Cairn

Cairn is something truly special. A game that makes you climb in isolation, giving you and Aava time for quiet contemplation, enough so that you feel the embodiment of the character and can’t help but face her struggles like they were your own. With an outstanding gameplay loop and so much freedom to climb where and how you like, Cairn is incredible.

There’s a popular trope in media that the lone hero who persists against all odds should be celebrated without limits, and that any amount of endurance and sacrifice is worth it to surpass and succeed, no matter the cost to self or others. Cairn is the rare narrative that says something more nuanced, simultaneously celebrating the triumph against seemingly impossible odds, while also painting the painful picture of obsession and selfishness that are often left unspoken. That would be notewo...

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.

Cairn wasn't on my list of must-play titles this year, but it needs to be on yours. It's a puzzle game disguised as a climbing game, as no two climbs ever feel the same or offer the same solution. Cairn is just this incredible game I can't put down. 

The Game Bakers are one of those indie developers that I will always look forward to what’s coming next from them. It all started off in 2016 with the fantastic “1-Hit Kill Boss Rush” game Furi, which was tough, stylish and unique at the time. Since then, every game The Game Bakers have put out has offered something vastly different, from their smaller Squids Odyssey to their captivating Haven. Their latest game asks one simple question: What if Death Stranding was about heights, not di...

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.

If a harsh climbing simulator is your thing, Cairn does a great job of providing you with the treacherous conditions of an ambitious mountain climb. It's an outstanding little game in respects to how strategy and perseverance can assist you in reaching your goals and ultimately the Mount Kami summit.

Cairn is an extremely good and beautifully made climbing game that is exceptional at executing the one specific thing it's trying to recreate. If you go in knowing that and are on board with it, then you'll find a tough yet massively rewarding experience, but some frustrations could cause others to completely bounce off it.

Cairn is a single player, story focused, survival game about climbing a mountain. You won’t be leaping from platform to platform, or swinging round a sledgehammer to propel yourself and your cauldron, though. No, you’ll actually be climbing, moving each of your limbs one at a time to grab handholds and wedge into cracks to scale an entire mountain. It’s not a small one, either, and it’s already populated by the remains of those who have tried and failed to reach the summit before you. It’s a dangerous situation that, somehow, becomes incredibly relaxing and meditative once you get used to it.

If players stick to the standard difficulty, they’re in for a tough experience, but that’s part of the appeal. It often feels like you might not make it, but then you do. When that breakthrough moment happens, the satisfaction hits hard, especially when it’s paired with a beautiful skyline as a reward.

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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 di...