Cairn Launches on PS5 and PC: The Game Bakers’ Gripping Survival Climber Conquers Peaks with 94% Steam Approval

The wait is over: Cairn, the ambitious survival-climbing sim from The Game Bakers (Furi, Haven), officially launched yesterday, January 29, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam—delivering white-knuckle tension, emotional depth, and intuitive mountaineering mastery.

Step into the boots of Aava, a pro mountaineer hell-bent on becoming the first to summit the unforgiving Mount Kami. With limb-based controls that feel shockingly natural—grab holds, balance posture, manage fatigue—you’ll plan routes, hammer pitons, chug water, and bivouac through blizzards. Every slip means a brutal fall (thank safety ropes), but the “aha!” of a perfect ascent delivers pure exhilaration. Explore a handcrafted mountain teeming with ancient mysteries, failed expeditions, and personal sacrifice, all wrapped in stunning comic-book art by Mathieu Bablet and an atmospheric OST from Martin Stig Andersen (Limbo, Control), Gildaa, and The Toxic Avenger.

Development Backstory: Announced in June 2024 with a Steam demo that hooked thousands, Cairn faced a delay from late 2025 to Q1 2026 for polish—ensuring its math-driven physics (no canned animations) hit perfection. Creative director Emeric Thoa compared it to Death Stranding‘s endurance trek meets Dark Souls‘ risk-reward, but “not a rage game.” A free Expedition mode adds replayability: pick alpine or free-solo styles, chase leaderboards, and share ghost climbs.

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Day-one reception? Stellar. Steam boasts Very Positive (94% from 902 reviews), Metacritic sits at 83-84 (PC/PS5), and OpenCritic averages 87 (90% recommended). Critics rave: “Hypnotic and rewarding” (Game Informer), “You’ll be in tears by the end” (The Guardian), “Hits exhausting new heights.” It’s Steam Deck Verified, controller-optimized (Xbox/PS), and priced at $29.99 (10% launch discount to $26.99).

Xbox Series X|S follows soon. Dive in via Steam or PS Store—demo still live for a taste. X is buzzing with summit selfies and “one more climb” addictions.