Contre Jour in IOS

Puzzle

Walkthrough, Guilds, Tips on this special game

Our Expert Score

94/100

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.

Dinsun reviewed on: Fri Feb 27 2026

The Game

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?


Ratings & Reviews

4.8 out of 5 with 50 Counts
Age Rating 4+

Screenshots

Contre Jour screenshot 1Contre Jour screenshot 2Contre Jour screenshot 3Contre Jour screenshot 4Contre Jour screenshot 5

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.

Features

1

100 unique levels across 5 worlds

2

Stunning silhouette graphics

3

Incredible original piano soundtrack

4

Intuitive terrain-morphing controls

Tips

Promotion Videos

Contre Jour HD By Maksym Hryniv / IOS / Gameplay Video - YouTube

Related Videos

News on this game

Making Games and Breakdancing in the former USSR: The story of Contre Jour

... 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

Microsoft Helps To Bring The Popular Mobile Game Contre Jour To The Web

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

Contre Jour HD by Maksym Hryniv

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

Guide Mimpi

Maksym Hryniv. Contre Jour. Maksym Hryniv. Related news...

AppAdvice - Sat Sep 29 2018

Bag It!

TRIADA Studio. Contre Jour HD. Maksym Hryniv. Where's My Water? Disney. Recent apps to discover. Mercury Weather.

AppAdvice - Sat Oct 29 2022

Gameplays

Q&A

While not required, headphones are highly recommended to fully appreciate the award-winning soundtrack.

More by Developer

You Might Also Like

All Categories

Puzzle Game

Action Game

Simulation Game

Casual Game

Card Game

Adventure Game

Roleplaying Game

Board Game

Sports Game

Strategy Game

Racing Game

Family Game

Casino Game

Music Game

Word Game

Trivia Game

Education Game

Games Game

Entertainment Game

Utilities Game

Social Networking Game

Books Game

Health & Fitness Game

Lifestyle Game