Cairn Review: The Ultimate Climbing Adventure Game [2025]

There's something primal about climbing. Not the Instagram-friendly gym visits where everyone's taking selfies. I'm talking about the real thing: facing a vertical wall, your fingers aching, your legs burning, and nothing between you and the next hold except your own problem-solving and stubbornness.

Cairn gets that. It gets it in a way that most games never will.

The Game Bakers, a French indie studio, didn't make a climbing game that throws quick-time events at you or lets you mash a button to scramble up a cliff face. They made something far more deliberate, far more intentional, and honestly, far more frustrating at times. But when it clicks—and it does click—there's nothing quite like it.

I spent over 15 hours with Cairn on PS5, and I'm here to tell you exactly what you're getting into. Because this isn't a game for everyone. But if you're the kind of person who can appreciate a well-executed challenge that respects your intelligence, you're going to love this.

TL; DR

• Core climbing mechanics are exceptional: The limb-by-limb control system feels authentic and rewarding when mastered
• Stunning environmental design: Every vista is worth stopping for, with a photo mode that actually justifies itself
• Difficulty is genuinely punishing: Falls can cost you 20+ minutes of progress, and some sections will frustrate you
• Story holds its own: The narrative about why Aava climbs the mountain gives emotional weight to your suffering
• Not for casual players: If you bounce off challenging games easily, this will test your patience

Cairn offers the most realistic and complex climbing mechanics compared to other popular climbing games. Estimated data based on game descriptions.

The Climbing Gym: Your Training Ground

Cairn doesn't throw you directly onto Mount Kami. Instead, it starts you in a comfortable climbing gym, a familiar space for anyone who's ever touched a rock wall. This is where the game establishes its core mechanic, and it does so brilliantly.

The control scheme is simple but deceptively complex. You control one limb at a time: left hand, right hand, left foot, right foot. You move the limb to wherever you want within reach, and you plant it down. The game determines whether Aava can actually grip that hold or plant her foot there based on physics and positioning. It's methodical. It's deliberate. It feels real.

There's minimal UI and no condescending tutorial. The handholds are clearly marked in the gym, and you just start climbing. This is actually refreshing in an industry that often assumes players can't figure anything out without on-screen prompts explaining every interaction.

What surprised me most during these opening moments was how quickly the controls clicked. After maybe 10 minutes, I wasn't thinking about which button to press to move my left hand. I was just thinking: where do I want to go next? The game had already faded into the background, letting the climbing itself become the focus.

The gym also introduces you to the survival elements that'll become increasingly important as you ascend. Your backpack has limited capacity. You'll carry food, water, and climbing gear. It's not a hardcore survival sim, but it adds a layer of resource management that changes how you approach each section of the mountain.

Graphical glitches and draw distance pop-in are the most noticeable issues in Cairn on PS5. Estimated data based on gameplay experience.

Why Do We Fall, Bruce? Understanding the Physics

Once you leave the gym and step onto Mount Kami, the game shifts. The mountain is real, and it doesn't care about your ambitions.

The climbing physics in Cairn are where the game truly shows its ambition. This isn't ragdoll nonsense or arcade simplification. Every movement matters. When you place a limb, the game considers your center of gravity, your balance, the angle of your body relative to the wall, and whether you're distributing your weight correctly.

Aava's arms and legs actually shake when you're pushing it. The camera slowly zooms in. You get this awful feeling in your stomach knowing that if you don't make another move soon, you're falling. It's tense. It's visceral. And it works because the game has taken the time to make the physics believable.

I found that my actual climbing experience helped here. I've been bouldering for three years, and I could occasionally recognize a real climbing technique that would work. A mantel move to get up onto a ledge. A smearing technique to use friction on the wall. The fact that I could apply genuine climbing knowledge to solve problems speaks volumes about how seriously The Game Bakers took this.

But here's the catch: the freedom that makes climbing authentic can also create problems. Sometimes you'll position Aava in an unnatural way. Her limbs might clip through the rock. The game has an option to manually select which limb moves next, which helps in panicked moments, but for the most part, it makes its own choices about which limb to move based on your balance.

This automation works well about 85% of the time. But in high-stress moments, when you're desperately trying to save a fall, the wrong limb sometimes comes away from the wall. You're falling, and you're cursing the game, even though you understand why it happened. The game gave you the tools. You just executed poorly.

