Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 86 | 200 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 94% | 89 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 85 | 109 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 93% | 88 | 3000 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Mar 24, 2026) · 300 reviews sampled · 4811 total reviews in window · weighted 232.8 up / 14.2 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (115)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 90
“A daring, innovative, and reverent videogame interpretation of climbing that manages to depict overwhelming scale without ever losing sight of the humanity that it dwarfs. Cairn is unapologetically challenging (not least if you dare to tackle the permadeath-toughened Free Solo mode) and slow paced, but delivers disproportionate satisfaction through the sense of monumental achievement you get from scaling any portion of its mountainous journey.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Cairn is an exceptionally well-made game. Difficult, demanding, and at times unforgiving, yet extremely satisfying and engaging. Paradoxically, it can also be relaxing. At the same time, it is a game that will evoke a wide range of emotions in us, and will most likely force us to reflect and ponder the meaning of the finale itself. It is also a game that is not without its flaws, but these can be forgiven in light of the rest of the game, which is extremely well done.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“The bottom line is that you either love it or hate it, but Cairn remains an excellent narrative and interactive climbing simulation experience. The slow gameplay rhythm keeps you tense the entire time you are on the walls, and between moments of challenge, the game grants you charming periods of relaxation, with eye-catching scenery and a powerful soundtrack that stirs emotions. Despite some technical problems, specifically the sharp drop in frames, this did not diminish much of the enjoyment of the climbing experience. The final hours were extremely harsh, leaving a real sense of exhaustion and excitement at the same time, but the reward, combined with the feeling of achievement upon overcoming the mountain, makes every minute of it worth the effort. The game offers a difficult and unique challenge compared to other games, with a wonderful artistic level, becoming a great masterpiece and one of the most prominent surprises of this year.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Cairn is a tense journey to the summit that, depending on the chosen difficulty, can become either an enthralling experience or the Dark Souls of climbing games. In any case, you will be struck by its bright and slightly melancholic finale.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“But for over a dozen hours, Aava’s task and the player’s pleasure is to let the world below fall away, keep the conversation civil between her and the mountain itself. And whenever there’s an adrenaline rush, you know you’re doing it wrong.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“In a way, this indie survival-adventure rock-climbing sim is a reminder of an era of games that posed themselves as problems and tasked you to find the solutions on your own. No guides or hints or markers. No button input that lights up the environment, pointing a finger at what you must do next. Cairn instead trusts you to find your way around. And when you do, you feel on top of the world.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Cairn is a brutally demanding yet strangely soothing climbing experience that turns every movement into a meaningful decision. Its unique limb-based controls and meditative pacing create a powerful sense of immersion, even as its punishing difficulty and sparse checkpoints test your patience. If you're willing to endure the struggle, the mountain offers one of the most memorable journeys in recent indie games.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Cairn is a demanding, satisfying survival-climbing journey with discoveries galore awaiting intrepid explorers.”
read full review ↗ - 92
“Cairn is an ambitious, systems-driven game that turns climbing into something methodical, tense, and deeply satisfying. Its technical shortcomings and slow pacing won’t work for everyone, but for players willing to embrace its deliberate design and occasional frustration, it delivers a uniquely rewarding experience that lingers long after the summit is reached.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Cairn is a climbing and survival game that examines the limits of your patience and tests your perseverance. Supported by a phenomenal soundtrack and great acting performances, it presents an exploration of the main character Aava’s will and purpose. In doing so, it holds a mirror to the players, asking a lot of us as well. What is to be gained from climbing the mountain? Why do we do it? What do we leave behind when we face our fears? You’ll only ever know if you dare to try.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Cairn is a truly unique game with two protagonists: Aava and Mount Kami, each with a richly layered backstory waiting to be explored. The climbing is as fun as it is tense, and when you add the satisfaction of its impeccable visual and sound design, the result is a polished, well-rounded experience that fully deserves to be played. Cairn may not be for everyone, but as someone who has never been into mountain climbing, I had a great time with it. Exploring Mount Kami was a genuine pleasure, a mountain that pushes you to your limits and brings out Aava’s true nature as its co-protagonist.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Once acclimated to the core mechanics, climbs become a series of puzzles to solve, rather than tests of might. Some sections are challenging enough to mirror Aava’s frustrations, with me cussing and shouting whenever a foot placement didn’t register properly and made me fall to the previous piston, if I had been smart enough to put one, that is. Despite the monotony, however, I remained determined to see it through. The problem is that the foundation on which Cairn bases these hardships lacks not only a stronger stability, but purpose, as well.”
read full review ↗
ZdobywcyGier.eu
Eternal Games
GameMAG
Slant Magazine
Gadgets 360
PLAY Zine
Seasoned Gaming
Mashable
EvelonGames
The A.V. Club…and 103 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- An update about On the Trail's release dateJul 21, 2026
- Cairn update - Wear your very own ascent!May 19, 2026
- Quality of Life Update!Mar 24, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Patch version 1.0.320: more bug fixesFeb 19, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.0.308Feb 4, 2026
- Patch 1.0.303: FPS and minor bugs fixJan 30, 2026
- Ghosts Have Left KamiOct 31, 2025
- The Ghosts update is ending soon!Oct 28, 2025
- Demo Ghost Update - coming October 13Oct 2, 2025
- Cairn now Q1 2026 and Demo Ghost UpdateSep 30, 2025
- Patch notes - Cairn demoJul 22, 2025
- Patch notes - Cairn demo - 0.2.13_723Feb 25, 2025
- Patch notes - Cairn Demo - 0.1.262s_587Dec 10, 2024significant · resets scoring window