Cairn Review: Obsession, Suffering, and Awe in a Climbing Game That Hits Exhausting New Heights
Cairn, developed by The Game Bakers, is a punishing yet beautiful survival game available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox. It turns the act of mountaineering into an intimate test of endurance, fixation, and emotional resolve, promising to leave players in tears by the end of their journey.
The Fascination with Mountaineering Madness
Mountaineers and climbers, particularly those who engage in free-solo ascents, are often seen as humanity's most fascinating maniacs. These single-minded, daring souls willingly throw themselves into profoundly optional life-endangering feats. Figures like Alex Honnold compel and appall in equal measure, as even with safety ropes, a single wrong move can mean death. This mad human activity places individuals at the full mercy of nature, prompting questions about what kind of person willingly chooses such peril.
Meet Aava: The Champion Climber
In Cairn, players control Aava, a champion climber who has conquered numerous summits but finds herself unable to walk away from the challenge. Her latest objective is Mount Kami, an ice-tipped, Himalayan-style peak that has never been climbed before. Once home to a tribe, the mountain now stands as a solitary test of will. As Aava, players must meticulously move her hands and feet towards imperfections in the rock, jamming fingers into cracks and toes onto tiny ledges, learning to read the mountain as she would.
Heart-Racing Gameplay and Survival Mechanics
Despite the absence of real-life peril, Cairn masterfully induces heart-racing tension and dry-mouthed anxiety. When Aava's limbs shake and her breathing quickens, it signals insecurity on the cliff face, demanding fast repositioning or risky piton placement to prevent a fall. With limited life-saving pitons, conservation becomes crucial. One memorable section involves a 10-minute climb up a bare rock face with no pitons left, requiring flawless execution to reach a cave, culminating in a near-slip that forces players to pause and breathe deeply.
In this respect, Cairn excels as a survival game, feeling perilous and authentic. Beyond managing hand and footholds, players must handle Aava's backpack, scavenge for resources, forage for food, and find water sources, with a tip to keep every bottle discovered. Laboriously bandaging her ruined fingers to preserve grip adds to the realism, and the sense of accomplishment upon prevailing is profound. The relief of finding a safe point to set up a tent is intoxicating, offering brief respite in the harsh environment.
Questioning Obsession and Enduring Hardship
As hours pass and conditions worsen on Mount Kami, Aava's obsession with conquering the peak begins to feel not just impossibly brave but self-destructive. The game cleverly invites players to question why she pursues this goal—and why they, as players, persist alongside her. Towards the end, Cairn becomes notably challenging, though assists can be enabled to reduce its pitiless nature. Sections involving repeated falls, failed route-finding, and states of parched starvation lead to immense frustration, mirrored by Aava's voiced disappointments with each fumbled hold. This stubborn determination can rub off on players, making it hard to walk away.
A Game About Character and Cost
Ultimately, Cairn reveals itself as a game about what it takes to embody Aava's character—and the personal cost involved. The ending is particularly impactful, capable of moving players to tears, as experienced in late-night sessions on the sofa. Throughout the ascent, moments of beauty and terror inspire quiet awe, with that awe being proportional to the hardship endured. Cairn is set for release on 29 January, offering a profound exploration of mountaineering's emotional and physical demands.
