Cairn is finally out, and if you’re jumping in, the first thing you’ll need to get comfortable with is climbing. The Game Bakers’ latest release is a realistic climbing adventure in which you play as Aava, a seasoned mountaineer attempting to become the first person to reach the summit of Mount Kami. The game has you scaling rock faces for most of the game, so knowing how climbing works in Cairn can help you plan routes, make better use of Aava’s strength, and avoid rookie mistakes that can quickly send you back down. So, to get started, here’s how to climb in Cairn.
Cairn: How to Climb
Cairn features a realistic, simulation-style climbing system, so you need to keep an eye on hand and foot placement, balance, and how far Aava can safely reach. To climb in Cairn, simply approach a rock face and press X on Xbox, Square on PlayStation, or left-click on PC. Aava will grab the wall, and the game will automatically select one of her limbs.
You can then use the left stick or WASD keys to drag that hand or foot toward a ledge, crack, or other non-flat surface, and press the same button again (X on Xbox, Square on PlayStation, or left-click on PC) to place it. Then, repeat the process with each limb to move higher.
Cairn uses a tight third-person camera, so finding the right way up often takes a bit of looking around. You can press LB on Xbox, L1 on PlayStation, or Tab on PC to bring up the camera and get a wider view of the cliff before you start moving again.
If a placement doesn’t feel right or if Aava places her hand flat against the wall instead of grabbing a hold properly, you can undo the last move by hitting B on Xbox, Circle on PlayStation, or right-click on PC. While the game usually picks which limb to move next, you can manually select a specific hand or foot by pressing RB on Xbox, R1 on PlayStation, or Space on PC.
Moreover, like real climbing, Aava is far stronger and more stable when she’s pushing upward with her feet rather than pulling herself up with her arms. So, you’ll often find it easier to place her feet on solid footholds and press upward rather than hang from her hands.
And that does it for our how to climb in Cairn guide. For more gaming news and guides, be sure to check out our gaming page!
