It\u2019s been a decade since my short-lived membership at a rock-climbing gym, but Cairn\u2019s mechanics brought back all sorts of memories of my time scaling the walls, especially the importance of good footwork. Based on my amateur experience, it\u2019s a great rock-climbing simulator. By setting spikes into the walls, you can make spots where your rope will catch you if you slip off the mountain face. A robot companion picks up the spikes when you reach safety so you can use them again. By using chalk, you get a temporary boost to your grip. With food and drink, you\u2019ll help keep yourself fed, hydrated, and warm.<\/p>\n Progress can be grueling. I was almost always on edge as I methodically searched for the next place to put Aava\u2019s hand or foot. Slipping comes at a cost; you\u2019ll fall to your last spike or to the ground, and depending on how far down those are, it could mean another long climb, hitting yourself against the wall, or, in the worst case, death. Rain, wind, snow, and ice make things even more difficult.<\/p>\n But it\u2019s also peaceful, in a way. I was incredibly focused while playing, and more than once, I caught myself holding my Steam Deck right up to my nose as I hunted for the next step of my climb. I was often completely in the zone. As I journeyed, I even started to internalize Aava\u2019s quest as my own. When she quipped about a good grip, I would be elated that I had a brief moment of safety. When she was precariously close to falling, her breath would speed up in panic, and my stress levels would spike, too. When she would fall, she often shouted in frustration, usually mirroring how I felt about the situation.<\/p>\n Image: The Game Bakers<\/p>\n Aava will meet other people during her journey and hear from people who care for her, and they provide companionship during what\u2019s largely a solo quest. But sometimes, she\u2019s also rude to them or will alienate and ignore those who care for her. Aava even takes out her anger on her robot buddy. Still, I could relate. Like Aava, I also just wanted to climb the damn mountain, and usually, I didn\u2019t want anything to get in my way.<\/p>\n I am predisposed to like Cairn: I love long runs, and to me, there are fewer things more satisfying than the feeling of overcoming a seemingly insurmountable obstacle one step at a time. I\u2019ve fallen out of running lately, and I\u2019ve missed it. Cairn reminded me what\u2019s possible when you focus just on the next thing in front of you \u2014 and of the complex feelings that come with persevering through the quest.<\/p>\n Cairn is available now for PC and PS5.<\/p>\n Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Jay PetersClose Jay Peters<\/p>\n Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n FollowFollow<\/p>\n See All by Jay Peters<\/a><\/p>\n EntertainmentClose<\/p>\n Entertainment<\/p>\n Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n FollowFollow<\/p>\n See All Entertainment<\/a><\/p>\n Games ReviewClose<\/p>\n Games Review<\/p>\n Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n FollowFollow<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ss_6e53d0c2e7d945fc6d6fba7d3f5547796cfe10b5.1920x1080.jpg\"\/)
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