Info about Order of the Sinking Star:

Official game description:
From legendary director Jonathan Blow (_Braid_, _The Witness_) comes _Order of the Sinking Star_, a massive puzzle adventure featuring more than one thousand hand-crafted puzzles designed to put your intellect to the test. You are transported to a realm of curious magic, dangerous contraptions, and vicious monsters. 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. Explore at your own pace, revisit worlds and return to challenges as you see fit. Discover unique playable characters, master evolving gameplay mechanics, and decipher the deep mysteries of a sprawling, interconnected game world. Blending exploration, storytelling, and ever-progressing mechanics, Order of the Sinking Star invites you into a mysterious, living puzzle unlike anything you've played.
Master a Thousand Interwoven Challenges
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Embark on an innovative puzzle adventure with dozens of game mechanics and hundreds of hours of unique gameplay. Each puzzle builds on the last, introducing new game mechanics that reward curiosity and persistence.
Choose Your Path, Roam at Your Pace
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Explore four mysterious worlds, each with its own characters, rules, dangers, and secrets waiting to be uncovered. Come and go as you like, you are free to take on the puzzles you discover at your own pace.
Take the Helm of Some Unlikely Heroes
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A queen, a thief, a warrior, a wizard, and a talking boat are just some of the heroes of this tale. Each character wields complementary abilities and has captivating stories to tell.
Decipher an Epic Tale
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As playable characters begin to meet and worlds collide, the mystery untangles. 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.
**History, Foundation & Design Contributions**
_Order of the Sinking Star_ has been in the making for nearly a decade since the release of _The Witness_, born from a desire to push puzzle game design past its traditional limits to create the largest and greatest puzzle game ever made. With _Order of the Sinking Star_, the development team created a "game design supercollider" – smashing together the ideas from multiple puzzle game designers to create a puzzle landscape that's much more intricate and vast than what has come before. 
The foundation of _Order of the Sinking Star_ is built upon these four brilliant titles:
*   Skipping Stones to Lonely Homes by Alan Hazelden: A serene puzzle game about throwing stones into water to create stepping paths.
*   Mirror Isles by Alan Hazelden: A clever top-down game focused on swapping places with reflections across islands.
*   Promesst 1-3 by Sean Barrett: An abstract grid-puzzler about exploring a cave filled with mysterious beams of light.
*   Heroes of Sokoban (1, 2, & 3) by Jonah Ostroff: A fantasy-themed puzzle game where you manage distinct hero classes (like warriors and mages) with unique movement and pushing mechanics to reach the exit.
While these games inspire and comprise the very beginning of _Order of the Sinking Star_ and lay the foundation of its gameplay, the game as a whole explores the endless, unexpected possibilities of merging these worlds together. 
The game also showcases design contributions from Zach Polansky (_Enigmash_), Patrick Traynor (_Patrick's Parabox_), Marc ten Bosch (_Miegakure_), and several others – including design contributions from Twitch followers over the years.
The Thekla, Inc. team is incredibly thankful for all the support they’ve had for the game over the course of development!

Release date: Oct 8, 2026

Categories: Puzzle Solving, Sokoban Elements, Metroidvania, Open-World Exploration, Environmental Puzzle, Open-Ended Puzzle Freedom, Zachtronics-style Puzzle Design, Non-linear Exploration

