Jusant
A lone wanderer climbs a desolate tower filled with ancient artifacts.
Jusant is a puzzle-platform game from 2023, created and published by the French studio Don't Nod. Players take on the role of a solitary climber ascending a massive, abandoned tower, discovering remnants of past civilizations along the way. The game launched on PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on 31 October 2023. Critics generally praised it, but it fell short of Don't Nod's commercial expectations.
The core gameplay involves scaling a tower divided into several biomes, each introducing new movement mechanics and obstacles. Players place pitons to catch themselves if they fall or run out of stamina, and use the controller triggers to grip handholds. Holding a button makes the character jump, consuming significant stamina. Ropes can be lowered to previously visited areas for easier backtracking. A water-based companion named Ballast accompanies the player, revealing clues and awakening nature to open new paths. The game has no spoken dialogue, relying entirely on environmental storytelling.
The setting is a colossal stone pillar rising far above the clouds. Long before the game begins, the tower was surrounded by ocean and inhabited by a large community that lived along its vertical face, developing advanced climbing gear, ziplines, and grappling points. The tower also hosted magical creatures, including anti-gravity "sparks" and flying, whale-like "ballasts" made of water. A devastating drought called "the Jusant" eventually forced everyone to abandon the structure.
Don't Nod announced the game at the Xbox Games Showcase on 11 June 2023, with a fall release window. A Steam demo followed shortly after. It launched on PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on 31 October 2023, and was also available on Xbox Game Pass for cloud, console, and PC. In July 2025, it became a PlayStation Plus "Monthly" title.
Critics gave Jusant generally favorable reviews, according to Metacritic. Eurogamer compared its climbing system to *Grow Home*, noting that squeezing the triggers made the physical effort feel tangible. Le Monde praised its immersive universe and how it captured climbing's dangerous beauty and intoxication. PC Gamer highlighted the accessibility of the climbing mechanics, saying the game clearly wants players to succeed. Destructoid appreciated the peaceful atmosphere and sound design, calling it ideal for unwinding.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Jusant
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Platforms
- PlayStation 5 · Windows · Xbox Series X/S
- Developer
- Don't Nod
- Genre
- Puzzle, platform
- Modes
- Single-player
- Composer
- Guillaume Ferran
- Director
- Mathieu Beaudelin / Kevin Poupard
- Released
- 31 October 2023
- Artist
- Edouard Caplain
- Designer
- Sofiane Saheb
- Programmer
- Mathieu Simon
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Jusant takes place on a massive rocky pillar that stretches well above the cloud level. Several generations before the game begins, the tower was surrounded by ocean and settled by a large population that lived throughout the vertical structure, adapting by developing advanced climbing gear and placing ziplines and grappling points. The tower was also home to magical creatures, including 'sparks' with an anti-gravity effect and 'ballasts', flying whale-like creatures seemingly made of water. The tower experienced a devastating drought called 'the Jusant', which eventually led to its complete abandonment.
The player is accompanied by a companion named Ballast, described by the team as 'a creature made entirely out of water'. Ballast reveals clues and 'wakes nature', opening new paths for the player. The game has no dialogue and relies heavily on environmental storytelling. As the player ascends, they find more about the civilization that resided there and what became of them.
Reader's Guide
Jusant tasks the player with climbing to the top of a tower split into different biomes, each with unique traversal mechanics and challenges. The player can place pitons with a button, catching themselves if they fall or run out of stamina. The triggers are used to place a hand while climbing. By holding down a button, the player character jumps, using a large amount of stamina. Periodically, the player can let down ropes to areas already passed, making backtracking easier.
Critics praised the climbing system, with Eurogamer likening it to Grow Home and noting the physicality of squeezing the triggers. Le Monde praised the immersive universe and gameplay, saying it brings out the essence of climbing. PC Gamer appreciated the accessibility of the climbing mechanics. Destructoid highlighted the peaceful atmosphere and sound design, noting its use of silence. Game Informer felt that walking could be troublesome, with the character getting stuck on small geometry. Rock Paper Shotgun praised the open-ended narrative, comparing it to archaeology.
In February 2024, the trade union Syndicat des Travailleurs et Travailleuses du Jeu Vidéo claimed Jusant apparently failed to meet commercial expectations, with the production team being disbanded. In September 2024, Don't Nod said the sales had performed well below their expectations. The game was a PlayStation Plus 'Monthly' title in July 2025.
Did You Know?
- Jusant was announced at the Xbox Games Showcase 2023 on 11 June 2023.
- The game launched on Xbox Game Pass for cloud, console, and PC on release day.
- The companion Ballast is described as 'a creature made entirely out of water'.
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