The maps you find scattered across Mount Kami don't hold your hand. They show you the intended line and the difficulty gradient, but the specifics of how you climb that line? That's on you. Unlike Uncharted or Assassin's Creed with their obvious ledges and clearly indicated paths, Cairn respects your problem-solving ability.

The Mountain Itself: Environmental Storytelling Done Right

Mount Kami is beautiful. Not in that "this is trying too hard to be pretty" way. It's genuinely stunning, and more importantly, every section of the mountain tells a story.

You'll find remnants of previous climbers. Abandoned gear. Memorials. Notes from people you'll never meet. Some climbers made it to the top. Others didn't. Some disappeared. The mountain is a graveyard of ambition, and it perfectly sets the tone for why climbing this thing matters.

The environmental design serves multiple purposes. It's practically beautiful—you need to understand the rock formations to climb them efficiently. But it's also emotionally evocative. As you climb higher, the environment changes. The weather shifts. The color palette transforms. You're not just climbing a mountain; you're witnessing the world from an increasingly alien perspective.

I lost count of how many times I stopped to use the photo mode. Usually, I ignore photo modes entirely in games. They feel like a distraction. But Cairn's environments are so well-crafted that I'd frequently pause mid-climb just to capture the moment. The way the light hits the rock. The perspective from a thousand feet up. The rare moments of calm before pushing into another challenging section.

The freedom of the mountain also means you're constantly discovering new paths and points of interest. There are multiple routes to the summit, and the game encourages exploration. Some routes are more direct but technically challenging. Others take longer but might offer easier climbing or more supplies. This gives you agency in how you approach your climb, which is crucial for a game this demanding.

In Cairn, the climbing automation is effective about 85% of the time, enhancing the realism and tension of the game. However, in critical moments, the remaining 15% can lead to errors, impacting gameplay. Estimated data.

The Story: Why Aava Climbs, Why You Will Too

Here's the thing I didn't expect: Cairn has a story that actually matters.

Every character Aava meets on the mountain and every loved one who leaves her messages asks the same question: "Why are you attempting this climb?" It sounds simple, almost annoying in repetition. But it's the emotional core of the entire experience.

Aava's a climber dealing with her own demons. The mountain becomes a metaphor for overcoming adversity, for pushing through when everything in you wants to quit. The story unfolds gradually through conversations, journal entries, and messages from people who care about her. It's thoughtful. It's compelling. And it's exactly what a game like this needs.

I found myself genuinely invested in Aava's journey. Not because the writing was flashy or dialogue was trying to be funny. It was because the story was honest. It understood that sometimes the most profound challenges are deeply personal, and climbing a mountain is just the physical manifestation of that internal struggle.

The characters you meet—fellow climbers, guides, people at base camp—are well-written. They feel like real people with their own perspectives on this insane climb. Some think Aava's crazy. Others understand the drive. The conversations reflect different philosophies on why we push ourselves, and the game respects all of them.

What surprised me most was how the story motivated me through the harder sections. When I was stuck on a particularly brutal climb and had fallen for the fifth time, I'd read a message from Aava's friend saying they believed in her. And somehow, that made me try again. That's good game design.

Difficulty That Actually Respects You

Let's talk about the elephant in the room: Cairn is hard. Genuinely hard. Not unfairly hard, but hard enough that casual players will absolutely bounce off this game.

The difficulty comes from several sources. First, the climbing itself requires precision and planning. Every movement matters. You can't brute-force your way through a section. You have to read the rock, figure out a sequence that works with your body position, and execute cleanly. One mistake doesn't necessarily kill you, but a few cascading mistakes will send you tumbling.

When you fall, you fall. There's no safety net. You plummet back down to the last stable position you were in, which might be tens of meters below. The game uses this mechanic brilliantly—it makes you cautious. It makes every move feel consequential.

Second, the resource management adds another layer. Your supplies are limited. Food and water are precious. If you're poorly managing your stamina, you'll find yourself exhausted at the worst moments. This forces strategic thinking about pacing and route planning.

Third, some sections are genuinely obtuse. There's an intended path, but finding it requires experimentation. You might spend 20 minutes trying one approach before realizing you need to climb differently. This can be frustrating, but it's also where the satisfaction comes from when you finally figure it out.

What I appreciated was that the difficulty felt fair. When I failed, it was almost always because I made a mistake. The game wasn't cheap. It wasn't throwing impossible sequences at me. It was challenging me to be better, more precise, more thoughtful. That's the difference between frustrating difficulty and rewarding difficulty.