Feature scans:
- Proton/Linux: score 10; verdict: Works Well; summary: The game demonstrates excellent Linux and Proton compatibility. Users report strong performance on various distributions and hardware, including 4K 120 FPS and flawless operation on both desktop Linux and Steam Deck. Only a minor note about high quality settings on Steam Deck appears, with no Linux-specific blockers or required workarounds.
- Steam Deck: score 20; verdict: Seamless; summary: The filtered reviews are predominantly positive for Steam Deck and Linux. Users report flawless, outstanding, and high-frame-rate experiences, with no evidence of external launchers, anti-cheat errors, unreadable UI, or required Proton Experimental toggles. A minority notes a missing desktop-mode fullscreen option and weaker performance at high quality settings, but these are minor caveats rather than major friction.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: The Windows cohorts show a split: 16GB+ VRAM is positive, while the <8GB and 8-11GB cohorts are mixed due to a combination of smooth performance and optimization or stability complaints.
  - Sample size: 64 (20% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
  - Windows <8GB VRAM (mixed, 17 reports): Mixed reports: some users get 90 fps or beautiful 4K visuals, but others report poor optimization and very low frame rates at minimum settings.
  - Windows 8-11GB VRAM (mixed, 17 reports): Mixed reports: one user gets 120-160 fps at 3440x1440 without upscaling, while another reports repeated crashes after the intro world.
  - Windows 16GB+ VRAM (positive, 12 reports): Users report fantastic performance at max settings and excellent 4K visuals.
  - Caveats: 64 of 323 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $20.00 - $40.00
  - Reasoning: The reviews consistently praise the game's value, scope, and low-spec performance, which supports a premium indie price. However, one reviewer explicitly advises waiting for a sale to avoid fully supporting the developer, suggesting the full base price is not universally accepted. Balancing strong value praise with sale-oriented sentiment, the community fair base-game range is approximately $20-$40.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: 5.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The clearest single-session report is the 5-hour unintended session, so sessionLength is set to 5 hours. Other short-playtime remarks such as an hour and a half and 30 minutes-plus show that shorter sessions also occur, but they do not give a more definitive completed-session figure. The completion mention ('I already finished the game') provides no hour count, and no review supplies a specific full-game or story completion time. The 'hundreds of hours' and '300+ hrs' statements are content-volume or future-play expectations rather than completed endgame playtime, so gameCompletion, storyCompletion, and endgame remain null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Players overwhelmingly describe immediate enjoyment, with the demo hooking them instantly and the puzzle variety keeping the game addictive from the outset. One mild caveat is that the main hook takes time to get going, but this does not overturn the immediate-fun profile.
  - Stance: Fun immediately
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: The main hook does not get going very fast; Hitting a wall in one puzzle quarter
  - Unlock drivers: Non-linear structure lets you back out and tackle a different set of problems when you hit a wall; The game opens up with multiple pathways and options if you get stuck on a puzzle
  - Conditions: Playing the demo
- Player Archetypes:
  - Hardcore Puzzle Logic Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Solving challenging logical puzzles and experiencing satisfying eureka moments.
    - Playstyle: Methodically works through increasingly complex puzzle interactions, seeking logical solutions and enjoying the learning curve.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Baba Is You
  - Casual Bite-Sized Puzzle Player (buy)
    - Motivation: Relaxing, accessible puzzle solving in short, flexible sessions.
    - Playstyle: Plays in spare moments, enjoys drop-in/drop-out sessions, and appreciates the Overworld for reducing difficulty pressure.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: casual puzzle player
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Completionist Content Devourer (buy)
    - Motivation: Conquering a massive puzzle game and experiencing all its content, including optional challenges.
    - Playstyle: Long, dedicated sessions; streams gameplay; aims to see everything the game offers.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Meta-Puzzle Narrative Explorer (buy)
    - Motivation: Experiencing deep meta-puzzles, narrative, and surprising eureka moments.
    - Playstyle: Engages with multi-perspective and meta puzzle mechanics, appreciates story and voice acting, seeks deeper meaning.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Braid; The Witness


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Excellent puzzle design (weight 0.66): The puzzle design is widely praised as excellent, well-crafted, smart, and rewarding, with challenging a-ha moments that keep players engaged.
- Highly praised overall game (weight 0.47): Reviewers consistently describe the game as a masterpiece, amazing, beautiful, and a pleasure to play, with many calling it worth buying and a great overall experience.
- Amazing voice acting (weight 0.23): Multiple reviewers highlight the voice acting as brilliant, amazing, and very good, adding significant quality to the game.
- Beautiful and soothing visuals (weight 0.23): The game's visuals are described as pretty, interesting, soothing, and appealing, with beautiful art that enhances the overall experience.
- Creative and layered mechanics (weight 0.12): The game combines multiple mechanics in fascinating ways, with mechanics that build on top of one another creatively, resulting in a sophisticated puzzle experience.
- Tons of content (weight 0.12): The game offers a huge amount of content, easily hundreds of hours, providing excellent value for players.
- Great technical performance (weight 0.11): The game runs flawlessly on both desktop PC and Steam Deck, with outstanding performance and graphics that look amazing, especially at 4K.
- Sophisticated Sokoban puzzle game (weight 0.11): Reviewers call it a super version of a block-pushing game and a sophisticated, well-made Sokoban puzzle game.
- Fair difficulty progression (weight 0.11): Puzzle difficulty ramps up fairly early and has good progression, offering a challenging yet fair curve for players.
- Great and inspiring music (weight 0.11): The music is described as great and inspiring, adding to the overall enjoyable experience.
- Cozy and serene atmosphere (weight 0.11): Reviewers find the game cozy and note that it provides a soothing sense of serenity, making it a relaxing experience.
- Amazing demo experience (weight 0.11): The demo was amazing and hooked reviewers instantly, serving as a strong introduction to the full game.

