Master Don’t Nod’s Jusant with insider climbing strategies, level design insights, and advanced puzzle-solving techniques
Game Origins and Design Philosophy
We sat down with Jusant’s creative directors to uncover the developmental journey behind this groundbreaking action-puzzle climbing experience.
Our exclusive interview with Jusant’s creative directors reveals the creative process behind this innovative climbing adventure.
Developed by Don’t Nod, Jusant represents a departure from their traditional narrative games, focusing instead on vertical exploration through a mysterious tower environment. Players assume the role of a solitary climber navigating desolate landscapes while uncovering ancient secrets.
The abandoned civilization carved into the cliff faces provides environmental storytelling opportunities, with players accompanied by Ballast, a unique water-based companion creature that aids in navigation and puzzle-solving.
Prepare to dive deep into the insights shared by Kevin Poupard and Mathieu Beaudelin about mastering the art of virtual climbing in this atmospheric masterpiece.
Historical narrative plays a crucial role in Jusant’s storytelling, making it essential to understand the game’s foundational concepts from its creators.
“We aimed to pioneer a fresh approach to interactive storytelling,” the directors explained. “Jusant’s vision centered on delivering a streamlined narrative experience built around a singular, clearly defined gameplay mechanic. We recognized early that the climbing mechanics themselves needed to convey symbolic meaning about the overarching story.”
This creative direction naturally evolved into the concept of an enormous vertical structure for players to ascend, providing both innovative gameplay possibilities and significant visual storytelling opportunities. Venturing into gameplay territory unfamiliar to Don’t Nod’s typical projects, Jusant’s universe presented unique development hurdles. “We take pride in conquering these creative obstacles, which provided valuable lessons for tackling future gaming innovations,” they noted.
Key inspirational titles influencing Jusant’s development included Thatgamecompany’s Journey, Playdead’s Inside, and Team Ico’s Shadow of the Colossus. The directors admired how each game demonstrated “distilled minimalist design principles, refined artistic direction, and narrative delivery relying more on environmental suggestion than explicit exposition.”
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“Our primary challenge involved discovering a universally resonant narrative thread. Although the story underwent minor adjustments during development, we recognized the powerful symbolic potential inherent in vertical progression mechanics,” the directors emphasized.
Mastering the Climbing Mechanics
Jusant distinguishes itself through distinctive meditative gameplay featuring hands-on control systems that transcend conventional genre boundaries.
Players command individual control over the climber’s hands, determining movement direction, grip selection, and navigation through the tower’s environmental obstacles. During initial development phases, the team experimented with controlling all four limbs, but this approach proved “fundamentally contradictory to our emphasis on smooth, intuitive movement” and was consequently abandoned.
“While climbing mechanics typically suggest intense physical challenge and high difficulty thresholds, we envisioned a more contemplative player experience,” the directors clarified. “Our design philosophy prioritized maintaining gameplay complexity while ensuring fluid character control and instinctive player interaction remained paramount.”
To authentically replicate real climbing sensations, Poupard and Beaudelin conducted extensive research, discovering the “remarkable calmness” experienced by professional climbers. “Seasoned climbers meticulously study rock formations before attempting ascents—their movements are deliberate and calculated. We sought to embed this mindful approach into our control scheme,” they described.
With abundant exploration opportunities and no pressure to rush the ascent, players can anticipate completing Jusant’s journey within approximately ten hours, though completionists may require additional time to uncover all environmental secrets.
Advanced Climbing Techniques
Mastering Jusant requires understanding several key strategies beyond basic controls. Plan your route by scanning the environment for optimal handhold sequences before beginning each climb. Conserve stamina by alternating hand movements rhythmically rather than rushing upward. Use environmental cues like discolored rocks or moss patterns to identify the most stable grip points. When encountering challenging sections, backtrack to lower positions to gain momentum for difficult reaches.
Common Beginner Mistakes
New players often exhaust their character’s stamina by moving too rapidly between handholds. Avoid the temptation to constantly look upward—frequently scan downward and sideways for alternative routes. Many players overlook the importance of the pause button for strategic planning during complex climbing sequences. Don’t ignore environmental storytelling elements that often provide subtle hints about safe climbing paths and puzzle solutions.
World Design and Atmospheric Elements
Jusant’s universe presents a vibrant, fantastical landscape featuring sweeping desert dunes replacing former oceanic regions, with the central tower dominating the barren surroundings.
From its rich color palette to its haunting musical score, every design element underwent “vertical consideration.” The directors emphasized the importance of “communicating the historical reality of tower inhabitants who navigated this vertical community in their daily lives.”
“We incorporated recognizable elements from our world, such as structural designs resembling seafaring vessels or residential dwellings, while integrating original creative touches to fully immerse players in this unfamiliar setting. The visual aesthetic intentionally manipulates reality, playing with conventional expectations to establish our unique artistic identity,” they elaborated.
Although players cannot interact with closed doorways, they can intuitively comprehend through deteriorated structures and accessible pathways that “families once resided behind these walls, establishing the tower as their home before abandonment.”
Regarding Jusant’s audio landscape, composer Guillaume Ferran’s musical arrangements pay homage to the game’s intricate details through “distinctive sonic textures,” capturing everything from “rock surface textures under hands” to “wind currents surrounding the climber.”
The soundtrack incorporates “uplifting musical motifs” throughout the adventure to motivate players during their vertical journey, with the climber’s companion Ballast receiving his own distinctive musical theme.
“Since Ballast consists primarily of water elements, Guillaume designed the musical composition so piano notes evoke rainfall surrounding the player,” the directors revealed.
Environmental Storytelling Secrets
The tower’s architecture reveals its history through subtle design choices. Look for weathering patterns on structures to determine which areas were most frequently used. Pay attention to the arrangement of abandoned belongings—clustered items often indicate social gathering spots. The degradation of building materials provides clues about how long different tower sections have been abandoned. Water stains and erosion patterns can guide you toward hidden passages and secret areas.
Advanced Gameplay Strategies
Don’t Nod has established its reputation through “crafting impactful, immersive narrative experiences,” with titles like Life Is Strange evoking powerful emotional responses from players.
Jusant, conversely, aims to provide players with optimistic conclusions, with the gaming experience engineered to deliver “instant gratification through accomplishment” as players successfully overcome the tower’s numerous challenges.
The narrative also contains darker thematic undercurrents addressing “unfortunately relevant contemporary issues,” though these elements remain open to player interpretation and analysis.
Don’t miss Jusant’s complimentary demo available on Steam until September 19, offering substantial preview content before the complete game launches later this year.
Optimization Strategies for Experienced Players
Advanced players should master the art of “flow climbing” by maintaining constant motion between handholds without hesitation. Learn to read rock textures—rough surfaces typically provide better grip than smooth sections. Utilize Ballast’s abilities strategically during puzzle sequences rather than relying solely on physical climbing skills. For speedrunners, focus on memorizing optimal routes through each tower section and practice precise hand transitions to minimize movement time between grips.
Pro-Level Navigation Techniques
Expert climbers develop the ability to anticipate handhold sequences three to four moves ahead. Use camera angles to your advantage by frequently adjusting perspective to spot hidden pathways. Master the timing of leap moves between distant handholds by studying the character’s movement rhythm. When stuck on difficult sections, experiment with unconventional climbing patterns—sometimes the least obvious route proves most efficient.
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