Cairn has earned strong but platform-specific critic scores: Metacritic listed an 86 for PC and an 83 for PlayStation 5 in its October 8, 2026 snapshot. Reviews broadly praise its tactile climbing, striking mountain scenery and atmospheric story, while noting that its slow, demanding movement can be frustrating.
What is Cairn?
Cairn is a single-player survival-climbing game from The Game Bakers. You play Aava, a climber attempting to ascend Mount Kami. Rather than simply steering her along a fixed path, you plan a route, place hands and feet on holds, and manage pitons and other resources as you climb. The official descriptions are available from Steam, PlayStation Store and The Game Bakers.
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What are Cairn’s critic review scores?
Metacritic’s October 8, 2026 snapshot showed an 86 Metascore for the PC version and an 83 for PS5. These are separate platform aggregates, not a single score for the game. The platform pages show different critic review pools, and both scores may change as reviews are added or updated.
| Platform | Metacritic score | Reviews shown | Review breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC | 86 | 43 critic reviews | 34 positive, 5 mixed, 0 negative |
| PlayStation 5 | 83 | 38 critic reviews | 32 positive, 6 mixed, 0 negative |
Figures are Metacritic snapshots recorded on October 8, 2026; the counts and scores can change. See the PC critic reviews and PS5 critic reviews pages for their respective review pools.
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- PS5 Features include raytracing modes and immersive haptic feedback for DualSense
- Use darkness and cover to avoid being overwhelmed by the ship's deadly new inhabitants
- Seek out the weapon fabricators to increase your firepower as you journey deeper, into the dark and terrifying depths, but beware ammo is limited
- Gather materials & schematics for weapon upgrades and suit customizations with buffs
- Harvest DNA material to improve health, toughness and defensive capabilities.Survive an ever changing labyrinth. Each and every expedition into The Persistence will be disorienting and different.Death is just the beginning. Fatal encounters will result in Zimri's consciousness being uploaded into a new cloned body, ready to try again, with any upgraded stats, suits & weapon schematics kept to aid the next attempt to save the ship
What do critics like about Cairn?
A climbing system built around deliberate choices
Review excerpts frequently highlight the game’s distinctive limb-by-limb climbing. Choosing holds and positioning Aava makes each stretch of rock a small route-finding problem, rather than a conventional sequence of jumps or button prompts. PC Gamer’s Shaun Prescott described it as “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,” as quoted on Metacritic’s PC critic page.
Atmosphere, scenery and story
Critics also point to Cairn’s art direction, mountain scenery and atmosphere, and to the way the ascent gives the story a physical setting. On Metacritic’s PC page, Xbox Tavern described the game as thoughtful in its mechanical exploration of climbing and said its story pushes back on the mythology of the sport and the people who reach its highest levels. That is one outlet’s assessment, not a claim that every reviewer interpreted the story the same way.
Rank #2
- Build your own zoo with over 500 different animals at your disposal, then splice together over 300,000 different animal combinations
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- Decide whether you want to run your Zoo above board... or break the law and pocket the extra cash
Is Cairn hard, and what do reviews say about frustration?
The climb is demanding by design: slow movement, careful hold selection and resource management are central to play. Those qualities are part of the appeal for critics who enjoy precision and route planning, but they can also make progress feel awkward or frustrating. Review excerpts mention both the challenge and moments of friction; the balance varies by reviewer, so the aggregate score alone cannot tell you whether the pace will suit you.
Accessibility observations also depend on the review setup. TechRadar reported playing for around 18 hours on a PlayStation 5 Pro and noted options for remappable controls, subtitles, climbing feedback and adjustments to survival systems. Those are the outlet’s reported review conditions and observations, not a guarantee that every player will find the controls or difficulty comfortable.
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Rank #3
- 30 vehicles official manufacturer, in 3 categories, UTV, ATV, Rock Bouncer
- 5 types of racing, off-road sprint, off-road track, mountain climbing, obstacle course, closed circuit
- Official manufacturers, equipment and sponsors
- A comprehensive career mode with team and calendar management
- Online races for up to 8 players
How does the game perform, and what about the PS5 features?
Some review excerpts mention technical issues, but the available coverage does not establish one uniform performance verdict across platforms or builds. Treat a performance complaint as specific to the reviewer’s platform and version when the review identifies them; the scores above do not measure technical performance separately.
The official PS5 product page lists DualSense vibration and trigger-effect support. That confirms controller features, not a requirement for a particular or additional controller. The game is listed for digital purchase on Steam, PlayStation, GOG and Epic Games Store; storefront availability can vary by region. The PS5 listing gives January 29, 2026 as its release date.
Rank #4
- Tauche in ein ausgeklügeltes Abenteuer ein, das von Klassikern der Science-Fiction inspiriert wurde
- Setze eine Kombination aus Fernkampfwaffen, Gerätschaften, Verbrauchsgegenständen und Nahkampf ein
- Schalte mit dem gesammelten Wissen neue Gerätschaften, Waffen und Fähigkeiten frei
- Aufregende Bosskämpfe: Grauen erregende Gegner, die nach vielseitigen Strategien und Taktiken verlangen
Which Cairn edition is available on PS5?
The official PlayStation page lists Standard and Deluxe editions. The Deluxe Edition includes the game, a Kami travel guide by Mathieu Bablet and three backpack keepsakes. The developer describes the guide as handy and the keepsakes as exclusive; these are edition contents, not evidence of a separately sold physical guide or physical game edition. Check the official PlayStation Store listing for current regional availability and edition details.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Cairn worth playing?
The reviews point to a strong fit for players who want a deliberate climbing challenge, enjoy solving routes through movement, and value atmosphere and environmental storytelling. If you prefer fast traversal, forgiving controls or frequent action, the slow, exacting climb may wear on you. The PC and PS5 Metascores indicate broadly favorable critic reception in their respective review pools, but your tolerance for deliberate movement is the more useful deciding factor.
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Best Value
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