Cairn has crossed 200,000 copies sold since launch, marking a strong commercial performance for developer The Game Bakers. The indie climbing simulator joins the studio’s previous titles Furi and Haven in finding commercial success despite targeting a niche audience.
The sales milestone matters for indie studios because hitting 200,000 units typically signals a project has recouped development costs and can fund future work. For a climbing simulation game—a genre that rarely gets the spotlight—these numbers suggest players are hungry for more focused, skill-based experiences.
Cairn sets itself apart by treating climbing as a full simulation rather than simple traversal. Players manage individual limbs, balance their center of mass, and deal with real consequences for poor positioning. The game throws in survival mechanics including hydration, nutrition, stamina management, and grip strength that degrades over time.
The physics system means you can fall even from seemingly safe holds if your body positioning is wrong. Players also deal with limb damage that affects performance, thermal resistance management, and a piton system that creates genuine risk of losing progress. Between climbs, you manage inventory, cook meals for buffs, and bandage fingers to improve grip.
Players have been comparing Cairn to Jusant, another recent climbing game. The consensus frames Jusant as more linear and story-driven with simpler climbing mechanics, while Cairn leans hard into route planning and physics awareness. One player put it simply: “If we would relate them to racing games Jusant would be Mario Kart while Cairn is Assetto Corsa.”
The game runs about 10–15 hours for a typical playthrough, though some players want more content. A “Free Solo” mode adds extra challenge for players willing to risk everything without safety equipment.
Not everything has been smooth. Some PS5 players report significant performance problems on base consoles, with complaints severe enough that certain players won’t recommend the game on that platform yet. The issues may be AMD-related, as PC players on Nvidia hardware report strong performance. The community has shared workarounds including forcing DirectX 12 on Windows or Vulkan on Linux and Steam Deck.
