Cairn Review (PC, Steam Deck) … the ascent calls!

Score

Summary: Cairn stands out as a gripping grounded climbing experience. It is demanding without feeling unfair striking without softening its edges and honest in its portrayal of a woman trying to outrun the life she left behind. Whether on PC or Steam Deck this is a climb that stays with you long after you return to base, particularly the metaphysical ending.

4

Challenging

Cairn delivers a demanding climb that tests physical endurance and inner resolve in ways most games avoid. From your first reach on Mount Kami it becomes clear this is not a routine survival trek but a focused ascent that asks you to stay calm steady and deliberate. The game is built for PC and is Steam Deck verified and my first climb was on the Deck where performance held strong aside from a few harmless dips.

You play as Aava an elite climber who walks away from her partner her career and every expectation tied to her old life to attempt the first ascent of the worlds most dangerous peak. She is not chasing recognition she is trying to escape a life that feels too heavy. Messages from home arrive through her small robot companion and each one cuts a little deeper. Her manager grows frustrated at her silence while her partner leaves guilt soaked voicemails about missing her celebrating her birthday without her and hoping the cat is still alive when she returns. Aava keeps climbing but those voices never fully fade.

Mount Kami is the heart of Cairn. Its scale shapes every decision and its surfaces demand careful placement of hands and feet. The limb based control system feels awkward at first yet that awkwardness becomes part of the rhythm. Cairn avoids glamour and instead leans into slow deliberate movement where every shift of weight matters. Reading Aavas breathing and posture becomes instinctive and the climb settles into a steady almost meditative flow.

As the ascent grows harsher weather light and fatigue begin to influence your path. Aava is skilled but human and her body strains under the pressure. Cairn offers several difficulty levels and each one changes how punishing the mountain feels. Lower settings include a rewind option that becomes invaluable when you push yourself or Aava too far. A fall does not have to end a long stretch of progress. You can rewind to a safer moment rethink your footholds and handholds and make a smarter choice. This keeps the challenge firm but never cruel.

Camps become essential as the climb continues. Each one acts as a save point and a place to rest sleep prepare food and gather strength. These quiet moments also give Aava space to reflect on the life she left behind and the choices that pushed her toward the mountain. Camps break the journey into meaningful chapters and give the climb a natural rhythm of effort and recovery.

Supplies are limited so you start thinking like a real climber. Tape protects skin chalk steadies grip and meals restore strength. Her pack is small so every item matters. As conditions worsen Aava scavenges from streams caves abandoned camps and the remains of those who never made it back. Mount Kami is beautiful and dangerous in equal measure and every discovery reinforces the thin line she is walking. Encounters with other climbers and the strained messages from home add weight to every decision. Suspended on a wall she often seems more at peace than she ever was in her old life and the summit becomes a place she hopes will bring clarity.

The final stretch is intentionally draining. By then both Aava and the player are worn down and the climb becomes a test of will rather than technique. The summit is not just a destination it is the answer to the question she has been avoiding since the beginning.

Cairn is technically strong with excellent lighting and weather effects and realistic textures that bring Mount Kami to life. On PC the game runs smoothly and the stylised world shifts naturally from calm to hostile. The score appears only when needed and supports the atmosphere without taking over. On the Steam Deck controls feel natural and the visuals scale down cleanly which makes it ideal for portable play. Voice acting adds weight to Aavas struggle and helps ground the story.

Final Thoughts

Cairn stands out as a gripping grounded climbing experience. It is demanding without feeling unfair, striking without softening its edges and honest in its portrayal of a woman trying to outrun the life she left behind. Whether on PC or Steam Deck this is a climb that stays with you long after you finish the climb, particularly the ending.

Recommended.