Orb hints use a player discussion; sources checked October 11, 2026.
Sources
- Order of the Sinking Star — Steam storeOfficial source
Developer, Steam publishers, single-player, October 8 release and more than 1,000 puzzles.
Retrieved
- Explore the Realm — Arc GamesOfficial source
Four cardinal worlds, characters, mechanics and nonlinear exploration; prelaunch west name.
Retrieved
- Order of the Sinking Star is Now Available! — Thekla / Arc GamesOfficial source
Launch platforms, GeForce NOW, west renamed Vault of the Beamcasters and official Discord.
Retrieved
- Update notes for October 9 — official Steam newsOfficial patch
Conditional R2 speed-up failure, checkpoint fixes in a few Skipping Stones levels and Rover undo issue.
Retrieved
- For those stuck on Skipping Stones Orb — Steam player discussionCommunity-reported
New mechanic, timing, slow-moving lily pads and course changes in transit; commenter identifies first-level shrine.
Retrieved