The search for a solution in Order of the Sinking Star

I’ve been playing this one puzzle for hours and I feel like I’m going insane.

Skipping Stones to Lonely Homes is one of the games Thekla has utilized in Order of the Sinking Star. It’s the focus of the southern biome, where players learn about pushing stones across water to interact with lily pads and hopefully reach the goal point. The introduction to this mechanic is a multi-screen archipelago with six optional collectible relics in difficult-to-reach locations. I’ve got five, and getting this last one is turning out to be a real challenge.

I’ve solved this introductory puzzle multiple times now. During my initial solve, I managed to get one relic. In the following solves, I got more, until I could successfully get five of the six entirely optional, completely unnecessary collectibles. I’m doing it because I know it can be done. I’m doing it because I want to pat myself on the back and know I’ve finally overcome the feeling incredible stupidity I’m currently wallowing in.

Here is what my current planning looks like. This is nearly every move I need to make in order to navigate each island and acquire five of the six relics – save for a few minor adjustments to stones where there’s not enough space for accurate line work. I feel like I’ve been as efficient as possible, that I’ve explored all possible combinations of moves, but I apparently haven’t, because I’m still not able to access the foggy section in the northwest.

The main problem I’m facing is that sending any objects toward said northwest island is difficult thanks to all of the rocks around the archipelagos. As far as I can tell, there are three paths from the far east islands, and multiple from its closest neighbour, while the south side has more possibilities. But what should I send there, or must I send anything at all? The purple line shows the potential path of a stone, but I think I need it so I can reach its neighbouring island, where the second relic lives.

This is what I love about Order of the Sinking Star. I’ve been playing this one puzzle for hours, I’m definitely stuck, but I know that the parts to reach the solution are all there. I don’t want hints. I don’t want guidance. What I want is for my brain, the thing I supposedly control, to recognize the components of the solution, at which point I can put it together. Whether it happens tonight, over the weekend, or at some future date, I know it’s going to feel great to crack it.

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