Parents' Guide to

Contre Jour

By Chris Morris, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Beautiful puzzler with unique art style and soundtrack.

App iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android , Kindle Fire Puzzle Games
Contre Jour Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this app.

  • Contre Jour App: Screenshot #1
  • Contre Jour App: Screenshot #2
  • Contre Jour App: Screenshot #3

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What’s It About?

Players move the one-eyed hero around by nudging the ground beneath him, raising and lowering it to get him where he needs to be. Hanging tentacles (some elastic, some not) are also used to raise, lower and swing him to the exit for each level. Along the way, you'll have to avoid hazards including spikes, hungry plants, and gravity. Levels that are too difficult can be skipped.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (1 ):

Plenty of apps are fun, but few are truly beautiful. CONTRE JOUR is one of those. From its lush, yet stark, black and white art style to its soothing musical soundtrack, it's a game you will never get tired of looking at. Fortunately, it's also an app whose gameplay will keep you hooked. Borrowing from many familiar titles, Contre Jour is another take on physics-based puzzles. But rather than being just another knock-off like so many others, it instead tips its hat to those iPhone legends and extends on their legacy.

Your blob/hero explores a perilous series of worlds, filled with spikes, carnivorous plants, and some endless falls. Some levels are easy, but some are nail-biters (any one can be skipped, though, if it proves too challenging). It's a game best played on the iPad, if you have that option, given the occasional need to use multitouch, but that's nitpicking. This is an app that could quickly become another must-have for all iDevice owners.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Model problem-solving strategies by thinking aloud. Kids will learn from your example.

  • Encourage kids to play other games that teach them to be forward-thinking, such as chess.

App Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended app lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate