A love letter to Cairn

"The best feelings of freedom came to me when I exceeded my limitations." - Aava

I did not expect that exploring the heights of Kami Mountain would be such a deeply immersive and emotional experience. Here is why Cairn deserves your time:

The first time I heard about this game was during its reveal trailer back in June 2024. After that, I immediately put it on my radar. I got the chance to play it at Gamescom 2025, and I was hooked. So hooked, in fact, that a friend of mine sitting next to me watched for half an hour before asking if he could try it as well... and I gave up the controller quite unwillingly. Suffice it to say, I couldn't wait for its release on January 29, 2026!

Cairn is an atmospheric adventure simulation game that shines best when played with patience. It is not a fast, action-heavy game. It is calm (and sometimes incredibly tense). The story revolves around Aava, a climber and mountaineer who is on her way to reach the summit of Mt. Kami. You control every limb of hers separately while on the wall. You'll have to look for handholds, figure out where to place your feet, and (if you don't play on the "Free Solo" difficulty) where to place your pitons and how much rope you have left. You'll also have to manage thirst, hunger, and health. While on the wall, you may need to watch out for wind or rain, as the rock may get slippery or you might lose your balance due to strong gusts. Lots of things to think about, but Cairn is a simulation game after all. It rewards patience and route planning before you even try to climb the wall.

Cairn Gameplay — Climbing Kami can be terrifying...

The first time I thought to myself, "Damn, this is my indie game of the year!" was honestly when I arrived at the bottom of Mt. Kami. Yes... the start of the game... right after the tutorial! I was already in love with the gameplay mechanics, and since I love climbing myself, I felt very much at home. I was so hyped about finally being able to climb this mountain! At that point in time, I was hooked by the mechanics and the atmosphere, but oh boy, let me tell you... The story was something else! I won't spoil anything because I want you to experience it for yourself. Plus, I feel like the payoff doesn't really hit as hard if you just read about it or watch a playthrough. I will just give you the hook: Aava is climbing Mt. Kami because she has to. It is the only thing she can do, the only purpose she sees in her life. Aava has to reach the summit! It is just her way. She always needs a bigger challenge, a bigger mountain to climb. And Mt. Kami is the biggest one. If you can relate to this type of struggle, where you always have to do something, where you always have to be busy, you will feel connected and right at home with Aava. Do keep in mind that she is not a very lovable character, though. But for me, this felt absolutely perfect. It just made sense.

Now... enough yapping about Aava herself. Go. Play. Cairn! It was genuinely a journey, and not always an easy one. Don't be mistaken! This game can be brutally difficult at times; it gave me sweaty palms and a racing heart multiple times! Just because it is a slow game doesn't mean there is no tension. Believe me, there's plenty! I don't want to talk about the ending too much, but I will tell you it made me think about it for days after finishing the game. At the time of writing this, I have finished the game once, but I will definitely do a second playthrough since there are multiple endings. I might even go for 100% completion.

In conclusion: This game is my Indie Game of the Year 2026! Go play it yourselves. This is a truly exceptional piece of art, and if you like climbing and a good story, this is an absolute must-play! Can't wait for future updates and hopefully some DLC! GO. PLAY. CAIRN!

~ZyXx

Kami Moments