Cairn

Cairn has now become one of my favourite games of all time. I absolutely love the game’s reactive climbing mechanics, the tough-but-fair difficulty, and its entire presentation is simply gorgeous. Even though there aren’t really any changes between playthroughs, this is a game I’ll be regularly coming back to, if only to continue experiencing the thrill of the climb over and over again.

Cairn isn't just a good game, it's a great game. With an incredibly nuanced story and a difficulty level that will challenge almost anyone, there's not a lot to hate here. The anger, sadness, joy, and surprise all culminate into a journey that isn't just a game; it's something far more meaningful. This is a game everyone should play if only to experience that nuanced story of Aava's journey. While I wasn't expecting to connect so emotionally with this game, I'm glad I did. Cairn is a story that needs to be heard. Although it isn't perfect, what makes it special is the combination of all the different elements to make something that can be meaningful to almost anyone. In the end, the game asks the most important question of all: what is your summit?

Cairn is The Game Bakers’ magnum opus. The climb is filled with superb, big and small picture character writing and themes with protagonist Aava. Every facet of the game is touched with the same level of masterful care and magical design. Each crack and pore or clearing to explore in Mount Kami feels purposeful and is designed to be equal parts challenging and restful, depending on the context. With these come these moments of beauty, both scripted and unscripted, minor or major, that stick with you. Even with its obscene difficulty and harsh challenges and teachings along the way, it’s a game that’s essential food for the soul. I’m not making a mountain out of a molehill here. When we talk about games as art, Cairn is the shining example, grabbing you, taking hold of you and changing you.

Cairn is just really nice to play, with an emotionally gripping story and beautiful sights. You will struggle and get frustrated, but you will overcome whatever is in your way.

A brilliant climbing adventure that siphons the rage out of navigation puzzlers like Death Stranding and Baby Steps, resulting in something prickly, but warmly approachable.

A daring, innovative, and reverent videogame interpretation of climbing that manages to depict overwhelming scale without ever losing sight of the humanity that it dwarfs. Cairn is unapologetically challenging (not least if you dare to tackle the permadeath-toughened Free Solo mode) and slow paced, but delivers disproportionate satisfaction through the sense of monumental achievement you get from scaling any portion of its mountainous journey.

Cairn is thoughtful, challenging, and quietly powerful. It understands that sometimes the most meaningful journeys are the ones we take alone.

Cairn is a game that came out of nowhere and immediately grabbed my attention with its gripping story, engaging climbing and numerous threats or challenges found along the way. It’s the type of game that you think of the entire day, trying to figure out what to do next and what route you need to take. It’s a climbing game, as it is a puzzle and exploration-focused experience. It’s nice that the game runs smoothly, there’s no pressure and it’s more about your skills and determination. Cairn mimics real life when it comes to climbing, but it also keeps some interesting ideas, and it continues to be incredibly fun. Yes, it will take a while to get used to the controls, but once you get past that, you will see it’s a very solid, albeit challenging experience. It will give you around 10-15 hours of excitement and fun, along with a reason to always come back and see all the side content or secrets.

Cairn is more than just a pleasant surprise. Expectations were low, but the game made a good impression. The way you get absorbed in the relaxing gameplay is incredible.

Cairn is bringing back the original spirit of indie games about being innovative and thinking outside the box. With a simple gameplay manages to hook up players and suck them into his slow-paced world.

Cairn is a fantastic game that delivers an experience that tries both your thinking and stick skills. Aava is a unique character that serves as a great conduit to the emotions that you may go through while playing and all of its gameplay components work together to make the climb totally worth it.

Cairn combines strategy and survival to create a unique experience that I want to keep coming back to. The combination of strategy and survival in climbing a treacherous mountain is well-balanced, keeping gameplay engaging and fun throughout. It can be brutal and unforgiving with how quickly you can fall, and save points are a little too scattered in some areas, but it was hard to find any moment that didn’t make me want to try climbing again.

I can’t recommend this game enough, despite its minuscule shortcomings. If you are like me and found yourself wondering what climbing a great mountain is like, then this is the experience for you. The zen-like experience of Cairn is one I implore anyone to enjoy for themselves, though, be aware of any potential urges to book a flight to Mount Everest for yourself.

Cairn is a brutally demanding yet strangely soothing climbing experience that turns every movement into a meaningful decision. Its unique limb-based controls and meditative pacing create a powerful sense of immersion, even as its punishing difficulty and sparse checkpoints test your patience. If you're willing to endure the struggle, the mountain offers one of the most memorable journeys in recent indie games.

While reaching Kami’s peak is neither simple nor easy, Cairn’s ability to synthesize technicality and intuition results in a deceptively emotional journey grounded in humanity. Every inch of progress in Cairn is a victory, and the overwhelming relief I felt as credits began to roll was matched only by my burgeoning regret at the thought of Aava’s quest concluding.

Cairn is a challenging and immersive game, far more than a simple climbing title. Its realistic gameplay puts the player to the test while remaining fair. The carefully crafted art direction, appealing cell-shading, and immersive soundtrack enhance the experience, while the survival elements and the management of stamina, weather, and time add a strategic and authentic layer. A demanding challenge for the most seasoned players, yet made accessible thanks to the assistance options.

Cairn is a demanding and unconventional experience that will either frustrate you or completely win you over. Beneath its brutal climbing mechanics lies a surprisingly emotional and intimate narrative about obsession, sacrifice, and perseverance. The gameplay delivers constant tension and genuine catharsis, even when its imprecise movement physics push difficulty beyond what feels fair. Visually striking and atmospherically powerful, Cairn stands out as one of the most daring and memorable games of 2026.

