Cairn: Refreshing Gameplay and a Beautiful Story - A Spoiler-Free Review

Cairn was released on January 29, 2026. The game explores video game climbing in a new way. Photo Credit: IGN

Aspen Hickman, Staff Writer for The Powderhorn

“Cairn” is a game about the collapse of a culture, the selfishness of risk, and the meaning of life. It’s beautiful and haunting, full of questions that don’t necessarily have answers. But mostly, “Cairn” is about climbing.

In “Cairn,” you play as Aava, an experienced climber taking on Kami, a previously un-summited mountain. One of the first few images presented in the game is a newspaper that lists Kami’s casualties at 159, setting high stakes immediately. In the game’s starting menus, Kami is a constant, and the simplistic user interface (UI) emphasizes the mountain’s presence. 

To familiarize the player with the game’s controls, “Cairn” begins in a climbing gym, where Aava is preparing to begin her ascent. This is the only area of the game where the player is given explicit instructions. For the rest of the game, it’s up to you. One of the best things about “Cairn” is the freedom. Nearly every rock face in “Cairn” is climbable, and while the game gently guides you upwards and offers easier routes, it’s your choice how you conquer Kami. 

Though “Cairn” has three difficulty levels (Explorer, Alpinist, and Free Solo), the player can also choose to make the game easier and harder through a variety of settings, such as infinite climbing resources or autosaving. Beyond game settings and difficulty, you choose your own challenge level as you play. You can choose the most technical route up every cliff or the simplest.

Climbing in “Cairn” is a difficult and gritty experience. The player controls every movement Aava makes, and all of her limbs move individually. Each hand and foothold has to be carefully chosen so that Aava doesn’t fall. Before you begin each climb, you must plan the route you will take so you don’t end up stranded halfway up a cliff and are forced to rappel down and start over. These elements come together to make climbing rewarding. A successful ascent feels amazing because of the work put in to make it happen. Because of this, gameplay never feels tiring or repetitive, even though the player is just climbing for most of the time.

Combined with the difficult climbing mechanics, “Cairn” is also a survival game. Players manage hunger, thirst, and temperature as they make their perilous ascent of Kami. Plants like dandelions and thistle can be foraged from the mountain, and more nutritious foods like instant ramen or rice can be scavenged from the many abandoned campsites and backpacks that litter the mountain. Water can be found in many places, but isn’t common enough that the player can take it for granted.

Stamina is an important aspect of climbing in “Cairn,” but the UI won’t tell you that. You have to pay attention to the heaviness of Aava’s breathing and other signs of her fatigue to know when her stamina must be replenished. Much of “Cairn’s” UI is hidden until necessary, which shows off the breathtaking beauty of the game. The game’s setting provides ample opportunities for amazing views. 

The sound design of “Cairn” elevates the game’s environment. Not only is the music beautiful, but its timing is always perfect. Most of the time, there are few sounds except for Aava’s footsteps or other quiet sounds. When music does come in, it draws attention to the beauty of the moment, which allows the player to stop for a little and take in the carefully crafted landscape of Kami and its surroundings. 

“Cairn’s” atmosphere is the part of the game that leaves the greatest impression. The game can feel intensely lonely at times. Aava comes across no one but skeletons for days, and the few times she sees others are momentary. The feeling this creates is haunting. Often, the player relies on supplies left behind by the dead for their own survival. This gives Aava’s survival on Kami an almost guilty feeling and makes the player invest further in Aava’s ascent.

Though Kami is un-summited, it is not untouched. During Aava’s ascent, she comes across the abandoned villages and sacred sites of a culture called “the troglodytes,” which means “cave dwellers.” Why their villages lie abandoned and their shrines untended is one of the game’s many mysteries. Navigating the ruins left behind makes you feel that Kami holds more to discover than just the summit. Secrets are common in the troglodyte villages, so the player has to explore all of the winding tunnels that line Kami’s slopes. “Cairn” rewards the player’s curiosity at every turn, making the game engaging even for those not interested in the main story.

Aava receives messages from both her agent and her partner throughout her journey. Along with the player’s encounters with other climbers and their remains, these messages force you to ask why Aava took on this challenge in the first place. What drove Aava to Kami, and what she left behind in doing so, is the game’s main story.

All of these elements come together to create engaging and complex gameplay. “Cairn” is a difficult, lonely, and beautiful game. Kami is the ultimate challenge, and you’ll never be disappointed by the experience the mountain provides.