Jusant

Jusant is a contemplative climbing platformer from studio DON'T NOD, in which the player scales a giant, sky-reaching tower formed from the remnants of a dried-up ocean. The core mechanic is realistic climbing using rope and ice axes, where each of the character's hands corresponds to one controller button, so the player must alternately secure holds, plan a route, and manage stamina. On the way up, they discover traces of a vanished civilization and a small companion in the form of a mollusk, while the narrative remains almost wordless, with the story unfolding through the environment and found fragments of memories. During the ascent, the player also has to manage a limited water supply, replenished from springs and reservoirs, which brings a gentle element of planning and resource management into the game's otherwise calm pace.

On PlayStation 5, the game benefits from detailed rock formation graphics, dynamic lighting, and above all from the DualSense controller's haptic feedback, which faithfully simulates the tension of the rope and the strain of climbing. The audio side is understated and meditative, with gentle music and wind sounds that heighten the feeling of solitude and calm on the way up. The puzzle sections are more spatial than logical — the player must judge the direction of progress and make use of the environment, such as water currents that ease climbing. The visual style combines realistically rendered rock formations with the remnants of a vanished civilization's architecture, which, together with the gradual reveal of the tower's height, gives the game a strong sense of progress and discovery.

The game was praised for its original gameplay mechanic, calming atmosphere, and thoughtful environmental storytelling without the need for explicit dialogue. Although it is a shorter, more intimate experience than most platformers, it showed that climbing can work as a full-fledged foundation for an entire game. To this day it is valued as an example of how an unassuming indie title can offer a unique and memorable gaming experience without needing to rely on action or violence.

Why play it: For players seeking a calmer, more intimate experience without violence, it offers an original climbing mechanic and thoughtful environmental storytelling, even though it is a shorter adventure.