Entertainment Swindon

The game Cairn is set to be one of the first anticipated games released in 2026, launching on January 29, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and PC. 

Developed by the indie studio The Game Bakers (known for Furi and Haven), Cairn is a realistic survival climbing adventure game where players attempt to be the first to summit the fictional, unforgiving Mount Kami. 

Key features of the game include:

• Realistic Climbing Simulation: Players must find handholds and footholds, manage their posture and balance, and plan routes carefully to avoid falling.
• Survival Elements: Resource management is crucial; players will need to manage items like pitons, food, water, and medicine during the long ascent.
• Engaging Story: The game tells the story of Aava, a professional climber, through interactions with other characters and discoveries made on the mountain.
• Multiple Modes: In addition to the main story, there is an “Expedition mode” for endless replayability and a “Free Solo” mode for an even greater challenge without safety gear. 

Cairn is a climbing sim where you control each of your climbers’ limbs as they scale the side of a mountain, while also managing your resources to survive the long, arduous ascent. You play as a climber named Aava, whose goal is to be the first human to reach the summit of the treacherous Mount Kami. Your goal is to get her there!

Cairn’s gruelling survival framework is novel territory for developer The Game Bakers, whose past works include blood-pumping bullet hell Furi and romance action RPG Haven.

But when deciding their next game, studio co-founder and Cairn creative director Emeric Thoa says that the team wanted their next project to focus on a game experience that demanded more skill from the player.

“Climbing felt exciting because it’s not only very rich in game design possibilities but also deeply meaningful,” Thoa says. “We wanted to explore that longing for absolute freedom that we believe alpinists chase when they risk everything on the mountain.”

Release is set for 29th January 2026.

A playable demo for Cairn is currently available on both Steam and PS5, allowing players to experience the climbing mechanics firsthand before the official launch.