Cairn Review – Rise From Ruin

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A famous actor once asked, “Why do we fall?” While playing Cairn, the new game from The Game Bakers (creators of Furi and Haven), I found myself asking a different question: Why do I even bother climbing?

This feeling is especially powerful when you consider Aava’s situation. She’s surrounded by friends and has plenty to keep her busy, so why would she attempt to climb Mount Kami – a mountain no one has ever survived?

Probably because it’s there, and that only scratches the surface of why Cairn is so endearing.

Games centered around climbing aren’t entirely new. Jusant is a particularly good example, but games like Celeste – a 2D platformer where reaching the top is both a physical and emotional challenge – have also explored this concept.

The ability to step back, see every detail, and quickly anticipate challenges is incredibly rewarding. It’s like a continuous process of problem-solving: you identify an issue, find a creative solution – like rappelling to a new position – and then immediately face the next one. It’s demanding, but also deeply satisfying.

Unlike some other climbing games, Cairn feels more realistic. You control each of Aava’s four limbs individually to climb, carefully anchoring them to ledges and crevices. It requires quite a bit of movement, and sometimes pushes the boundaries of what’s physically possible – or what feels natural for joints. Every move is a delicate balance: move too quickly and you might slip on the smooth rock, but move too slowly and Aava will run out of energy, become unstable, and fall.

Falling in this game is really punishing, going beyond just losing health. On the Alpinist difficulty, you thankfully respawn at the point of the fall instead of having to climb back up. However, if you fall from a great height, there’s an increasing chance you’ll die, sending you all the way back to your last save. This means you could lose a significant amount of progress – up to half an hour – if you misjudge a climb. While it’s not as frustrating as some notoriously difficult games, losing that much progress is still incredibly disheartening.

I actually really like it. Cairn gives me a lot of control – it can automatically choose the next limb to move, or I can pick myself, like when I want to keep both legs firmly planted. It’s surprisingly simple and easy to use, and I’m amazed no one thought of this before.

I especially enjoy the complete freedom of choosing my own path when climbing. Do I pick the most sensible route, or challenge myself by climbing under a waterfall, even though it will be slick? What could be hidden in that small cave above? Should I follow the overhead cables, or take the easier trail that involves jumping over a gap?

The ability to see the whole picture and anticipate challenges, quickly devising solutions like rappelling to navigate tricky spots – it’s a constantly evolving process that’s both demanding and rewarding. It can be frustrating when things don’t go as planned, like misplacing a climbing anchor and having the robot return with damaged parts. Beyond the technical control, there’s a unique feeling of connection as you guide the robot, monitoring its ‘breathing’ to manage its energy levels.

Climbing Mount Kami feels both incredibly peaceful and dangerously challenging. It’s like piecing together a complex puzzle, and what’s great is there are multiple routes to the top, including an even harder option for those seeking a greater challenge.

There’s a definite magic to it all. Spending nights in camp with just the wind (and our trusty Climb Bot!), enjoying a warm meal, is special. Waking up to a beautiful sunrise, or simply appreciating how far we’ve come, is rewarding. Finding unexpected things like a waterfall to refill our water bottles, or watching little animals scurry by, adds to the experience. Even discovering a memorial to climbers who came before us and taking a moment to remember them is meaningful. It’s a peaceful and calming experience.

Okay, so climbing Mount Kami is brutal. It really feels like the mountain itself is actively trying to kill you! The weather changes on a dime – one minute it’s okay, the next you’re fighting for your life. I found that using my light to see walls better helped a lot at the start, but rain makes everything so slippery, it’s a real danger. And honestly, just staying alive is a constant struggle! You’ve got to keep Aava fed and hydrated, and make sure she doesn’t freeze to death. It’s a lot to juggle!

Food is helpful, and cooking it is even better – whether you’re making something simple or a more complex dish, especially since cooked food gives you benefits. However, food has a limited shelf life, so don’t cook too much at once. Do you risk cooking a large batch hoping to find more ingredients later, or play it safe and conserve what you have while exploring different paths? You also need to consider how much space you have in your backpack. Luckily, the Climb Bot can turn trash like plastic and spoiled food into climbing chalk, and you can even recycle piton scraps into new pitons if you have enough materials. Don’t forget to regularly check and tape your fingers to prevent injuries.

Okay, so Cairn looks simple at first, but it’s seriously challenging. You don’t always realize a wall could be the one to take you down, but when you’re really focused – watching Aava’s health, timing your rests, and figuring out the best route – finally making it to the top feels amazing. It’s a weird mix of relaxing and super intense, like I’m piecing together a huge puzzle as I climb Mount Kami. And the best part? There are tons of different ways to climb, plus a harder difficulty if you’re up for it!

I was completely hooked by this game! The way it felt to control my character, how responsive everything was, and being able to go wherever I wanted were amazing. Plus, having to actually survive and the feeling of setting up camp on a mountainside… it was just magical. I can’t wait for the next update!

While Cairn boasts beautiful art and music, it’s a bit disappointing that the PlayStation 5 version doesn’t always run smoothly. The frame rate often sits around 30 frames per second, occasionally reaching 60 during calmer moments or cutscenes. Climbing can be particularly uneven, which is noticeable and slightly distracting, though there aren’t major drops. Also, despite the character’s acrobatic abilities, some animations look a little rough, with limbs sometimes clipping through objects. This isn’t game-breaking, but it does pull you out of the experience. Finally, the tool that retrieves your climbing tools can be a bit slow, which feels odd.

If you liked Jusant, you should really try Cairn. While it doesn’t have the same post-apocalyptic setting, it has a special charm. The climbing is harder and requires more trial and error. It’s a tough game overall – it doesn’t focus on punishing failure, but provides many opportunities to fall. Standing back up is simple, but deciding to keep climbing might be discouraging for some. Despite this, the excellent controls, the freedom to choose your own path, the survival aspects, and the amazing feeling of camping on a mountainside kept me completely engaged, until I inevitably fell again.

This game was reviewed on PS5.

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2026-02-02 16:43