Cairn
A simulation adventure about climbing a mysterious mountain.
Cairn is a simulation adventure video game released in 2026, developed and published by The Game Bakers. The player takes on the role of Aava, a professional mountaineer aiming to be the first to reach the top of the fictional Mount Kami. The game is built around a manual climbing system where players control each of Aava’s limbs, positioning them on handholds and footholds. While the game automatically selects which limb to move by default, players can switch to full manual control at any time. Pitons act as checkpoints, catching Aava if she falls, and chalk can improve her grip. Players must manage Aava’s stamina and posture; holding an uncomfortable position for too long or overextending a limb can cause a fall, partially resetting progress. Aava’s breathing and trembling limbs signal extreme stress, and players can shake a tired limb or belay off a piton to recover stamina. Her body language also indicates when a hold is large enough to grab. Weather, time of day, and rock composition affect difficulty—strong wind disrupts balance, rain makes surfaces slippery, and night lowers visibility.
The game also includes survival elements: Aava needs to rest, eat, and drink to manage hunger and thirst. She can rest at bivouac shelters, which serve as save points where she can bandage herself, cook food, and repair equipment. A robot companion named Climbot recycles pitons and produces chalk. Aava’s backpack has limited space for resources found during exploration. Side objectives, triggered by collecting maps and letters, encourage exploration of optional areas for collectibles. As she progresses, Aava gains new items and upgrades, such as indestructible pitons, a pinwheel, and additional food recipes.
Cairn is also an adventure game. Aava uncovers the mountain’s hidden mysteries and must decide what sacrifices she is willing to make to achieve her goal. She encounters other climbers, finds remnants of past expeditions, and discovers a long-lost troglodyte civilization. Friends leave messages via her Climbot. Interactions with non-playable characters and visits to key locations reveal Aava’s motivations and backstory. In addition to the story mode, there is an Expedition mode where players can choose between Aava or Marco as their avatar, select a climbing style (alpine or free solo), and share results with others.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Cairn
- Developer
- The Game Bakers
- Director
- Emeric Thoa
- Designer
- Audrey Leprince
- Artist
- Mathieu Bablet
- Engine
- Unity
- Platforms
- PlayStation 5 · Windows
- Released
- 29 January 2026
- Genre
- Simulation, adventure
- Modes
- Single-player
- Composer
- Martin Stig Andersen · Gildaa · The Toxic Avenger
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Cairn was developed by The Game Bakers starting in 2020, with a team of 25 people. Creative director Emeric Thoa described the game as a reflection on mountaineering and what drives people to push beyond their limits. The team was inspired by climbing documentaries and the manga series The Summit of the Gods, and consulted alpinists Élisabeth Revol and Chamonix guide Loan Giroud, as well as visiting Aiguille du Midi. The game's mountain, Mount Kami, was inspired by the Himalayas, the Alps, and the Vercors Massif. The Game Bakers described Cairn as a 'survival climber' and compared summiting the mountain to a persistent boss battle, though the game was not designed to be punishing. The team added accessibility options including a rewind feature and an assist mode that turns off survival needs. Each rock face and handhold was handcrafted, and the climbing simulation took over three years to develop, using real-time physics and mathematical algorithms.
Reader's Guide
Cairn is significant as a simulation adventure that combines manual limb-based climbing with survival mechanics such as hunger, thirst, and temperature management. Players must read rock faces, manage stamina, and use pitons as checkpoints while contending with weather and day-night cycles. The game also features an adventure component where Aava uncovers remnants of past expeditions and a long-lost troglodyte civilization, and interacts with other climbers. The game sold over 200,000 copies in three days and received generally positive reviews, with praise for its simulation gameplay, story, and art direction, though Aava's characterization and technical issues were criticized. The Game Bakers planned free downloadable content under the banner 'On the Trail', with the first update 'Deep Water' set for mid 2026. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is scheduled for 2027. The game also includes an Expedition mode where players can choose between Aava or Marco, select alpine or free solo climbing styles, and share results.
Did You Know?
- The game's climbing movements were determined in real time using game physics and mathematical algorithms.
- The development team consulted alpinist Élisabeth Revol and Chamonix guide Loan Giroud for three years.
- Cairn was described by The Game Bakers as the conclusion of its 'trilogy on freedom', following Furi and Haven.
- The game sold over 200,000 copies in its first three days.
More in Adventure Games of the 2020s, Part 1 1-24
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