Common complaints:
- Poor technical performance and crashes (weight 0.24): Players report repeated crashes after the intro world, low frame rates even on the lowest settings, and poor performance on Steam Deck at high quality settings. Graphics options are also very limited, with only a performance-versus-quality preset available.
- Weak story and forgettable characters (weight 0.16): Multiple reviewers find the story incomprehensible, dull, or forgettable, with little investment in the characters or world building. The narrative fails to become engaging or memorable.
- Bad dialogue and voice acting (weight 0.16): The writing and dialogue are heavily criticized as very bad and generic, with reviewers questioning who wrote the lines. Voice acting is also described as generic and lacking quality.
- Quantity over puzzle quality (weight 0.16): The game contains a large number of puzzles, but many feel low quality or too easy, with easy content exhausted quickly. Reviewers suggest fewer, better puzzles would have been preferable.
- Control and input issues (weight 0.15): Players experience double inputs when using a gamepad, and the control setup feels weird overall. There is also no explanation given for rewind or undo mechanics.
- Unengaging world and setting (weight 0.11): The game world is described as completely uninteresting, with an unengaging island setting featuring frozen statues and disparate landscapes. The environments fail to create a sense of wonder.
- Slow and underwhelming main hook (weight 0.11): The core mechanic of merging worlds does not get going quickly, and when it does, interactions are sprinkled too thinly to create a wow moment. The game takes too long to become interesting.
- Poor audio and subtitle accessibility (weight 0.11): Audio logs cannot be collected in a single menu or fast-forwarded/rewound, making them cumbersome to review. Subtitles also fail to indicate who is speaking during dialogue.
- Annoying transitions and animations (weight 0.11): Room-to-room transitions are jerky and irritating, breaking immersion. Overall animations are also criticized as terrible and poorly executed.
- Forgettable music and atmosphere (weight 0.07): The music drops out at points and feels like an afterthought, leaving the game with little atmosphere or emotional impact. It fails to enhance the experience.
- Steam Deck fullscreen limitation (weight 0.06): On Steam Deck in desktop mode, there is no option to go fullscreen. This restricts the play experience for users on that platform.
- Disappointing expectations from creator (weight 0.06): Some players bought the game out of respect for the creator of The Witness, but their expectations were not met. This suggests the game does not live up to the creator's previous work.
- Unsuitable for utilitarian players (weight 0.06): The game contains too much content and may feel bloated for players who prefer efficient, utilitarian experiences. It does not respect the player's time.

