LOS ANGELES, Calif.— Climbing in video games is almost like breathing or walking. It’s something that you rarely think about; rather, you just do it. The latest title from Furi and Haven creators, The Game Bakers, punts that notion. Cairn is an upcoming release that’s all about climbing, with a blend of gameplay that reminded me of Jusant and, surprisingly, the browser game QWOP. After playing a demo at IGN Live, I walked away with Cairn squarely on my list of anticipated releases.
(Credit: The Game Bakers)
Peaks and Valleys
Announced during Sony’s State of Play, Cairn is a “survival climber.” That means climbing is not just about moving forward, but also planning your route accordingly and rationing resources and stamina. You play as Aava, a woman determined to scale and survive the unforgiving Mount Kami. The start is simple, like every hero’s journey. The demo began with a short tutorial in a rock climbing gym. The way Cairn handles movement proved immediately striking.
If you’ve ever visited a rock climbing gym or just scaled a wall, you know that hand and foot placement determines how long you’ll be up there. As I moved between the color-coded handholds, the game automatically determined which limb to use based on the weight supported and Aava’s posture.
That’s why QWOP popped into my head. For the uninitiated, QWOP is a free-to-play browser game that tasks you with moving a character by controlling each limb with a separate key. The idea is similar in Cairn. Where you place Aava’s hands and feet determines how efficiently you’ll scale the wall. Push Aava to her limits, and her arms and legs shake as her breathing worsens.
You’re not limited to a rock climbing gym. Like Tears of the Kingdom, Cairn lets you simply climb, using a rock formation’s natural dips, cracks, and bends to stabilize Aava. She’s accompanied by a friendly, spider-like robot that acts as her belayer. It helps Aava set up pitons, metal spikes that, when driven into a climbing surface, act as an anchor that holds her in place to recover stamina. In those moments of respite, Aava can dig into her bookbag to use stamina boosting items. Nothing better than a chocolate bar to act as motivation.
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Cairn employs a unique art style that drapes environments in a gorgeous, colorful hue. The cel-shaded graphics make every climb a visual treat, and perhaps that helped me experience a “climber’s high,” a feeling of exhilaration many climbers enjoy as they proceed up a cliffside.
(Credit: The Game Bakers)
Platforms and Release Date
I didn’t expect much from Cairn going in, but I was surprised by how much the demo hooked me. I’m looking forward to spending more time with Cairn when it launches on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S on November 5, 2025.
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About Zackery Cuevas
Analyst, Hardware