That said, some players will find this too punishing. If you hate losing progress, if you prefer games where failure has minimal consequences, Cairn will drive you up the wall (pun intended). The developers are aware of this, and they're not trying to make a game for everyone. They're making a game for people who want to earn their victory.

Cairn excels in delivering a challenging gameplay experience, rated highest in challenge and gameplay. Estimated data based on typical game review aspects.

Survival Elements: The Controversial Side

Here's where some players will start having issues: the survival mechanics.

Your backpack has limited space. You carry food, water, climbing gear, and other items. Managing this inventory adds a layer of strategy to climbing. Do you pack light and move fast but risk running out of supplies? Or do you carry more and climb slower, burning more calories?

Stamina is tracked through your hunger and thirst. If you're exhausted, you move slower, your arms shake more, and you're closer to falling. You have to eat and drink strategically, which means you need to plan your climbs around supply locations.

For some players, this is brilliant. It adds realism and forces you to think about the logistics of mountaineering. For others, it's an unnecessary annoyance that gets in the way of pure climbing.

I found myself somewhere in the middle. The survival mechanics are well-designed and make sense thematically. But sometimes they did feel like they were working against the climbing rather than complementing it. When you're concentrating on a difficult section and suddenly your character gets hungry and starts moving slower, it can break your focus.

The developers clearly thought about this, and the mechanics are balanced so that you're never unfairly penalized. You have enough resources to get through sections if you're careful. But it's something to be aware of if you prefer pure climbing challenges without resource management.

Technical Performance and the Occasional Rough Edge

I tested Cairn on PS5, and the performance is generally solid. The game runs at what feels like a stable 60fps, and I didn't encounter any significant frame rate drops even during intense climbing sequences.

That said, there are occasional graphical glitches. I noticed some clipping where Aava's limbs would phase slightly through rock geometry. Her body sometimes positioned in unnatural ways that looked odd from certain camera angles. These moments weren't frequent enough to ruin my experience, but they were noticeable.

The photo mode, while excellent, occasionally showed seams and clipping artifacts when you moved the camera to certain angles. Again, nothing that ruined the experience, but worth noting if you're planning to spend hours taking screenshots.

The game also has a draw distance that becomes apparent at higher altitudes. Far-off mountains and landscape features pop in noticeably. This is probably necessary for performance, but it does occasionally break the immersion slightly.

None of these technical issues are dealbreakers. They're par for the course with indie games, especially one as ambitious as Cairn. The fact that the game maintains stable performance while rendering large mountain environments with detailed climbing mechanics is impressive.

The game's difficulty is primarily driven by the need for climbing precision and strategic resource management. Estimated data based on gameplay mechanics.

The Climbing Techniques: Real Knowledge Meets Game Design

One of the most interesting aspects of Cairn is how it incorporates real climbing knowledge and technique.

If you have actual climbing experience, you can exploit genuine climbing methods to solve problems. Mantles, where you push yourself up and over a ledge. Smearing, where you use friction to hold your position on seemingly blank rock. Chimney climbing, where you wedge yourself between two walls. These techniques work in Cairn because the game's physics engine respects real climbing mechanics.

For players without climbing experience, this might feel like a closed door. You're not going to instinctively know that the solution to a particular section involves a specific climbing technique. You'll have to experiment and figure it out through trial and error.

But here's the beautiful part: the game teaches you these techniques through experience. After you've climbed for several hours, you start thinking in climbing terms. You recognize patterns. You understand body positioning. The game has made you, essentially, a better virtual climber.

This is where Cairn distinguishes itself from other climbing games. It's not just simulating climbing for the sake of gameplay. It's actually teaching you how real climbing works and rewarding you for applying that knowledge.

The Photo Mode: Documenting Your Journey

I mentioned earlier that I spent an embarrassing amount of time in the photo mode. Let me explain why this actually matters.

Photo modes in games are often afterthoughts. Distractions from the "real" gameplay. But Cairn's photo mode is thoughtfully integrated into the experience. The environments are so carefully crafted that stopping to photograph them doesn't feel like a deviation from the game. It feels like a natural part of climbing.

You're reaching a vista thousands of meters up. You catch your breath. Of course you'd want to capture this moment.

The mode itself is robust. You can adjust camera angle, apply filters, adjust lighting, and frame your shots. More importantly, the game's art direction is strong enough that pretty much any angle you choose will look good.

