Cairn

Cairn is a story of overcoming, where every movement of the climber’s body is critical to success. The protagonist, Aava, strives to become the first to conquer the top of Mount Kami. The entire climbing process is presented from a third-person perspective, and there is no interface at all. The degree of fatigue of the heroine has to be determined solely by external signs: heavy breathing and trembling in the limbs. Each arm and leg of the protagonist is controlled manually, which requires the gamer to carefully analyze the topography of the rock to plot the route. Incorrect body position or excessive tension lead to breakdown and partial loss of progress. Setting up belay hooks as control points becomes a key element of the mechanics.

Climbing Cairn requires careful planning and preparation as it involves survival elements. Aava needs not only to monitor her stamina, but also to quench her hunger and thirst, rest to recuperate, and repair her equipment. To do this, temporary camps are set up on the slopes of the mountain, where you can catch your breath before the next push. Successful progress towards the goal directly depends on the competent distribution of limited supplies that have to be found during the exploration of locations.

Bolts are a limited resource for creating belay points on a rock. Food and water are necessary elements to maintain vitality. Medicines are means to restore health after falls or hypothermia. Finger tape is a consumable item to improve grip on the surface.

Aava’s solitary journey is periodically interrupted by encounters with other characters, such as the climber Marco. The narrative is revealed through the exploration of caves and the study of notes left by previous expeditions. These discoveries shed light not only on the history of Mount Kami, but also on the personal drama of the main character, revealing the motives that force her to move forward, sacrificing connections with the outside world. Thus, conquering the peak becomes not just a physical test, but a deep inner journey that forces you to face your own demons and rethink your life priorities.