# Janosik - Highlander Precision Platformer

> 2020 video game

**Wikidata**: [Q111591113](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q111591113)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/janosik-highlander-precision-platformer

## Summary
Janosik – Highlander Precision Platformer is a 2020 indie action-platformer released on 25 September 2020 for Windows, macOS and Linux. Built in the Construct engine and sold only through digital stores, the single-player game blends Metroidvania exploration with demanding jump-and-run mechanics.

## Key Facts
- Released on 25 September 2020 (Steam ID 1412170).
- Available on Microsoft Windows, macOS and Linux via Steam, GOG and other digital distributors.
- Genres: action game, Metroidvania, platform game (source: RAWG).
- Single-player only; no multiplayer modes.
- Developed with Construct engine (PCGamingWiki).
- Localised in English and Polish; official site https://onixgames.com.
- Listed on multiple game databases: RAWG “janosik”, Lutris “janosik”, MobyGames 166880, HowLongToBeat 92994, IGDB 64913.

## FAQs
### Q: What platforms can I play Janosik on?
A: The game runs natively on Windows, macOS and Linux; all three versions are bundled under the same Steam application ID 1412170.

### Q: Is Janosik a retro-style hardcore platformer?
A: Yes. It is explicitly tagged as a precision platformer and Metroidvania, requiring accurate jumps and route-finding through a large 2-D map.

### Q: Does the game support controllers?
A: Source data do not list controller support; check the current Steam page for updated input options.

### Q: How long does it take to finish?
A: HowLongToBeat lists community-reported times, typically a few hours for the main story.

## Why It Matters
Janosik arrived during the 2020 indie boom that saw dozens of small-team platformers reach Steam’s front page. By targeting desktop Linux from day one—still a rarity for micro-teams—it became a go-to reference for Linux gamers and was picked up by GamingOnLinux, ProtonDB and Lutris communities. Its choice of the lightweight Construct engine also makes it a practical benchmark for testing open-source graphics drivers and compatibility layers such as Proton. Culturally, the game’s Polish-highlander aesthetic helps diversify the usual fantasy or sci-fi settings common in the genre, offering speed-runners and achievement hunters a fresh, compact title whose routes and glitches are still being mapped.

## Notable For
- Day-one native Linux build alongside Windows and macOS, unusual for a 2020 solo-dev project.
- Construct-engine pedigree, making it a favourite case-study for open-source driver testing.
- Dual-language (English/Polish) UI and store page, reflecting its Polish development origin.
- Consistently flagged “precision platformer” on storefronts, signalling above-average jump difficulty.
- Rapid database uptake: listed on RAWG, IGDB, MobyGames, PCGamingWiki and HowLongToBeat within two years of launch.

## Body
### Release & Distribution
Janosik – Highlander Precision Platformer hit Steam on 25 September 2020 under app-id 1412170. Digital-only distribution followed on GOG and smaller PC storefronts; no physical edition exists. The build is identical across Windows, macOS and Linux, packaged as a single purchase that unlocks all three executables.

### Technical Profile
The executable is exported from Construct, a 2-D HTML5-first engine, resulting in small download size and modest system requirements. Because Construct outputs native wrappers for desktop, the game avoids browser dependencies while still supporting achievements, cloud saves and leaderboards through Steamworks APIs.

### Genre & Gameplay
RAWG and user tags classify Janosik as action, platform and Metroidvania. Players guide the highlander protagonist through interconnected screens, unlocking new mobility abilities that open previously gated paths. Precision jumping sections demand frame-perfect timing, distinguishing the title from more exploration-heavy Metroidvanias.

### Community & Preservation
Speed-running and achievement-hunting communities adopted the game quickly; HowLongToBeat entry 92994 tracks completion times, while Lutris installer “janosik” simplifies Linux setup. The title’s small scope and clear level boundaries make it attractive for glitch hunting and route optimisation.

## References

1. Steam
2. PCGamingWiki
3. Mod DB
4. Q124398839