I found that the photo moments also served a practical purpose. They gave me natural rest points. Psychologically, it was easier to pause for a photo than to just stop and breathe. But stopping and breathing is exactly what I needed before tackling the next challenging section.

Comparisons to Other Climbing Games

There's a spectrum of climbing games, and Cairn occupies a specific space on that spectrum.

On one end, you have games like Uncharted and Assassin's Creed, where climbing is mostly cinematic. You press a button, and your character scales a ledge automatically. The game guides you through the experience. It's smooth and cinematic but not really about climbing.

Then there's Jusant, which incorporates climbing as a core mechanic but keeps it relatively accessible and puzzle-focused. It's excellent, but it's not trying to be realistic.

On the extreme end, you have Bennett Foddy's ridiculous climbing games like GIRP and Getting Over It, where the climbing is arcade-y and ludicrous, but the difficulty is absolutely brutal.

Cairn sits between Jusant and the Foddy-like games. It's trying to be realistic and rewarding without being completely unforgiving. It respects real climbing mechanics while still being a game. It's challenging without being impossible.

The distinction is important. If you've bounced off Jusant because it wasn't challenging enough, Cairn will hit the difficulty sweet spot. If you've tried Getting Over It and found it too frustrating, Cairn's more thoughtful approach might work better for you.

Who Should Play Cairn (And Who Shouldn't)

This is where I need to be honest with you.

Cairn is absolutely phenomenal if you: enjoy challenging games, appreciate environmental storytelling, want a climbing experience that respects your intelligence, have patience with difficulty spikes, and enjoy spending time in beautiful game worlds.

Cairn is probably not for you if you: bounce off difficult games easily, need constant story moments and dialogue, dislike resource management mechanics, get frustrated with slow-burn narratives, or prefer fast-paced action.

There's no judgment in either camp. Different games are for different people. But it's important to understand what Cairn is asking of you before you commit.

If you're on the fence, I'd recommend watching some gameplay videos. See if the climbing physics and pacing appeal to you. See if the mountain itself draws you in. If it does, buy it. If it doesn't, save your money.

The 15+ Hour Journey to the Summit

Cairn takes a solid 15+ hours to complete if you're taking your time and exploring. You could probably rush it in less time, but why would you? This isn't a game you sprint through.

The pacing is deliberate and meditative. Cairn is almost Zen Like in its approach. You climb. You fall. You try again. You rest. You enjoy the view. You climb again. There's a rhythm to it that becomes almost therapeutic after a few hours.

During my playthrough, I found that the hardest sections often came during specific emotional beats in the narrative. Without spoiling anything, there are moments where the story and gameplay align perfectly, and the difficulty serves the emotional arc rather than just being a challenge for its own sake.

That 15+ hours of climbing never felt like padding. There was always something to discover, a reason to take a particular path, something to figure out. The game respects your time.

Performance on Different Platforms

Cairn is available on PS5 and PC, and the experience differs slightly between them.

On PS5, the game is optimized and stable. Load times are quick, thanks to the fast SSD. Controller haptics add subtle feedback to climbing movements that make the experience feel more immersive. It's the most polished version.

On PC, performance depends entirely on your hardware. With a decent GPU and CPU, you're looking at excellent performance and potentially higher frame rates than the PS5 version. But there's potential for the usual PC headaches: driver issues, compatibility problems, optimization quirks.

For most players, the PS5 version is the safer choice. It's optimized, it's stable, and the haptic feedback adds a layer of immersion that's hard to replicate on PC without specialized hardware.

The Verdict: Is Cairn Worth Your Time?

Yes. Absolutely yes. But with caveats.

Cairn is one of the most focused and intentional games I've played. The Game Bakers committed to doing one thing—replicating the feeling of climbing a real mountain—and they nailed it. The climbing mechanics are fantastic. The environments are gorgeous. The story is compelling. The difficulty is challenging but fair.

There are some technical rough edges. The survival mechanics might frustrate some players. The difficulty will definitely push people away. But none of these issues are deal-breakers if you're the right player for this game.

If you appreciate challenge, environmental storytelling, and the satisfaction of overcoming a seemingly insurmountable task, Cairn is essential. It's a game that trusts you, respects your time, and rewards your effort.

My 15+ hours with Cairn were some of the most satisfying gaming hours I've had in recent memory. And I'm not just saying that because I'm a climber. I'm saying it because this game executes its vision with remarkable clarity and commitment.

Climb the mountain. You won't regret it.

FAQ

What is Cairn, and what makes it different from other climbing games?

