Cairn: On the Trail — Deep Water DLC arrives October 29 with three new climbs and a second playable character

TechRadar's James Pickard went hands-on with an early version of the DLC. The new stages comprise a piton-shaped rock in the middle of the ocean, where the player starts on a wooden path circling the structure before scouting a route upward; a climbing gym built around technically demanding problems; and a small island whose route passes over several perilous overhangs above the sea. Pickard wrote that the DLC environments are more experimental than those in the main game, and that the stages are aimed at players who have already completed it.

Emeric Thoa, creative director of Cairn, said the expansion draws on ideas the team set aside while making the main game. "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," he told TechRadar. "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."

Players can also tackle the new stages as Marco, who is less flexible than Aava but has a longer reach, stronger arms and a new climbot model. Thoa said the difficulty is pitched at people who finished the main game without being punishing. "It's aimed at people who finished the main game, but it's not especially difficult," he said. "It's 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." TechRadar gave Cairn four stars and called it "an extremely good and beautifully made climbing game."

Because the new climbing spots are smaller than Kami, the studio replaced the main game's survival elements with an energy mechanic. "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 that's also where exploring becomes useful, as you can find items to get you back on your feet," Thoa said. During the hands-on session, restocking chalk and energy proved a practical way to make the tougher routes achievable.

Thoa said the team tried to preserve the sense of discovery that ran through the main game, in which ascending the mountain reveals details about Aava and about the civilization that once lived there. "We definitely tried to keep that exploration and treasure hunt vibe that Kami offers," he said. He added that returning players should feel two things in quick succession. "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 it's still a game that makes your hands sweat! The thrill should still be there."

The launch follows a delay that pushed the release later than originally planned. Cairn: On the Trail — Deep Water is the first free instalment of the On the Trail expansion and will be available on PC and PlayStation 5 on October 29.