When Cairn released at the beginning of 2026, it was a game I didn’t have on my radar at all. I knew nothing about it, had seen no footage, and somehow ended up watching a stream on launch day. Five minutes later, I had to stop watching—because I felt an extreme urge to play it myself.

Seeing the protagonist, Aava, climbing a mountain in a distinct art style heavily inspired by graphic novels and animated films moved something in me I can’t pinpoint to this day. At that time, I hadn’t bouldered in around eight years. I was never particularly drawn to that graphical style, and certainly not to climbing in video games. But the mountain called to me, and that same day, I began my ascent up Mount Kami.

That was the start of my deep love for Cairn. I am not exaggerating when I say that Cairn genuinely changed parts of my life and how I approach certain situations. It inspired me to learn video editing and start making content, led me to interview the game’s developers, and pushed me to pick up bouldering again. Cairn had a massive influence on me, and after 36 years of playing video games, I can confidently say it is one of the best and most unique experiences I have ever had in a game. For the last two hours of my initial playthrough, I was holding back tears. The way the game prepared me for that emotional impact was nothing short of incredible.

A Generous Gift to the Community

Now, as we near the end of the year, Montpellier-based developers The Game Bakers have released On the Trail: Deep Water—the first in a planned series of DLCs for the game. And remarkably, it is completely free if you already own Cairn.

Cairn has been a massive success for the studio, selling over half a million copies within roughly two months of launch. A lot of players would have happily paid for extra content, yet the developers chose to give this update away for free. That alone is an exceptional, refreshing move in today’s gaming industry.

Having received an early review code for the DLC, I naturally couldn’t wait to dive in (no pun intended). After experiencing most of what it has to offer, On the Trail: Deep Water stands as a wonderful addition to the base game that introduces fresh mechanics and new ways to play, departing significantly from the lonely struggle of Mount Kami.

Free Soloing With the Ocean as Your Crash Pad

Most importantly, you explore and climb in a completely new region with a very different climate. While Mount Kami battered you with rain, biting winds, and severe snowstorms, the two new climbing locations—Haken and Ruka—offer a much more welcoming, warm atmosphere across two massive, peculiar rock cliffs.

Ruka is clearly inspired by the real-world location of Es Pontàs in Mallorca, Spain—famous in the global climbing community for its breathtaking 20-meter limestone arch on the coastline. Born as a deep water solo location in the 1970s, deep water soloing (or psicobloc) is often considered the purest form of climbing: your only protection is the ocean below you.

This is where On the Trail: Deep Water shifts the original formula. Unlike Mount Kami, where an unprotected fall meant sudden death, Haken and Ruka are almost entirely surrounded by water.

In terms of technical difficulty and route-finding, this almost feels like a step above most challenges on Mount Kami. There is a huge variety of routes to combine and connect, many of them incredibly technical, including several intense roof and overhang sections above the water. Combined with changing weather and times of day, some of the stunning vistas will warm your heart and make you want to book a summer holiday immediately.

While neither location rivals the sheer vertical scale of Mount Kami, they offer a delightful change of scenery and a massive selection of new routes for the passionate community to discover.

New Gym & New Systems

Before hitting the cliffs, you are welcomed into the regional climbing gym—a massive step up from the small facility in the base game. The new Lamu climbing gym features far more boulder problems to solve and serves as a fantastic playground to practice technique before heading outside. I spent hours here trying to figure out beta for the new problems.

Survival mechanics have also received a complete overhaul. The original hunger and thirst meters have been scrapped in favor of a new Energy System, which fits these shorter and crispier challenges far better.

If you run out of energy, your day is over, and you must start a new run. Energy can be replenished using items (including several new additions) and by climbing smart—knowing exactly when and where to shake out and rest. It’s a clean, straightforward approach to the specific problems you face. You also pack your bag before heading out into the region; if you aren’t happy with your loadout mid-climb, you have to restart. This structure makes short play sessions far more viable when free time is tight.

Story, Lore, and Technical Rough Edges

As teased in previews, Marco is now playable alongside Aava (and is also unlocked for Mount Kami after beating the base game). Story-wise, this chapter takes place before Aava’s ascent on Mount Kami, allowing you to follow in the footsteps of a legendary climber. I won’t spoil details for those who want to experience it blindly, but discovery remains integral to the experience: exploration rewards you with items, documents, and bits of lore told in classic Cairn fashion.

It is worth noting that my early experience wasn’t 100% smooth. I encountered occasional physics bugs where Aava or Marco’s limbs would stretch unnaturally, as well as moments where the game failed to register clear, visible holds on the rock face.

Additionally, the weather cycled between bright sunshine and heavy rain every couple of minutes, which felt a bit too frequent for my taste and disrupted the plans far too often. However, these technical hiccups and hold-detection issues are typical for pre-launch builds and will likely be addressed in upcoming patches. Crucially, none of them ruined my enjoyment of the experience.

Recent years in the gaming industry have been tumultuous, to say the least. Studios are closing left and right, and people are losing their jobs. At the same time, masterpieces are released almost on a daily basis. 2026 has certainly been one of the most memorable years in recent history, and it’s almost impossible to keep up and play all the great games out there. And despite this year being extraordinary in terms of quality releases, Cairn still manages to shine and, in my opinion, positions itself as a true highlight.

The people at The Game Bakers are a passionate bunch—you can feel that through every minute of gameplay in Cairn. And we, as gamers and lovers of this art, should never forget to support and show appreciation for the indie studios out there who are just doing their thing and bringing us exceptional titles.

Final Verdict

At last, On the Trail: Deep Water is a beautiful, solid expansion to an already fantastic title—and it costs absolutely nothing if you own the game. It delivers more of what made Cairn special while introducing refreshing new mechanics, stunning scenery, and endless opportunities to test your skills and curiosity.

More Cairn. More rocks. More climbing problems. If you loved the base game, jumping back onto the wall is an absolute no-brainer.