Cairn Review: Reach the Summit Literally and Metaphorically

From the creators of Furi and Haven comes a fresh adventure game centered around storytelling and exploration. You’ll follow Aava, a skilled rock climber, as she tackles the perilous challenge of climbing Kami, the world’s most dangerous mountain.

This is a deeply moving story about pursuing your ambitions and facing the consequences of your decisions. It’s also a challenging rock-climbing game that will keep you engaged from start to finish.

Cairn isn’t flawless, but it powerfully conveys its message even with minimal conversation. It’s a game designed to make a strong impression and be remembered. More than just entertainment, it aims for meaningful understanding.

What is Cairn?

Cairn is essentially a game about scaling a mountain. While it has some basic survival elements, the main focus is on the challenge of rock climbing and maintaining your balance as you try to reach the top. It’s not a fast-paced action game, but it’s surprisingly tense because a single mistake can send you tumbling down.

This game is similar to titles like Baby Steps, focusing on realistic climbing. You control each limb individually, carefully reaching for and gripping holds to stay on the wall. The goal isn’t to frustrate you, but to encourage thoughtful planning and strategy before each move.

This is a deeply emotional story about pursuing your goals and facing the consequences of your decisions. It’s also a challenging rock-climbing game that will keep you engaged from start to finish.

Pay attention to your food, water, and warmth levels. If any of these get too low, you’ll faint and start losing health. While losing health isn’t a major problem, fainting can be dangerous – you might fall and die, or lose progress on a climb.

You can address your character’s needs whenever you reach a save point, where you can set up camp and prepare food. Don’t forget to regularly bandage your fingers to protect them. There’s a lot to manage, but when you’re actually climbing, these details aren’t usually a big concern.

Difficult but Very Rewarding

This game is intentionally challenging. While it has a strong story, that’s mainly to motivate you to climb. The real difficulty lies in the climbing itself – carefully balancing and finding your next handhold. A single mistake can cause you to fall all the way back down.

Starting out can be tough, like beginning a difficult climb. As you learn the ropes, things will become easier and you’ll be able to tackle harder challenges. You can choose any path you want, whether it’s the simplest or the most difficult. Keep an eye out for hidden items along the way, but remember not every path leads to a reward.

The game offers several difficulty levels to suit different players. Even the normal setting, which is best for beginners, is quite demanding – a single error can have significant consequences. However, overcoming these challenges makes finally succeeding all the more rewarding, creating a real sense of accomplishment.

Honestly, there’s nothing quite like the thrill of this game! It’s especially amazing when you stumble and have to try again. It’s a perfect balance of risk and reward – every climb feels like it means something. And what I love is that every decision you make actually matters. Do you take the longer, tougher route and use up more supplies, or go for the easy path and potentially miss out on something useful? It really makes you think!

A Soundtrack Worthy of the Stars

Most games use music to simply add to the experience, but in Cairn, the music is essential. The beautiful melodies aren’t just a nice addition – they truly define the game and its atmosphere as you journey forward.

Okay, so without giving anything away, the last few songs really got to me. It’s like everything you’ve done throughout the game finally matters, and it all builds up to this incredible moment. The final song is just… wow. It completely pulls you into all the feelings – the sadness, the happiness, everything – and you finally get to see the results of all your hard work. It’s a really powerful experience.

This game is a truly special experience, and the music is a vital part of what makes it so impactful. While some players might not fully appreciate it until the very end, the soundtrack creates a sense of anticipation and wonder every time you look ahead, leaving you hoping for another memorable piece.

A Feast for the Eyes

The game’s music is amazing, and there are several truly stunning moments. It’s refreshing to see a unique, stylized art style when so many games focus on realistic graphics.

The game isn’t limited to just story scenes. There are also places where you can pause and enjoy the view of the mountains. It really feels like you’re there, watching the clouds drift around the peaks or the sunrise over the horizon.

