Cairn

What it is

Cairn is a climbing and survival simulation from The Game Bakers, set on Mount Kami, a summit no climber has reached. Players take the role of professional climber Aava and choose a route across the mountain, reading rock faces and placing hands and feet on holds. Balance, posture, and effort matter: poor decisions can lead to a fall, and each difficult wall presents a challenge to overcome.

The ascent also involves managing pitons, chalk, finger tape, food, water, and medicine. Aava can establish bivouacs and search the mountain for supplies. Along the way, unexpected companions and voices from the ground add context to the mountain’s history and Aava’s ambition. Cairn is a single-player Windows game with adjustable difficulty, full controller support, and support for DualShock and DualSense controllers. It also includes Steam Achievements and can be played without timed input.

What players like, and what they don't

Who it suits

Cairn suits solo players interested in route planning, climbing challenges, and resource management. Adjustable difficulty offers a way to tailor the challenge.

Cairn combines deliberate climbing with survival decisions over a long ascent. Its adjustable difficulty lets players shape how demanding the climb feels.