Jusant challenges players to master the art of the climb, tasking you with scaling a colossal, mysterious mountain alongside a small, water-like companion. Developed by Don’t Nod, this meditative journey transforms the simple act of ascending into a rewarding experience, driven by brilliant climbing mechanics, striking art direction, and a deeply atmospheric world.
Intuitive Mechanics Meet High-Stakes Climbing
The core of the experience lies in its intuitive climbing system. By using the left and right shoulder buttons, you control the climber’s hands individually, creating a rhythmic, realistic, and satisfying flow as you navigate treacherous terrain. While a stamina meter adds a necessary layer of tension, the challenge feels balanced and purposeful. However, the movement isn’t flawless; while climbing is precise, standard walking can feel clumsy, as the character occasionally struggles with minor environmental geometry, leading to awkward moments of getting stuck on debris.
Strategy and The Safety of the Rope
Your primary survival tool is a retractable rope that keeps you anchored, ensuring you never face a “game over” screen from a fall. While this removes the fear of death, failure still carries the weight of lost progress, as slipping forces you to reclimb difficult sections. Players can mitigate this by placing up to three pitons, which serve as strategic checkpoints. This system provides a brilliant sense of agency, forcing you to plan your route carefully. The rope also enables dynamic maneuvers, such as wall-running and swinging across massive gaps to reach distant ledges.
Ballast: Your Mystical Companion
The climber is joined by Ballast, a cute, ethereal pet that plays a vital role in your ascent. By emitting pulses, Ballast interacts with the environment, triggering organic growth like sprouting buds on giant flowers or accelerating vine growth to create new paths. These interactions add a layer of whimsy and variety to the climb, complementing the traditional mechanics with creative, puzzle-like elements.
A Fresh Take on Vertical Gameplay
Scaling the mountain is a test of coordination and planning, making every milestone feel like a hard-earned victory. Developer Don’t Nod keeps the six-chapter journey feeling fresh by constantly introducing new hazards and environmental shifts. From navigating powerful wind gusts to traversing moving rock-creature handholds or swinging through bioluminescent caves, the game remains engaging throughout its roughly six-hour runtime.
A World Lost to Time
Jusant’s world is a visual marvel, set against the backdrop of a dried-up seabed. The remnants of a vanished society—fossilized shells, shipwrecks, and abandoned settlements—paint a hauntingly beautiful picture of a civilization in ruin. This history is expanded through fascinating, well-written logs that provide essential context to your quest, detailing the lives of those who once thrived on the mountain.
Collectibles and Lasting Appeal
Exploration is highly encouraged, with numerous hidden artifacts, murals, and audio-based flashbacks scattered throughout the ascent. The game’s tracking system makes it easy to revisit chapters to hunt for missed items, a task that feels rewarding given the depth of the world-building. Finding abandoned shops and infrastructure offers a poignant look at the daily lives of the mountain’s former inhabitants.
Final Verdict
Jusant stands out as Don’t Nod’s finest work since the original Life is Strange and is undeniably one of the year’s standout titles. Its innovative climbing mechanics, coupled with a haunting, Team Ico-esque atmosphere and a beautiful soundtrack, make for an unforgettable expedition. It is a rare gem that turns a simple mountain climb into an evocative and deeply rewarding journey.
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