Climbing and video games are often a match made in heaven. There’s just something about seeing a mountain peak that makes you think ‘I wonder what the world looks like from up there.’

In an open world game like Skyrim, scaling said mountain normally involves a quick jaunt and a fast travel or two before you’re rewarded with the eye candy. If you were hoping for the same treatment in Cairn, think again.

The latest indie title from the team at The Game Bakers, Cairn is a game that’s all about the journey rather than the destination. In its relatively short 12-hour runtime, it not only showcases some of the most accurate and engaging climbing mechanics I’ve ever seen in a game, but also packs in a tear-jerker of a narrative while it’s at it.

So what do you actually do in Cairn?

Put simply, a lot of climbing. You’ll take control of protagonist Aava – or more specifically, her limbs.

As you attach yourself to the cliff face of the fictional mountain of Kami, you’re given free movement of one of Aava’s legs or arms. Using the left stick to control where it goes, another button press grips the wall where you choose, automatically switching to the next limb the game reckons you’re best off adjusting.

Putting one arm in front of the other, you’ll slowly scale your way up the mountain while constantly choosing the best route up. The stunning art style of Cairn uses a cel-shaded aesthetic, which makes it super clear where crevices and tiny handholds lay in the otherwise sheer rock face.

Although you start out slow, the control scheme quickly becomes intuitive, and there’s a manual limb selection mode for those who prefer a bit more control. 

What’s striking is how life-like developer The Game Bakers has managed to get the climbing to look and feel. I’m no expert at the sport, but I have dabbled in the odd bit of bouldering, and it’s clear that the team behind this game has also done their fair share with cracks and dimples in the rock perfectly sculpted to create challenging but do-able routes up the mountain.

I was worried that this gameplay loop would start to quickly feel repetitive, but the layout of the mountain is expertly crafted to keep you constantly on your toes. More often than not, I was having to wipe sweat from my own hands just watching Aava contort herself through the most precarious of handholds, only to make it to the next ledge by the skin of her teeth.

Outside of the basic controls, Cairn is just as much a puzzle game as it is an action one. You’ll need to choose your route carefully by pulling back the camera and analysing the rocks above you. Head off too far in the wrong direction and you can easily end up slipping down a smooth cliff face.

Although there are plenty of UI elements to indicate meters for Aava’s hunger, thirst and coldness, the act of climbing is remarkably stripped back. You’ll need to watch and listen for Aava’s cues to confirm whether you’ve got a good hold. Leave her arms shaking for too long and she’ll soon take a tumble.

Falling in Cairn is not something you’ll want to do often as the saving system can be brutal if you’re not paying attention. Players can only save at sparsely located Bivouac points, which can sometimes be 15 to 20 minutes apart on some parts of the mountain.

Aava can latch herself to the face of Kami with pitons, which require a short and forgiving quick time event to drill into the wall successfully. With a maximum of six at any one time, pitons are a resource that must be managed, asking climbers to weigh up whether they should risk the final few handholds to the top or bank their progress at the cost of one.

Thankfully, resources aren’t too tricky to come across in Cairn. You’ll often find pools of water to replenish your flask and leftover scraps of food in backpacks from climbers of times gone by.

Resting regularly in Bivouacs allows you to replenish each of Aava’s meters, cooking up meals and taping her bloodied fingers to maintain maximum grip. This is also a time to stock up on pitons with your trusty ClimbBot capable of recycling materials into new climbing gear and chalk.

Cairn doesn’t just contain a remarkably fun gameplay loop, though. It’s also full of heart, and incredibly thought provoking.

Through some excellent voice acting for both Aava and the supporting cast, we learn more about why Aava is undertaking such a challenge, why she’s using the climb as a way to escape life at home, and the emotional toll of that on both her and her loved ones.

As someone who also finds immense relief in using exercise to stave off ruminating thoughts, Aava’s story really hit home for me. It normally takes quite a lot for a video game to make me cry, but some of Cairn’s themes had me close to tears at several points.

The verdict

Although a simple premise, The Game Bakers have managed to create something truly special with Cairn. Climbing is something that I thought games had nailed in the past – Assassin’s Creed, Breath of the Wild and Jusant spring to mind – but this title blows all of those out of the water.

Throw in a heart-felt story with a protagonist that I was rooting for the entire climb, and you’ve got another indie game for the ages. I know it’s only February, but Cairn has already shot to the top of my list for potential 2026 game of the year contenders.

Cairn is available now on PlayStation 5 and PC.

Reviewed on PC, code provided by PR for review purposes only.