It's a little strange: although I have very little connection to real climbing, Cairn immediately captivated me. Over time, I have developed something like “para-expertise,” which would be of limited use in real climbing, but opens up undreamt-of possibilities in Cairn. “What, we're supposed to climb this smooth, hundred-meter-high rock face?” you ask yourself at first – only to later scan the rock with an expert eye and figure out a possible route. The game may become a bit too challenging in places from the medium difficulty level onwards – but if you have patience and frustration tolerance, you will be rewarded all the more by your sense of achievement. Even for those unfamiliar with mountaineering, Cairn offers an unforgettable adventure that combines flow and natural beauty with well-paced drama. The mountain is calling, definitely.

Cairn may have fewer mechanics than some games, but it drills down on what's there so successfully, and regularly tests the players' resolve and accomplishment of these skills, that I was often itching for the next challenge it'd send my way.

If you’re at perfect, meditative peace, making every decision in a serene, graceful flow state, you’re doing it right. And make no mistake, for a game about a human being dangling off the side of a widowmaking mountain for over a dozen hours, there’s so much serenity to be had in Cairn.

Cairn is a phenomenal climbing game. There were times where I wanted to throw in the towel because of some minor animation hiccup, but, like Aava, I couldn’t stop. There’s this intriguing parallel at play here, one that I found myself thinking about in those moments where I needed to rest my sweaty palms and Aava needed to recharge her stamina. Neither of us could stop. We had to see it through to the end, in whatever form that took. By the time the credits rolled, I knew that Cairn would stick with me for a long time. This is a game you absolutely have to experience.

Cairn is an excellently crafted and engaging climbing game that will keep players entertained and immersed from start to finish.

Cairn goes beyond a simple climbing game, turning the human drive to endure pain in pursuit of a summit into play. Its meticulous physics give weight to the question of why we keep moving forward, delivering a thoughtful take on struggle and achievement.

Cairn successfully conveys the physical and mental challenge of free climbing in the most realistic way possible, making it an experience with "that magic" you can only see in video games.

Cairn is a deceptively brutal climbing game at times, but the beautiful visuals, varied story threads and tactile mechanics ensure it's a climb worth making.

Cairn is a test of faith earned through sheer grit and determination. The Game Bakers delivers a captivatingly vertical experience, as physically demanding as it is emotionally profound. You emerge breathless, but your perspective forever altered by the immensity of Mount Kami. A relentless, visceral, and transcendent climb that proves that to touch the heavens, you must first be willing to be broken against the rocks. A true masterpiece of the genre.

After more than 13 hours of climbing (and much more gameplay overall, considering my failures), Cairn proved to be a special game, very consistent with its premise. It became clear, after some time, that it doesn't try to please everyone, but delivers an intense, fun, and quite original experience for those willing to play at its pace.

Cairn masterfully redefines climbing as a visceral, strategic battle, delivering a physical and deeply satisfying arcade experience. Its brilliant open design and robust resource management offer extensive replayability and breathtaking visuals. Although the narrative feels somewhat simplistic, the overall journey provides a challenging, beautiful, and profoundly rewarding ascent.

Cairn is a tense journey to the summit that, depending on the chosen difficulty, can become either an enthralling experience or the Dark Souls of climbing games. In any case, you will be struck by its bright and slightly melancholic finale.

Cairn stands out as a gripping grounded climbing experience. It is demanding without feeling unfair striking without softening its edges and honest in its portrayal of a woman trying to outrun the life she left behind. Whether on PC or Steam Deck this is a climb that stays with you long after you return to base, particularly the metaphysical ending.

A boldly genre-defining climbing game that will stretch your limbs and nerves.

In its rousing finale, without a single word, Cairn makes me understand what was always inscrutable to me. I realize what Aava feels when looking up at Mount Kami from below. Not a grave, not even a threat, but a gateway to eternity. Powerful.

Cairn builds an experience centered on climbing as the core of its journey, where direct movement control, survival elements, and constant planning make every step forward feel earned, reinforced by a solitary and contemplative atmosphere that explores themes of perseverance and achievement. However, its strong commitment to realism can sometimes hinder the experience, as structural repetition, slow pacing in certain sections, and high difficulty may become tiring. Even so, these issues do not undermine its overall impact: Cairn remains true to its vision of portraying a demanding and deeply personal conquest, offering a memorable journey for those willing to embrace its pace and challenges.

An atmospheric climbing simulation, but weaknesses in the core mechanics and shortcomings in the story prevent Cairn from reaching its full potential.

Cairn is a bold and demanding climbing experience that constantly requires your full attention, leaving a strong impression through its freedom, atmosphere, and protagonist Aava. At the same time, rough controls, technical issues, and questionable design choices create noticeable friction. For fans of slow, challenging simulations, this is a climb worth attempting—but it’s not a mountain everyone will want to conquer.

Cairn is a zen, meditative survival game defined by the intentionality of its movement and the way you interact with its world - when its protagonist can be prevailed upon to act like the elite athlete she's supposed to be. When it works, it's excellent, but its core system is often too clumsy to bring to bear with the precision required to ape top-level climbing.

Despite these issues, which are notable, I would recommend Cairn to almost everyone. Even as a thought experiment. It's the kind of passionately designed indie game that deserves attention, even or especially when it gets in its own way. In the moments where it focuses on the pure experience of climbing, it is an atmospheric masterwork. Visually, it is one of the pretties games released this year. I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't grab a bunch of awards on art design alone.