It is rare for a video game to make your palms sweat before you’ve even left the tutorial, but The Game Bakers Cairn is not your average release. Officially launched today, January 29, 2026, this survival-climber has finally arrived on PS5 and PC after a slight delay from its original 2025 window. As the latest title from the studio behind Furi and Haven, expectations were sky-high, and for the most part, they have been met with a brutal, breathtaking reality. In our Cairn review, we strap on the crampons to see if Aava’s ascent of Mount Kami is truly one of the best survival games 2026 has to offer.

Mastering the Manual Climbing Mechanics

The heart of Cairn lies in its uncompromising control scheme. Unlike traditional action-adventure games where holding a button automates movement, Cairn manual climbing mechanics demand total player input. You control Aava’s limbs individually, selecting the best handholds and footholds while managing balance and posture. It is a system that feels closer to a simulation than a platformer, requiring a rhythmic, thoughtful approach that punishes haste with terrifying falls.

The physics engine is the star here. There are no baked-in animations; every reach and pull is calculated in real-time. This can occasionally lead to some "janky" limb contortions that break immersion, but when it clicks, it offers an unparalleled sense of physical connection to the rock face. As a climbing simulator video game, it stands alone, stripping away the UI to force players to read Aava’s body language—trembling limbs mean exhaustion, and heavy breathing signals panic. It is an intense, intimate dance with gravity that makes every meter gained feel like a monumental victory.

Survival on Mount Kami

Beyond the climb, Cairn is a grueling survival experience. The fictional Mount Kami is an unforgiving antagonist. Players must manage a limited inventory of pitons, chalk, food, and medicine. The decision to place a piton is always agonizing: use one now to save your progress, or save it for a potentially harder section up ahead? This resource management layer transforms the game from a mere physics puzzle into a desperate fight for survival.

The weather systems are dynamic and cruel. A sudden windstorm can knock Aava off balance, while rain turns safe holds into slippery death traps. You aren't just battling the rock; you are battling the elements and Aava's own deteriorating physical state. Finding a safe ledge to set up a bivouac offers a rare moment of peace, allowing you to heal bloody fingers and reflect on the journey, reinforcing its status as a contender for one of the best survival games 2026.

A Narrative of Obsession and Sacrifice

The narrative is delivered with the subtle maturity we’ve come to expect from The Game Bakers. You play as Aava, a professional climber obsessed with summiting a peak that has never been conquered. The story explores the cost of this ambition, asking what you are willing to sacrifice—relationships, safety, sanity—to achieve the impossible. With art direction by Mathieu Bablet and a haunting soundscape by Martin Stig Andersen (Limbo, Inside), the atmosphere is thick with isolation and melancholy.

The storytelling is environmental and implicit. Letters from home and the remnants of failed expeditions paint a picture of a woman driven by a singular, perhaps destructive, purpose. It elevates the experience from a technical challenge to an emotional odyssey, grounding the high-altitude heroics in very human vulnerability.

Performance and Verdict

Regarding Cairn PS5 gameplay, the performance is generally solid, though not without blemishes. The game targets a high frame rate to ensure input precision, but there are noticeable drops in the more expansive open-world sections of the mountain. While the "jank" of the physics system can sometimes result in awkward visual glitches, these are small prices to pay for the freedom the system affords.

Critically, the game is polarizing but respected. The Cairn Metacritic score is currently settling in the high 70s to mid-80s range, reflecting a title that is unapologetically difficult and niche. Reviewers have praised its innovation and atmosphere while noting that its slow, methodical pacing isn't for everyone. Mashable, for instance, awarded it a high 4.6/5, citing its "deeply memorable" nature, while others have found the technical hiccups frustrating.

Final Thoughts

Cairn is not a game for the faint of heart. It is a demanding, exhausting, and occasionally frustrating experience that asks a lot of its players. However, for those willing to endure the pain, the view from the top is unlike anything else in gaming today. It is a unique masterpiece of tension and triumph.