Order of the Sinking Star outsells The Witness in opening week
Thekla's new puzzle adventure sold 45% more Steam copies in its first week than The Witness, though the price difference makes the revenue comparison less straightforward.
Order of the Sinking Star sold 45% more copies on Steam during its first week than The Witness did over the same period, according to developer Jonathan Blow. The comparison gives Thekla's new puzzle adventure an unusually strong start, although the two games launched at different prices and the figures are sales volume rather than revenue. 1
A bigger puzzle box from The Witness creator
Published by Arc Games and developed by Thekla, Order of the Sinking Star launched on PC via Steam on October 8. The game comes from Jonathan Blow, the designer behind The Witness, and has reportedly been in development for roughly a decade. It sends players into four connected worlds filled with more than 1,000 hand-crafted puzzles, strange mechanisms and a cast that includes a queen, thief, warrior and wizard. 12
The game is built around grid-based puzzle systems, but it is not simply a repeat of The Witness. Its worlds use different rules and mechanics, with puzzles designed to be tackled in a flexible order. The official Steam listing describes an adventure where characters, environments and puzzle systems gradually collide, creating new combinations as the player progresses. 2
Why the sales comparison needs context
Blow's first-week comparison is impressive, but it needs a little context. Order of the Sinking Star costs $29.99 in the US, while The Witness launched at $39.99. The new game is also available in bundles with Permafrost and Animal Well, so a higher number of copies does not automatically mean higher launch revenue. 1
The comparison is still meaningful as a measure of initial reach. The Witness sold more than 100,000 copies across all platforms in its first week, according to figures reported after its 2016 launch. Order of the Sinking Star has not yet disclosed a comparable total revenue figure, but its stronger Steam unit sales suggest that the audience for demanding, systems-heavy puzzle games remains substantial. 1
Thekla's game is currently available on PC through Steam. PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2 versions are planned for release in Japan later this year, giving the developer further opportunities to turn the early interest into a broader audience. 12
Our opinion
This is the sort of launch result that makes a difficult puzzle game feel like a genuine event rather than a niche experiment. The sales lead is not a clean revenue comparison, but it shows that Order of the Sinking Star has reached players quickly despite asking for the kind of patience most blockbuster releases avoid. Its long development cycle and unusual structure will not appeal to everyone, yet a strong first week gives Thekla room to keep building an audience as the console versions arrive.