Gameplay feedback:
- Puzzle game with 1000+ puzzles (weight 0.97): The game is a puzzle game featuring over 1000 puzzles, with around 1400 puzzles in total. A demo includes 100+ puzzles and progress carries over to the full game.
- Sokoban-style block-pushing gameplay (weight 0.96): The game is fundamentally a Sokoban-style puzzle game where players push and pull blocks, including rocks, to solve puzzles. Movement is restricted to grid-based four directions.
- Unique puzzle design with characters (weight 0.62): The game features unique puzzle design and interesting characters, with multiple mechanics and interactions between different characters allowing for combinations.
- Progressive puzzle difficulty and complexity (weight 0.43): Puzzles gradually become more complex and layered as the player advances, with difficulty ramping up significantly in later levels. The difficulty progression is well-paced and does not overstay its welcome.
- Mechanics combine and evolve (weight 0.42): The game introduces new mechanics continuously, and these mechanics start combining in more complex ways as the player progresses. This leads to creative solutions and endless eureka moments.
- Zelda-like overworld and structure (weight 0.4): The game features a 2D Zelda-esque overworld with an open layout, allowing players to switch between puzzles when stuck. It has a non-linear structure with areas to explore and loose threads to chase.
- Full voice acting and narration (weight 0.19): The full game features full voice acting, and characters narrate the story. Audio logs are available as collectibles, and subtitles are present during dialogue.
- Puzzle-solving core loop (weight 0.15): The core loop involves solving puzzles, which rewards the player with new puzzles. The game features an aha moment when solutions click, and endless eureka moments.
- Levels organized around rooms (weight 0.14): The game is structured around a series of rooms the player progresses through, with puzzles organized around rooms. It is level-based, with 105 levels in the demo.
- Easy to drop in and out (weight 0.14): The game is super chill and can be put down at any time and returned to whenever, making it easy to play in short sessions.
- NPCs provide hints and information (weight 0.13): NPCs can be asked about locations of sailors, and a specific sailor NPC is located right at the beginning, helping players progress.
- Story and meta elements (weight 0.13): The game has a story, meta reflections, and surprising thoughts. It also includes META elements that add depth to the experience.
- Four separate games combined (weight 0.13): Early on, it almost feels like four separate games, and the game consists of four main games. Interactions between these games are introduced level by level.
- Puzzle design is a key element (weight 0.13): Puzzle design is a key element of the game, with mechanics that build on one another and lead to creative solutions. The game combines elements from lesser-known puzzle games.
- Undo and rewind mechanics (weight 0.11): The game includes an Undo mechanic and allows time to be rewound and actions to be undone, providing flexibility in puzzle solving.
- Designed for gamepad with unique inputs (weight 0.1): The game is designed for gamepad use with more button inputs than a typical puzzle game, and offers unique ways to interact with the world.
- Large map with open layout (weight 0.09): The game has a large map with an open layout, allowing players to explore and switch between puzzles freely.
- Open-ended structure with many pathways (weight 0.06): The game has an open-ended structure with many pathways and options when the player gets stuck, allowing for flexibility in progression.

Performance notes:
- Excellent overall performance (weight 0.47): Many players report the game runs flawlessly on a wide range of hardware, including desktop PCs, Steam Deck, Linux, and older GPUs. Performance is described as fantastic even at max settings and much better than the demo.
- Poor optimization and performance (weight 0.19): Several users find performance disappointing, with poor optimization and low frame rates even on lowest settings. This is especially frustrating given the developer's emphasis on performance.
- Inconsistent Steam Deck performance (weight 0.19): While some report outstanding performance on Steam Deck, others note it runs poorly on high settings and lacks a fullscreen option in desktop mode. Experiences vary significantly.
- Good performance on lower settings (weight 0.14): Some users find the game runs smoothly when graphics settings are lowered. This suggests that with the right configuration, playable performance is achievable.
- Crashes after intro world (weight 0.12): Some players experience repeated crashes that persist even after rebooting. This makes the game unplayable past the introductory section.
- Isolated laptop performance issues (weight 0.1): A few reports mention strange performance issues on gaming laptops and one instance where the fan does not spin up. These appear to be hardware-specific anomalies.
- Limited graphics settings (weight 0.06): Players complain there are not enough graphics options to fine-tune performance, with quality versus performance being the only real adjustment. This restricts customization for different hardware.

Recommendations:
- Strong recommendation for puzzle fans (weight 0.44): The overwhelming majority of feedback recommends the game to players who enjoy puzzle games. Multiple clusters describe it as a must-have or essential pick for the genre.
- High overall recommendation rate (weight 0.28): General recommendation clusters contain unqualified praise and strong endorsements. Reviewers repeatedly urge others to buy or try the game.
- Accessible beyond puzzle veterans (weight 0.19): Several reviewers note the game appeals even to people who do not normally play puzzle or Sokoban-style games. It is described as an easy recommendation for a broad audience.
- Rewarding for patient players (weight 0.11): Some feedback highlights that the game pays off for those willing to invest significant time. The experience is described as immensely rewarding for dedicated puzzle fans.
- Demo helps purchase decision (weight 0.1): Reviewers suggest trying the demo first and base their recommendation on that experience. It is presented as a low-risk way to evaluate the game.
- Sale advice sparks debate (weight 0.09): A small cluster recommends waiting for a sale to avoid fully supporting the developer. Another cluster counters that the game itself will not change after a discount.
- Fans of Braid and The Witness (weight 0.09): One recommendation strongly suggests playing the predecessors Braid and The Witness. It positions the game as a top-tier choice for ambitious yet accessible puzzle experiences.
- Links to other puzzle games (weight 0.08): Feedback mentions other free online puzzle games as a way to sample the genre. It also recommends Baba is You for players interested in similar puzzle titles.
- Gamepad recommended for controls (weight 0.06): One cluster advises using a gamepad with extra buttons because of the control scheme. This is a practical tip for players planning to start the game.
- Ideal for bite-size sessions (weight 0.05): Reviewers note the game works well for playing short puzzle sessions over a longer period. It is recommended for puzzle fans who want digestible chunks of gameplay.

