GOTW #23: Cairn (Demo) — Full Game Delayed to 2026

A precision climbing demo that already feels special—short, tough, and seriously satisfying

I finished the main demo route in ~40 minutes, then spent another 3–4 hours clearing the gym challenges and tougher levels. Some of them are brutal—in the best way. This is the rare demo that ends and makes you mutter a few choice words because you just want more. Experiencing the Cairn demo left me with no bugs or glitches in my session, only a couple of spots where foot placement/momentum could use a tiny tweak. As a vertical climbing experience, Cairn is already top-tier—and easily a top-10 contender in its genre this year based on feel alone.

Related reading: PEAK — Review

Gameplay Video

Why it works

Every move has intent. Reading the wall, planning pitons, and keeping balance turns each section into a mini-puzzle. The gym challenges are smart tutorialization without hand-holding, and the outdoor climb nails that “one more try” loop—tight, fair, and immensely rewarding when you stick a sequence.

Release note

The team has pushed the full release to Q1 2026 to focus on optimization, debugging, and polish—exactly the kind of decision that preserves great games. A limited-time demo update adds “ghosts” of other climbers so you can race lines and learn techniques.

Cairn

Release: Q1 2026 (Demo available now)

Genre: Survival-Climber, Simulation

Developer / Publisher: The Game Bakers / The Game Bakers

Platforms: PC — Steam (wishlist), PS5 — PlayStation Store

Verdict

Cairn’s demo already feels like the real thing: focused, technical, and endlessly replayable. If the full climb keeps this standard with the extra polish the team is taking time for, we’re looking at something special. Consider this my stamp for Game of the Week #23—and a strong recommendation to try the demo and wishlist.

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