The ruins of this ancient society tell a story through what remains. You’ll find old burial grounds and huge stone carvings all over the mountainside, offering a look into the lives of those who once lived on Kami. It’s an impressive view, and you can even use the landmarks to help navigate your path.

The game’s art style is somewhat cartoonish, but it brings vibrant color to an otherwise barren environment. As you ascend, the conditions become more challenging with heavier snowfall, and the bright colors gradually fade, replaced by stark rocks and increasingly treacherous climbing sections.

The Molehill Next to the Mountain

This game is amazing overall, but it definitely has some flaws. I occasionally ran into issues with climbing – like awkward limb positioning or handholds that didn’t quite work right. It could be frustrating at times, but not enough to ruin the fun.

As a climber, I’ve noticed something really weird happens with your body! Your arms and legs will just… do strange things. They’ll twist at odd angles, or you’ll almost grab a hold but miss by just a little, seemingly for no reason. You kind of have to learn to work with it, but it feels like something we can definitely improve with practice and training.

The game offers a compelling balance between risk and reward. Each climb feels meaningful, and your decisions truly matter – taking a difficult path might cost you valuable resources, while choosing the easy route could mean missing out on important advantages.

Despite that, it almost made me fall a couple of times because my foot kept slipping off the holds and landing on the rock just above them. It wasn’t a major problem, and you could still climb, but it was really frustrating. Combined with some strange hand or foot placements, it made the climb significantly harder.

Subscribe for deeper analysis and Cairn coverage

Crave more deep takes on story-driven games like Cairn? Subscribe to our newsletter for in-depth coverage of narrative design, climbing mechanics, soundtrack highlights and visual storytelling—analysis that helps you understand why games move us.

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The game lets you pick which limb Aava uses to move, but it makes her a little slower. When things get intense, you’ll likely just stick with whatever limb is already selected. This isn’t a major issue and doesn’t ruin the experience, but you might occasionally find yourself pausing to correct which arm or leg she’s using during a climb.

A Story Worth Telling

What really makes Cairn special – and why you should play it – is its story. It’s not an epic tale of saving the world, but something much more personal and relatable. It’s a surprisingly down-to-earth story about pursuing your goals, and the sacrifices you make when you venture out on your own, leaving your old life behind.

Aava sets out to climb Kami, a mountain no one has ever successfully reached the top of, leaving her loved ones behind. Throughout her journey, she listens to messages from her family and partner, offering insight into her motivations and allowing you to experience the climb from a unique, external viewpoint.

As the music builds to a climax, all your feelings come together when you finally achieve your objectives. It’s a deeply rewarding experience, and the game’s emotional impact wouldn’t be complete without its powerful soundtrack.

The game doesn’t explicitly ask if the protagonist should turn back or keep climbing, or what will happen to her life either way. However, it subtly encourages players to consider these questions for themselves – will reaching the summit change things at home, and if she fails, will that failure stay with her forever?

Regardless of your opinions on the story’s themes, Aava’s journey continues as she and those close to her grapple with their uncertainties. It’s a beautifully written and insightful tale about pursuing your dreams and how that pursuit affects everyone involved.

Players will likely have strong reactions to Aava – some will relate to her, while others might find her self-centered. The writing and visuals are unusually thoughtful and daring. Regardless of your opinion, the game creates a compelling desire to see what happens next. You’ll be invested in the ending, for better or worse, because the story feels genuinely authentic.

Closing Comments

Cairn is more than just enjoyable; it’s a truly exceptional game. It features a beautifully complex story and offers a real challenge for players of all skill levels. The game evokes a wide range of emotions – anger, sadness, joy, and surprise – creating an experience that feels deeply meaningful. Everyone should play Cairn, if only to experience Aava’s compelling journey. I wasn’t prepared to feel such a strong emotional connection, but I’m grateful that I did. It’s a story that deserves to be told. While not flawless, Cairn’s unique combination of elements resonates with a broad audience. Ultimately, the game asks a powerful question: what drives you to reach your personal peak?

2026-01-29 17:13