Games worth discovering

Jusant's unique storytelling and gameplay are right at the top of the mountain

2K View2023-11-01

SHOULD I PLAY JUSANT?

Play this one, especially if you like platformers, puzzlers, or just outside-of-the-box storytelling. Jusant (French for ‘receding tide’) is a classic example of show-don’t-tell storytelling and is one of those games that’s really hard to nail down in a particular genre. That being said, climbing up a virtual mountain has never felt so relaxing, frustrating, and rewarding in what is probably one of the most unique gaming experiences I’ve had this year.

TIME PLAYED

So far, I’ve clocked around three hours on Jusant on my PlayStation 5. Most of this time was spent looking for the best routes to climb up the tower, collecting letters to learn about its mysteries, and, despite Jusant being described as a “relaxing” game, yelling at the TV every time my nameless protagonist failed to reach a ledge.

WHAT’S AWESOME ABOUT JUSANT?

• The breathtaking visuals. Jusant reminds me a lot of the game Journey in its atmospheric and expansive visual style. The environmental storytelling of the game means great detail is placed upon the look and feel of the mountains, ledges, and surrounding scenery that all mold together to create a beautiful and somewhat ominous landscape.

• The simple controls. There are no tricks here. Jusant is a game where climbing is the main action, and it successfully made me feel like I was climbing a real mountain with its easy-to-learn controls. Switching between triggers made it feel like I was alternating hands to grasp at ledges, and with the addition of the realistic climbing and scaling techniques and a stamina bar to master, I felt like I was turning into a real professional climber.

• The unique approach to storytelling. I won’t spoil the story here, but suffice it to say the higher you climb, the more you learn. Jusant does a great job of telling a story without uttering a single word. Getting drawn into this world and figuring out what the heck happened to its inhabitants made me feel like a fledgling archeologist.

WHAT SUCKS ABOUT JUSANT?

• No hints. There are puzzle games with a hint button on what to do next, but without some very subtle environmental clues, you won’t find any hints on where to go or how to proceed toward your destination. For those who are looking to speed-run through Jusant (and I don’t know why you would), this might be a bit frustrating.

💬 Will you play Jusant, or are you going to skip it? Let me know in the comments!