Cairn: Climb Through The Past to Reach Your Future

Have you ever heard of the 2008 game QWOP, where you play as an Athlete named QWOP and you run down a track controlling your legs using the Q, W, O, and P keys? Now imagine QWOP but instead of running down a track, you are climbing the tallest

mountain in the world. That is Cairn, coming out Quarter 1 of 2026

Cairn is created by the development studio The Game Bakers. Their other games, such as Haven and Furi are known for their stunning artwork and rich stories, while also having a good challenge. Also collaborating on the project, Martin Stig Andersen, the person behind the OST of LIMBO and INSIDE. Lukas Julian Lentz also on the track, known for the OST of Cocoon. Even having Mathieu Bablet, a renowned comic book artist, who was immediately recognizable within the first minute of the game.

Cairn starts you off in a climbing gym, where you can safely learn the basics (and optionally other advanced skills) with the safety of a crash pad, rather than a 200 foot fall onto rocks. In this gym, you get to learn the basics of the world around you. Your name is Aava, and you are known for your impressive climbing feats around the world. Her family, while supporting her and helping with marketing, it is revealed that Aava may have some issues at home, and that may play a key role in the plot.

After learning how to climb, the game (including the demo) sets you against a beginner mountain to help you prepare, and learn the basics of survival. On this mountain, you will learn how to plan routes, forage for food and water, how to cook, and the importance of pitons and rope. Everything you have is limited. From your food to your tools, they will run out and break. You must learn what plants make a good meal, and where are the prime locations for scrap to fix your tools. On top of this, the game makes you manage your sleep and use bandages to help cover your injuries. The game does grant you a boon however, you can turn trash into chalk. Chalk helps enhance your grip, so you can hold on to more steep slopes for longer.

When climbing this mountain, you will learn how deadly a single mistake can be (and how deadly ego can be in my case). How sacrificing time can get you rewards that allow you to traverse the more dangerous paths with ease. Dangerous paths are typically more direct, allowing you to get by without taking detours, but at the cost of an increased risk of injury or death.

After reaching the peak of this mountain, is when the game begins. Along this mountain, you will find derelict structures, filled with goodies. On this climb you will meet a fellow climber, Marco, who recognizes you for your past feats, and will accompany you along the way. From what has been seen in the trailers, the mountain contains ancient structures, containing painted stars and other astronomical formations. Aava will uncover the mystery of the mountain.

Cairn is a game of weighing your options, and figuring out if you have the resources and skill to do something, and then execute it all, while within a beautiful environment, and learning more about the story. There is always an easier route, but never the best route

Works Cited

Et All. “Cairn (Video Game).” Wikipedia, 25 July 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairn_(video_game). Accessed 18 September 2025.

Et All. “QWOP.” QWOP - Wikipedia, 28 August 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QWOP. Accessed 18 September 2025.

The Game Bakers. “Cairn on Steam.” Steam, 2025, https://store.steampowered.com/app/1588550/Cairn/?curator_clanid=32982976. Accessed 18 September 2025.

Kemp, Luke. “"Climbing is in itself a game, with rules everybody knows": Cairn's tense, strategic ascents are making our palms sweat.” GamesRadar, 12 January 2025, https://www.gamesradar.com/games/action/climbing-is-in-itself-a-game-with-rules-everybody-knows-cairns-tense-strategic-ascents-are-making-our-palms-sweat/. Accessed 18 September 2025.

TheGameBakers. “Cairn.” The Game Bakers, 2025, https://www.thegamebakers.com/cairn/. Accessed 18 September 2025.

Hello! My name is Mellow Carter, I’m in 11th grade, and it’s my first year as a writer for the Poudre High School Press. I write about various forms of electronic media, particularly, video games. From up and coming AAA games to hidden indie gems, and developing techniques, I seek to inform gamers and developers alike about all interesting gaming matters!