Cairn creative director explains that the upcoming On the Trail DLC provides 'more variety in the climbing fantasy' I went hands-on to find out more

Date:
Tue, 22 Sep 2026 12:55:00 +0000

Description:
I went hands-on with the Cairn: On the Trail DLC at Gamescom and spoke to its designers about what new and returning players can look forward to in the climbing adventure's new stages.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Playing the upcoming Cairn: On the Trail DLC with one of its creators looking over my shoulder was
incredibly humbling. It had been months since Id completed my gruelling
ascent of Mt. Kami, and my skills were more than a little rusty. When Aava slipped and plummeted into the sea for the fifth time in less than 20
minutes, I was worried theyd lean over, close the laptop, and walk away shaking their head in disgust.

Luckily, I was allowed to play on, and slowly but surely I (quite literally) found my feet, more confidently and successfully finding the handholds and footholds to make progress on one of the three new challenges found in this first piece of free DLC for the excellent climbing adventure. The one I was currently dramatically failing at features a piton-shaped rock in the middle of the ocean. You start on a wooden path surrounding this peculiar natural structure, before falling into a familiar pattern where youre scoping out the potential routes to find a good place to climb it. Its immediately clear, though, that these DLC environments are even more experimental than what we saw in the main game. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: Rising up On the Trail is pretty much built on ideas and desires we had but decided not to put on Kami for the sake of consistency, explains Emeric Thoa, creative director of Cairn .

Because Kami is a very coherent experience, as you climb a single immense mountain, we wanted the On the Trail DLC to explore more variety in the climbing fantasy. You may like Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis seems like the glow-up the gaming icon needed but Ive not seen enough yet Dragon's Dogma 2's expansion is impressive, but I still need to see more My first 90 minutes wandering through Silent Hill: Townfall's 90s Scottish town were atmospheric and aimless (Image credit: The Game Bakers) That breaks down as follows. This first is the level Im playing now, with its tough climb up a unique
structure. Theres also one set in a climbing gym full of more technically demanding challenges and one on a small island featuring various perilous overhangs over the sea.

You can also now play as Marco, who is less flexible than Aava, but he has a longer reach, stronger arms, and a new climbot model. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Whoever you pick, none of the new stages sound very easy, even for veterans who have successfully reached the top of Kami.

Its aimed at people who finished the main game, but its not especially difficult, Thoa assures me. Its not like you must have finished in free solo mode with zero falls playing with a Guitar Hero controller. But I would definitely recommend playing the main game before starting On the Trail .

I would, too, considering I scored it four stars and called it an extremely good and beautifully made climbing game in our Cairn review . What to read next Control Resonant's gameplay designer has me convinced it'll be a big hit 'You come to witness both the light and dark sides of your own reign': we
chat to Team Ninja about Nioh 3: Hell Rising and all the changes it brings to 2026's best soulslike game Director says Afterworld has 'some of the deepest simulation' of any Paradox strategy game Cairn - On the Trail: Deep Water - Launch date - YouTube Watch On And while it was the determination to complete the climb and the satisfaction of achieving it that was a main draw of Cairn
, it was also the atmosphere that was one of its strongest points.

As you ascend, you learn more not only about Aava as a character, but also about the civilization that used to live on the mountain and some of its secrets. These neat asides are a wonderful break from the intensity of the rest of the game.

We definitely tried to keep that exploration and treasure hunt vibe that Kami offers, confirms Thoa. Its a bit different as the climbing spots are smaller. So, for instance, we added an energy mechanic to replace the survival elements.

Instead of risking your life in a huge ascent over several days, you tackle a one-day challenge, and you have to manage your fatigue and resources in order to climb the spot before getting too tired. But thats also where exploring becomes useful, as you can find items to get you back on your feet. (Image credit: The Game Bakers) I found I needed them too, as a useful way to
restock key resources such as chalk and energy to make these tougher climbs more achievable. It still didnt prevent me from repeated failures, but I felt that same rush of stubbornness and perseverance that gripped me in the original game coming back. Its a feeling Thoa wants players to feel when they return to Cairn .

They should first experience the bittersweet nostalgia of coming back to the unique experience of Cairn , and then they should quite soon after find out that its still a game that makes your hands sweat! The thrill should still be there.

I definitely felt it even in the short demo I had. Truth is, Ive been keen to return to the game since the DLC was first announced, and even though a delay has meant Ive had to wait a little longer, The Game Bakers recently confirmed that Cairn: On the Trail - Deep Water will launch on October 29 on PC and
PS5. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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