Other player notes:
- Demo available for play (weight 0.52): Reviewers consistently mention that a demo is available, allowing players to try the game before purchasing. The demo is seen as a significant part of the overall experience.
- Comparisons to Braid and Witness (weight 0.39): Reviewers often compare the game to the developer's previous titles, Braid and The Witness, with some calling them masterpieces. Opinions vary on how this game stands relative to them.
- Developed by Jonathan Blow (weight 0.38): Many reviewers note the game is developed by Jonathan Blow, creator of Braid and The Witness. This authorship is frequently mentioned as a key reason for their interest or purchase.
- Over 1000 puzzles included (weight 0.38): The game contains roughly a thousand puzzles, offering a massive amount of content. This leads to an expected long playtime, with some reviewers noting hundreds of hours to see everything.
- Extensive development history (weight 0.3): The game was in development for about 10 years, with many reviewers having followed the process through streams and broadcasts. This long development cycle is frequently highlighted.
- Compared to various puzzle games (weight 0.29): The game is compared to a range of puzzle games like Portal, Baba Is You, and Fish Fillets 2, highlighting its puzzle mechanics and design. Some reviewers find it on par with these titles.
- Very large game size and content (weight 0.26): Reviewers note the game is very large in size and contains a substantial amount of content, with the map appearing very large. This suggests a lengthy and expansive experience.
- Custom engine and Jai language (weight 0.23): The game is built using the Jai programming language and a custom engine created from scratch by the developers. Reviewers often mention this technical achievement.
- Performance and hardware demands (weight 0.21): Reviewers mention performance aspects, such as frame rate compared to other games and hardware stress relative to Hearthstone. It also supports 4K resolution and gamepad controllers.
- Demo progress carries over (weight 0.15): The saved progress from the demo can be carried over to the full game, and the full version inherits demo level progress. This continuity is appreciated by players.
- Improved voice acting in full game (weight 0.15): The full version features improved voice acting and new voice lines, along with small story tweaks compared to the demo. This is seen as a notable enhancement.
- Inspired by classic puzzle games (weight 0.11): The game draws inspiration from titles like Heroes of Sokoban, Promesst, and Mirror Isles, as noted by reviewers. This influence is seen as a positive aspect.
- Supports Linux and Chinese voice acting (weight 0.1): The game supports Linux (Pop!_OS) and promises Chinese voice acting, which is noted by some reviewers. These features add to its accessibility.
- Compared to Meowgenics for serenity (weight 0.1): The game is compared to Meowgenics, with both providing a soothing sense of serenity. The reviewer also mentions it was bundled with Meowgenics.
- Credits team, disapproves lead's opinions (weight 0.06): One reviewer credits the team while expressing disapproval of the lead developer's public opinions. This reflects a separation of art from the artist.
- Looking forward to future tools (weight 0.06): A reviewer is looking forward to testing out Jai and other tools released by the team. This indicates interest in the technology behind the game.
- Thanks for perseverance and artistry (weight 0.06): One reviewer thanks the creators for their perseverance, professionalism, artistry, and genius. This shows appreciation for the effort behind the game.
- Reviewer received free early copy (weight 0.05): One reviewer mentions receiving the game for free and early, which may influence their perspective. This is a minor point.

