Contre Jour is quite possibly the most beautiful game ever released on the App Store. It’s a masterclass in tactile level design. Instead of controlling the protagonist—a cute, cyclopean creature named Petit—you manipulate the world itself. You drag the ground to create hills and valleys, use elastic tendrils to swing across chasms, and interact with pulleys to move Petit toward the goal.
The aesthetic is clearly inspired by 'The Little Prince' and 'World of Goo,' featuring high-contrast silhouettes and glowing highlights. But the real star is the music. Composed by David Ari Leon, the piano-heavy soundtrack is so moving that it’s worth the price of admission alone. It creates a melancholic yet hopeful atmosphere that elevates the game from a mere puzzler to a work of interactive art. It is a mandatory experience for anyone who appreciates creative game design.
Available on: iPhone, iPod
Version 1.41Tue Mar 29 2016
This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.
Various bug fixes and improvements
Best Mobile Game of E3 ‹ GamePro
Best Mobile Game of E3 Finalist ‹ IGN
Best Mobile/Handheld Game of E3 Nominee ‹ Game Critics Awards
Blurring the lines between games and interactive art, Contre Jour welcomes you to a hauntingly beautiful world shaped by the interplay of light and darkness.
Use your finger to morph the landscape, propelling the mysterious creature Petit to safety. Pull, swipe, and tap gadgets such as tendrils, air geysers, and pulleys to complete clever puzzles. Set to a poignant orchestrated soundtrack from composer David Ari Leon, Contre Jour both delights and bedevils from start to finish.
Press Quotes
"Contre Jour…seems like the complete package. It has challenging physics-based puzzles, a unique gameplay hook, beautiful graphics, and an eerie soundtrack. Keep a gigantic, rolling eyeball out for this game…” — Slide To Play
“I'm totally loving the look and feel of this one.” — TouchArcade
“It's a seriously gorgeous and addictive game, and I can't wait for it to come out.” — IGN
“The star of [E3] was Contre Jour, a darkly-weird platformer where you manipulate the ground around you.” — GamePro
Contre Jour Highlights
• 5 chapters featuring 100 unique levels, as well as 300 collectable lights, will have you playing for hours and hours.
• Use extremely intuitive controls to change the environment around you.
• 12 different interactive elements to master; portals, slingshots, tentacles, blowers and more.
• Stunning visual style places Contre Jour in a league of it’s own – simply one of the most beautiful games of the year.
• Rich, organic and original soundtrack by David Ari Leon perfectly matches Petit’s journey. Get some headphones and lose yourself in the world of Contre Jour.
• Unlock a variety of achievements as you play, can you find them all?
Requires iOS 6.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.Best Mobile Game of E3 ‹ GamePro
Best Mobile Game of E3 Finalist ‹ IGN
Best Mobile/Handheld Game of E3 Nominee ‹ Game Critics Awards
Blurring the lines between games and interactive art, Contre Jour welcomes you to a hauntingly beautiful world shaped by the interplay of light and darkness.
Use your finger to morph the landscape, propelling the mysterious creature Petit to safety. Pull, swipe, and tap gadgets such as tendrils, air geysers, and pulleys to complete clever puzzles. Set to a poignant orchestrated soundtrack from composer David Ari Leon, Contre Jour both delights and bedevils from start to finish.
Press Quotes
"Contre Jour…seems like the complete package. It has challenging physics-based puzzles, a unique gameplay hook, beautiful graphics, and an eerie soundtrack. Keep a gigantic, rolling eyeball out for this game…” — Slide To Play
“I'm totally loving the look and feel of this one.” — TouchArcade
“It's a seriously gorgeous and addictive game, and I can't wait for it to come out.” — IGN
“The star of [E3] was Contre Jour, a darkly-weird platformer where you manipulate the ground around you.” — GamePro
Contre Jour Highlights
• 5 chapters featuring 100 unique levels, as well as 300 collectable lights, will have you playing for hours and hours.
• Use extremely intuitive controls to change the environment around you.
• 12 different interactive elements to master; portals, slingshots, tentacles, blowers and more.
• Stunning visual style places Contre Jour in a league of it’s own – simply one of the most beautiful games of the year.
• Rich, organic and original soundtrack by David Ari Leon perfectly matches Petit’s journey. Get some headphones and lose yourself in the world of Contre Jour.
• Unlock a variety of achievements as you play, can you find them all?





Blurring the lines between games and interactive art, Contre Jour welcomes you to a world of light and darkness. Use your finger to morph the terrain, dragging the earth to roll Petit into the light. Utilize tentacles, bungees, and portals to solve complex physics puzzles across five unique worlds and 100 levels.
100 unique levels across 5 worlds
Stunning silhouette graphics
Incredible original piano soundtrack
Intuitive terrain-morphing controls
The most important skill in Contre Jour is learning how to 'shape' the ground. A smooth curve will give Petit momentum, while a sharp peak can stop him in his tracks. Always look for the glowing 'blue lights' to collect them for perfect level completion.
... Hryniv to his breakout hit, Contre Jour. "When I [began] it was like any other game that I created," Hryniv says. "But then I started to...
Polygon - Fri May 29 2015
When the team first approached Contre Jour developer Maksym Hryniv, Gavin told me, Hryniv's response was that he didn't think his game could...
TechCrunch - Mon Sep 29 2014
Apple has named Contre Jour HD iPad Game of the Year in more than 10 countries across Europe and Asia in App Store Rewind 2011.
AppAdvice - Thu Mar 29 2018
TRIADA Studio. Contre Jour HD. Maksym Hryniv. Where's My Water? Disney. Recent apps to discover. Mercury Weather.
AppAdvice - Sat Oct 29 2022
Interact with the environment using touch gestures. Pull on 'tentacles' to latch onto Petit and swing him, or tap portals to move him instantly across the screen.
While not required, headphones are highly recommended to fully appreciate the award-winning soundtrack.