This challenging climbing game has captivated me, and I’ve enjoyed conquering its tough obstacles.
Cairn nearly had me on the ropes twice. Before you make your final push to the summit, you face two massive skill checks that really test your readiness for the grueling climb ahead.
The first challenge is a daunting rock face with no clear path to the top. The second is a vertical spike that features some of the most technically demanding climbing in the game’s 15-hour journey. Together, these obstacles consumed nearly half of my playtime, and each time I reached the summit, I was completely drained—no food, no water, no pitons to save me from a fatal fall, and barely any light to spot my next grip. If I had slipped in those last few meters, I honestly doubt I would have had the willpower to finish the game.
After conquering the first challenge, a cutscene shows Aava—a professional climber tackling one of the most perilous ascents in the world—taking a moment to rest, recharge, and gather supplies for the next leg of her journey. She celebrates her temporary victory by getting blackout drunk, a moment that perfectly encapsulates my experience with Cairn. This game is a thoughtful, meditative exploration of the skill and determination required for excellence, all while I struggled to see Aava as the elite athlete she was meant to be.
When you first meet Aava, she’s warming up for a beginner climb. The daunting mountain, Kami, looms far in the distance, and as she prepares to tackle nothing more challenging than the walls of a nearby climbing gym, she’s stretching into a full split.
Clearly at her physical peak and mentally focused, she’s a tough-as-nails character who seems unfazed by her PR manager’s frantic calls. But once you get her just six feet off the ground, she can quickly turn into a quivering mess, lacking upper body strength and controlling like a clumsy runner.
You guide Aava through her limbs, maneuvering them one at a time to the next hold as she gradually ascends the mountain. Locking a hand or foot in place prompts the game to choose which limb is most likely to move next. This system is generally smooth and faster than manually selecting each limb, but it can get stuck in a loop, shuffling her feet back and forth until you take control.
Even when you do take charge, Aava’s fine motor skills can be hit or miss. I eventually found a setting that indicated when she had secured a ‘good’ hold—if she’s not supported by multiple solid grips for too long, she’ll quickly exhaust her stamina and fall. However, this realization came after countless attempts where I couldn’t figure out which limb wasn’t anchoring her properly. Too often, I’d aim for a specific crevice, only for my elite protagonist to miss the mark and plummet to her demise.
These moments are where Cairn stumbles. Under default settings, Aava—who often feels unsympathetic—seems to lack the physical strength or mental toughness expected of an elite athlete. She frequently quivers with fatigue and fear shortly after leaving camp, only to execute a full split at the next crevasse, balancing her entire weight on her hip joints. I struggled for hours to see her as a professional climber.
Yet, despite the frustrations, something kept pulling me upward. For all the times I echoed Aava’s frustrated roars as she fell repeatedly, I was genuinely motivated to reach the top of Kami. I found real joy in solving challenging routes, using my resources and skills to succeed, and finally reaching the summit unscathed. There were moments of true zen in overcoming the toughest sections, and those who connect with Cairn will discover even more of that feeling in the optional climbs that hide deeper secrets of the game’s lore.
However, I worry that many players will struggle to see past Aava’s facade. She’s not an elite athlete; she’s a puppet, and a puppet can’t conquer the world’s most dangerous mountain, even with the most skilled hands guiding her. Cairn’s mechanics give her an edge, but the game often discourages you from using these advantages—many are left unexplained in the tutorial or buried in settings menus.
Beyond Aava, there’s beauty in Cairn’s golden hour-lit world—in the careful binding of her bruised fingers, the constant organization of her pack, and the strategic planning of climbs based on weather and the sun’s position. But that intentionality is frequently disrupted by a character who struggles to meet the demands of the world crafted around her.
