Ten years after The Witness, Jonathan Blow's next massive puzzle game is almost ready for primetime

Jonathan Blow’s long-running puzzle project, Order of the Sinking Star, will arrive on Steam in 2026, the studio revealed with a trailer and a developer preview; the game has been in development since The Witness (2016) and expanded far beyond its original scope. Thekla’s roughly 10-person core team (plus ~10 contractors) has built a Sokoban-derived, grid-based title with diverse mechanics across four phase-one worlds, roughly 1,400 puzzles (many optional), an overworld of 100+ screens, and an estimated 500 hours to completion for completionists; the studio also plans to release its custom engine as open source. For investors and market watchers, the combination of Blow’s pedigree, the game’s unusually large content depth for a premium puzzle title, and the unspecified wider-platform plans imply strong engagement potential and a long tail for monetization and visibility in the premium PC/console market, though commercial outcomes remain contingent on broader platform rollout and market reception.

Analysis

Jonathan Blow and Thekla announced Order of the Sinking Star with a 2026 release window on Steam, confirming a project that has expanded dramatically since development began after The Witness (2016). The team reports roughly 1,400 puzzles (many optional), an overworld of more than 100 screens, and an estimate of ~500 hours for completionists; Blow says the first phase represents about 5% of the game, underscoring the title's unusually large scope for a premium puzzle release.

Mechanically the game builds on Sokoban-style block-pushing with layered innovations: four phase-one worlds with distinct character abilities (warrior, thief, wizard), mirror and duplication mechanics, gold rooms that combine mechanics, later 3D perspective shifts, and multi-character interactions. Thekla’s development footprint is small — ~10 full-time staff plus ~10 contractors — and contributors include known puzzle designers; the studio will also release its custom engine as open source.

For market implications, the article signals mild optimism: Blow’s pedigree and deep content suggest strong engagement and a long tail, but commercial outcomes depend on wider platform rollout, pricing and reception. The long development timeline and small studio scale increase execution and monetization risk, while the market-impact score is modest at present.

Key Decisions for Investors

• Wait for concrete platform, pricing and distribution details beyond the Steam 2026 window before increasing exposure to any public companies tied to this title
• Monitor pre-release engagement indicators — Steam wishlists, trailer metrics, press previews and early reviews — as leading signals of commercial potential and revisit allocation if those metrics are strong
• Treat opportunities linked to this release as long-tail plays given 1,400 puzzles and ~500-hour engagement; prefer selective, risk-managed exposure because Thekla’s ~10-person core team and long development cycle raise execution risk