Recommended Free Tools
Thekla’s work after The Witness grew into both a new puzzle game and the technology to build it. In a 2018 interview, Jonathan Blow described a level-based, block-pushing project that needed a new engine because it was being written in a new programming language. That project was later announced as Order of the Sinking Star; reporting in 2026 describes a much larger design built around several puzzle mechanics.
What Thekla was making after The Witness in 2018
GamesBeat’s July 2, 2018 interview with Jonathan Blow reported that Thekla had spent more than seven years making The Witness. Blow described the next project as a level-based game with many levels and a character who pushes blocks. He also cautioned that this visible premise was only a partial impression: there was “a lot more to it.” The interview said the art style was still being refined. GamesBeat’s interview was updated in 2025, but these development details describe the project as it stood in 2018.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Wreckfest (PS4) | $21.79 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
L.A. Noire - PlayStation 4 | $17.40 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Assassin's Creed Rogue Remastered (PS4) | $23.84 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
LEGO Star Wars: Force Awakens Deluxe Edition - PlayStation 4 | $20.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
LEGO Marvel's Avengers - PlayStation 4 | $14.95 | Buy on Amazon |
The team working on that particular game was small: the interview described a small programming group and an art group of about five people. Those figures are a snapshot of the 2018 project, not a current staffing count.
Why the game needed a new engine and programming language
The technology work followed from the project’s programming language. Blow said Thekla could not use The Witness’s older engine directly because the new game was being written in a new language. The team was translating some parts of the earlier engine and building other parts from scratch. The engine was therefore not a separate ambition detached from the game: adapting and replacing technology was part of making a project in the new language.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →#1 Best Overall
- Awesome Cars - Old, banged-up, patched-together cars that simply ooze style! From old American heavy-hitters to agile Europeans and fun Asians, you won't find anything like this in other games
- Meaningful Customization - Change not only the look of your cars but also upgrade their body armor!
- Multiplayer - Wreck your friends online and take racing to the limit while chasing for demolition dominance!
- Challenge modes - Have hilarious fun with crop harvesters, lawn mowers, school buses, three-wheelers and more!
The 2018 interview also discussed Blow’s language work and the possibility of building multiple games with it. He said he was willing to keep development going until he believed the game was ready. Those were his views and possibilities at the time, not a release commitment or confirmation of a particular schedule.
How the later project was identified
In December 2025, Arc Games announced Order of the Sinking Star as a game from Thekla led by Jonathan Blow, with a planned 2026 PC launch. That later announcement connects the studio’s post-Witness work to the project that emerged from the earlier development story. Arc Games’ announcement provides the publisher’s project information.
Rank #2
- Showcased in 1080p for the PlayStation 4 and stunning 4K for PlayStation 4 Pro.
- Includes the complete original game and all additional downloadable content plus new collectibles and detective suits to unlock, each with unique special abilities.
- Features an array of technical and graphical enhancements for a more realistic Los Angeles.
Later coverage describes a broader puzzle structure than the early block-pushing shorthand suggests. PC Gamer reported in January 2026 that the game combines four puzzle games. It also reported Blow’s opinion that the contemporary puzzle-game scene was not particularly interesting to him; that is his assessment, not an objective verdict on the genre. PC Gamer’s report covers those comments.
How Order of the Sinking Star differs from The Witness
The clearest contrast is in the central interaction and structure. The Witness has players explore an island and solve line puzzles. Order of the Sinking Star is described as a block-pushing game whose puzzle mechanics combine as play progresses. The later game is not simply presented as another island of line puzzles; its design builds on a different interaction and layers mechanics together.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Rank #3
- Resolution upscale allowing you to play in 4K on PS4 Pro in 1080p
- Experience the Assassin's Creed universe from the perspective of a Templar. Play as Shay, who, in addition to the deadly skills of a Master Assassin, also possesses never before seen skills and weapons
- Equip Shay's deadly air rifle for both short and long range combat. Distract, eliminate, or confuse your enemies by using a variety of ammunition, including specialized bullets and grenades
- Assassin's Creed Rogue builds on the award winning naval experience from Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag. Cast off in your ship, The Morrigan, and fight your way through the icy seas of the North Atlantic and the narrow waters of America's river valleys
- Includes 2 bonus missions from the original deluxe edition & Customization & items packs allowing you to personalize your character.
Blow has described himself as a mechanics-first designer, saying in a Japanese-language interview that he wants to avoid story getting in the way of mechanics. The same interview says the new game’s story is more prominent than the stories in Braid or The Witness because that suited this design. The point is not that story is absent, but that its role is intended to fit the game’s mechanics. 4Gamer’s October 6, 2026 interview reports these comments.
Reported scale, platforms and release timing
4Gamer reported more than 1,000 puzzles, an estimated approximately 250 hours for a regular completion, and more than 500 hours to solve all puzzles. These are the publication’s reported estimates, not independently tested playtime figures. Its October 6, 2026 interview listed PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch, and reported an October 8, 2026 release date. That is a reported planned date; the date alone does not independently confirm current availability.
Rank #4
- The Force is strong with this one; Get the Deluxe Edition now and gain access to the main game, season pass content, and an exclusive Finn (FN 2187)TM MinFig
- The No:1 LEGO video game franchise triumphantly returns with a fun filled, humorous journey based on the blockbuster Star Wars film
- LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens
What Blow has said about possible future work
In the 4Gamer interview, Blow also expressed interest in a future game using random generation, based on an existing prototype, while saying it would not be a near-term release. This is an interview statement about an idea, not an announced follow-up project.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Diverse roster of Marvel’s Avengers characters –Play and unlock more than 100 new and returning characters with an array of exciting capabilities, including fan favorites like Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America and Thor, new characters from Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, and more.
- New and enhanced powers and abilities – Battle in new ways with enhanced powers and character abilities. Team up with core Avengers to execute incredible combo moves.
- Free Roam Gameplay – Enjoy LEGO Marvel’s Avengers’ unique take on open world gameplay as you assume the roles of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to collect gold bricks, studs, and unlock additional characters.
- Variety of iconic locations – Visit iconic Marvel Cinematic Universe locations from around the world.
- Experience the blockbuster action from the Avengers films – Relive key moments from Marvel’s The Avengers, Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron and more, with a splash of classic LEGO humor.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
