Summary
Though 2023 has been a bit of a mixed bag overall for Xbox Game Pass, the last few months have really turned things around. Closing out the Summer months in style withTexas Chain Saw MassacreandSea of Stars,Xbox Game Pass then pulled out all of the stops this monthwith the long-awaitedStarfield,Lies of P,Party Animals, andPayday 3. And now, Xbox Game Pass is about to deliver yet another stellar month with its October 2023 line-up, which includes the bright and colorfulJusant.
Developed byLife is Strangestudio Don’t Nod,Jusantwas first revealed earlier this year during Xbox’s June Showcase, and it immediately stood out for its breathtaking visuals and atmospheric trailer. ThoughJusantis heading to PS5 as well, Xbox and PC players are in luck, asJusantis set to hit Xbox Game Pass on October 31.
RELATED:Jusant: Hands-On Preview - Reaching Curious New Heights
The Gameplay Features of Xbox Game Pass' Jusant
Seemingly inspired by incredibly influential titles likeIcoandShadow of the Colossus,Jusantsees players take control of a lone wanderer as they attempt to climb one monumentally large tower. Much like its inspirations, it doesn’t seem as thoughJusantwill put a heavy emphasis on dialogue or narrative, but instead use environmental storytelling to build the game’s plot.
Jusant’s moment-to-moment gameplay will see players try to make their way up this colossal tower, using climbing mechanics seemingly similar to those found in games likeZelda: Tears of the KingdomorImmortals: Fenyx Rising, where players are required to manage a stamina meter at all times. But unlike those games,Jusant’s platforming is a bit more involved, requiring players to press and hold each trigger on the controller to manually attach their character’s hands to scalable parts of the environment. As players progress up the tower, they’ll be presented with new biomes, and new obstacles created from relics of the ancient world that once stood there such as windmills jutting out of a cliff face.
But players won’t be completely alone on their journey. A little ways intoJusant, players will come across a water being named Ballast. Ballast will reportedly help the player in a few different ways throughout their adventure, such as revealing clues about which path to take or where to go next, and using its powers of nature to move the environment and open up a new pathway for the player.
Jusant Could be a Return to Form for Don’t Nod
Don’t Nod has had a bit of a mixed history in the video game landscape. Founded in 2008,Don’t Nod’s first game,Remember Me, did a good job of putting the developer on the map. Though it certainly wasn’t perfect,Remember Meshowed that Don’t Nod knew how to make a narrative-focused game with a strong lead protagonist, and the studio’s next game would exemplify this even further. 2015’sLife is Strangeis the game that put Don’t Nod on the map, and it’s still widely considered to be one of the best narrative games of its type ever made.
But Don’t Nod hasn’t really lived up to the heights ofLife is Strangeever since. While games likeVampyr,Tell Me Why, and the recentHarmony: The Fall of Reveriewere all far from terrible games, they lacked the same energy and quality that the firstLife is Strangehad. ButJusantmight finally be the game to put Don’t Nod back on the map. With a genuinely beautiful art style, and some intuitive yet engrossing platforming mechanics,Jusantcould end up being one of the best Xbox Game Pass titles of October 2023.
Jusantis set to be released on August 01, 2025 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
