Best direction to go first in Order of the Sinking Star

Published Oct 8, 2026, 1:00 PM EDT North, east, south, or west Image: Thekla Inc/Arc Games via Polygon When you first make it to the Crossroads in Order of the Sinking Star, you will have four directions to choose from: north, east, south, or west. You're free to go in any direction you'd like, but the freedom of choice can make things a little bit more difficult. If you interact with the recording near the middle of the Crossroads, you're recommended to go north or east and avoid the west, but is this the best decision? Here's what direction you should go at the Crossroads in Order of the Sinking Star. Best direction to go first in Order of the Sinking Star There are four directions you can go at the Crossroads: North will take you to the Heroes of Hauling East will take you to The Mirror Isles South will take you to Skipping Stones to Lonely Homes West will take you to Vault of the Beamcasters As the recording stated, it's best to make progress in the north and the east. The beginning of these zones start out with simple puzzles, letting you ease into the huge game that Order of the Sinking Star is. Image: Thekla Inc/Arc Games via Polygon In the north, you'll head to the Heroes of Hauling, which is inspired by Jonah Ostroff's Heroes of Sokoban. In this area, you'll control three heroes, each with a different ability. You'll need to swap between the three, and make the most of their powers to complete a level. Image: Thekla Inc/Arc Games via Polygon In the east, you'll go to The Mirror Isles, which is based on Alan Hazelden's Mirror Isles. Here, you'll use mirrors to reflect an image of yourself that you can teleport to. You'll need to adjust the mirror's position and move a couple rocks to complete these puzzles, but it gets a bit more complicated as multiple mirrors get added into the mix. Image: Thekla Inc/Arc Games via Polygon In the south, you'll find the Skipping Stones to Lonely Homes, which is inspired by Skipping Stones to Lonely Homes by Alan Hazelden, and you'll be doing just that to solve puzzles. Push rocks into the water to skip them across a waterway or beside lily pads to build a path to the next island. These puzzles are a bit more challenging than those in the north and south, as you'll need some precise timing if you want to complete your lily pad and rock bridges. Image: Thekla Inc/Arc Games via Polygon In the west, there's Vault of Beamcasters, based off of Promesst by Sean Barrett, and it's definitely the hardest of the bunch. In the first area, you need to collect gems and place them beside colored arrows, which will give your character powers akin to the heroes in the north. However, The Promise is almost like its own mini-Metroidvania, where you need to explore a winding maze to find more gems, which will in turn allow you to unlock more areas. You're essentially thrust into the deep end without knowing how to swim, so it's best to avoid this area if you're just starting. Regardless of the direction you choose, it's important to note that you're not locked to one direction. You can exit to the overworld from the menu at any time you wish. So, if you're stuck on a puzzle, or if you want to take a break from one type of puzzle, you can go back to the Crossroads and choose a different direction.