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Cairn 2026
Cairn is a 2026 simulation adventure video game developed and published by The Game Bakers. The game puts players in the role of Aava, a professional climber aiming to reach the summit of the enigmatic Mount Kami. Her journey takes place mostly alone, yet she meets other climbers and mountain dwellers along the way. She also discovers traces of prior expeditions and a vanished civilization. As a simulation title, players directly manage each of Aava's limbs manually. The game integrates survival elements including hunger, thirst, and temperature regulation. It also includes a weather system and day-night cycle that influence difficulty.
Work on the game began in 2020. Emeric Thoa was its creative director, while comic artist Mathieu Bablet handled art direction and writing duties, and Martin Stig Andersen was responsible for audio design and co-composed music. The Game Bakers referred to Cairn as the end of a "trilogy on freedom", following Furi and Haven. The team drew inspiration from climbing documentaries and the manga series The Summit of the Gods. They consulted with alpinists and visited Aiguille du Midi to understand mountaineering techniques. Although The Game Bakers called it a "survival climber" and likened Mount Kami to an extended boss battle, the developers intended for it not to be overly difficult, incorporating several accessibility features. The project had a budget of €5 million.
The game was revealed in June 2024 and launched on 29 January 2026 for PlayStation 5 and Windows. Reviews were largely favorable, with praise directed toward its simulation mechanics, narrative, and visual design, although some criticized Aava's character development and technical flaws. Within three days of release, it sold over 200,000 copies. The Game Bakers announced plans to offer free downloadable content under the "On the Trail" series, with the first update, "Deep Water", scheduled for mid-2026. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is set for 2027.
Trailer
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Crew
- Director
- Emeric Thoa
- Designer
- Audrey Leprince
- Artist
- Mathieu Bablet
- Writer
- Mathieu Bablet
- Music
- Martin Stig Andersen, Gildaa, The Toxic Avenger
Details
- Developer
- The Game Bakers
- Publisher
- The Game Bakers
- Platforms
- PlayStation 5, Windows, Nintendo Switch 2
- Modes
- Single-player