Emotions:
- Satisfaction (weight 0.13): Players feel satisfied by the bug-free launch and the seamless continuation of demo progress. The sheer volume of clever, non-repetitive puzzles and excellent optimization provide a strong sense of value. The polished full release and rewarding progression make the experience deeply fulfilling.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.12): Enjoyment stems from the well-crafted puzzles, great music, and interesting story that keep players engaged. The game's rewarding nature for patient puzzle fans and its fun gameplay despite genre preferences contribute to the positive experience. The atmospheric visuals and intuitive design further enhance the enjoyment.
- Excitement (weight 0.11): Excitement is driven by the full game's launch and the prospect of sinking hundreds of hours into unique mechanics. Players eagerly anticipate combining different puzzle elements and exploring new areas like Skipping Stones. The demo's strong impression and promise of endless eureka moments fuel this excitement.
- Admiration (weight 0.08): Admiration arises from the exceptional polish and genius-level puzzle design, complemented by gorgeous graphics and a stacked voice cast. The game is favorably compared to Braid and The Witness, showcasing an unprecedented volume of content. This admiration extends to the developer's craftsmanship and the overall ambitious scope.
- Anticipation (weight 0.06): Anticipation is fueled by the game's massive scale and the promise of many more hours of puzzle-solving. Players look forward to exploring later levels and seeing how base game mechanics combine in 3D. The full game's larger size compared to the demo heightens the eager waiting.
- Disappointment (weight 0.05): Disappointment results from performance issues and unmet expectations set by the creator's previous works. The story feels forgettable and the dialogue is poor, while the gradual merging of mechanics lacks a strong hook. Amateurish mistakes and excessive content also detract from the experience.
- Joy (weight 0.04): Joy comes from the aha moments when puzzle solutions click and from discovering new interactions. The abundance of 1000 levels of puzzle content and the beautiful art and music amplify this feeling. The simple act of interacting with the game is described as a joy.
- Delight (weight 0.04): Delight is elicited by the game's wonderful, gorgeous presentation with clever writing and amazing voice acting. The smooth character-object interactions, such as pushing or pulling a rock, feel magical. The pleasant atmosphere and memorable music make it an absolute delight, even for those not typically into puzzle games.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Appreciation stems from the wonderful design and top-tier audio, including score and voice acting. The many puzzles are enjoyable without frustration, and the developer's decade-long effort is evident. The continuous improvements since the demo are also highly valued.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.03): Enthusiasm is driven by the game's cozy atmosphere, great value, and ability to run on low-end hardware. Unique puzzle design, visuals, and interesting characters make it a favorite, with strong recommendations of the predecessors. For puzzle fans, it's as good as it gets.
- Frustration (weight 0.03): Frustration arises from challenging puzzles that make players feel inadequate, alongside technical issues like strange performance, double inputs, and weird controls. Crashes and poor optimization further hinder the experience. The poor dialogue writing adds to the annoyance.
- Surprise (weight 0.02): Surprise comes from enjoying a puzzle game despite generally disliking the genre, and from clever mechanics that provoke laughter. The game's impressive quality, comparable to Portal, and unexpected character interactions also catch players off guard. Even prior experience with a bundled game adds to the surprise.
- Impressed (weight 0.02): Impressed by the game's immediate quality right after the first area and the continuous introduction of mechanics. The game is big and very well made, running nicely on old hardware, proving the Jai programming language's capability. This leaves a strong positive impression.
- Gratitude (weight 0.02): Gratitude is felt for the game filling the gap of approachable high-production-value puzzle games. Players appreciate the creators' perseverance and craftsmanship in delivering the game, and thank them for investing time and money into something good. The realization of the game by Jon Blow and the team is deeply valued.
- Amazement (weight 0.02): Amazement is inspired by the game's incredible creativity and bonkers ideas, combined with the contemplative feel of pushing boxes in a Sokoban puzzler. Challenging puzzles with great a-ha moments leave players in awe. The unique blend of philosophy and puzzle-solving is truly astonishing.
- Love (weight 0.02): Love for the game is expressed through enjoyment of both the demo and the 1.0 release, and a particular fondness for specific puzzles like 'Vault of the Beam Casters'. Playing the extensive demo and then the full game deepens this affection. The puzzle design and overall experience are cherished.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Boredom stems from an uninteresting game world and a dull story with generic voice acting and writing. These elements fail to engage the player, leading to a lack of excitement. The overall experience feels flat and unstimulating.
- Irritation (weight 0.01): Irritation is caused by jerky room-to-room transitions and terrible animations, which disrupt the flow. These technical shortcomings detract from the otherwise polished experience. The lack of smoothness becomes a recurring annoyance.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Amusement arises from a humorous situation where the reviewer spent 5 hours streaming to complete just one level, framed as a joke. This self-deprecating moment provides lighthearted entertainment. The absurdity of the time spent creates a funny anecdote.
- Addiction (weight 0.01): Addiction is reported because the game is the most addictive puzzle game the reviewer has played. The compelling puzzle design keeps players coming back for more. It creates a strong urge to continue solving.}