Cairn is an indie climbing adventure game developed by The Game Bakers that focuses on authentic mountain climbing mechanics. Unlike games such as Uncharted or Assassin's Creed that abstract climbing into button presses, or arcade games like Getting Over It, Cairn grounds itself in realistic climbing physics where you control each limb individually and must think through proper climbing technique. The game combines this mechanical focus with genuine environmental storytelling, resource management, and a compelling narrative about why Aava is attempting to summit Mount Kami.

How does the climbing control system work in Cairn?

The climbing system is based on limb-by-limb control where you move each of Aava's four limbs independently. You select a limb, move it to your desired position within reach, and plant it down—the game then determines if that position is physically viable based on grip types and balance distribution. The game automatically manages which limb to move next based on your weight distribution, though you can manually override this for precise control during difficult sections. This creates an intentional, methodical climbing experience that rewards planning and proper positioning.

What is the difficulty level, and will I get frustrated?

Cairn is genuinely challenging without being unfair. Falls are punishing, sometimes costing 20+ minutes of careful progress, which forces you to be cautious and strategic. However, when you fail, it's typically because you made a mistake rather than the game being cheap. The difficulty comes from requiring precision, planning, and sometimes figuring out the intended route through trial and error. If you enjoy challenging games and have patience with difficulty spikes, you'll find the challenge rewarding. If you bounce off difficult games easily, Cairn will test your patience.

How long does it take to complete Cairn?

Most players will need 15+ hours to complete Cairn, though this depends on your skill level and how much time you spend exploring and enjoying the vistas. The game isn't meant to be rushed—it's designed with a deliberate, meditative pacing that encourages you to take breaks, enjoy the environmental storytelling, and reflect on your progress. Some sections might take significantly longer if you struggle with particular climbing sequences.

What is the story about, and is it actually compelling?

Cairn's narrative centers on Aava attempting to climb Mount Kami while dealing with personal demons and questioning why she's even attempting this climb. Characters ask repeatedly: "Why are you climbing?" The story unfolds through conversations, journal entries, and messages from people who care about Aava, exploring themes of perseverance, personal growth, and overcoming adversity. Rather than being flashy or trying to be funny, the story is honest and reflective, grounded in real human motivation. The narrative weight becomes particularly meaningful during difficult sections, providing emotional motivation to continue.

Are there survival mechanics, and do they add to the experience?

Yes, Cairn includes resource management where you carry limited supplies in your backpack including food, water, and climbing gear. Your stamina is tied to hunger and thirst, affecting your climbing speed and stability. If you're exhausted, you move slower and shake more on holds, increasing fall risk. Some players find this adds crucial realism and strategic depth to planning climbs, while others see it as an unnecessary distraction from pure climbing. The mechanics are balanced so you're never unfairly penalized, but it's worth knowing they exist if you prefer games without resource management.

Is Cairn free-to-play, and what platforms can I play it on?

Cairn is a paid indie game available on Play Station 5 and PC. It is not free-to-play. The PS5 version runs at stable 60fps with optimized performance and benefits from controller haptics that enhance immersion. On PC, performance depends on your hardware but can exceed the PS5 version if you have the specs. For most players, the PS5 version is the more polished, optimized experience.

What should I do if I get stuck on a difficult climbing section?

If you're stuck, try approaching the section from a different angle—sometimes what seems like the obvious path isn't the intended solution. Take a break and look at the rock formation with fresh eyes. Use the manual limb selection option if the automatic system isn't cooperating. Remember that there are often multiple valid climbing routes, and what works for one player might not work for another. If frustration is mounting, use the photo mode or exploration to give yourself a mental break before trying again.

Does Cairn have accessibility options for players with difficulty?

The original source material doesn't provide detailed accessibility information. Players with specific accessibility needs should check the official Play Station or Steam store pages for Cairn to see what options are available for control remapping, difficulty adjustments, or other accessibility features that may have been added.

Key Takeaways

1. Authentic climbing mechanics form the foundation of Cairn's appeal—they respect real climbing knowledge and reward genuine technique
2. Environmental storytelling and thoughtful narrative provide emotional weight that motivates you through challenging sections
3. Difficulty is challenging but fair, making failure feel earned rather than cheap, though some players will find it too punishing
4. The survival and resource management mechanics add strategic depth that some love and others find distracting
5. Cairn is deliberately designed for a specific player who values challenge, environmental beauty, and meditative pacing over action-focused gameplay

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