Rock climbing, more than many other hobbies or sports, relies on the strength of one’s faith, whether in yourself and your ability to endure the hardship of the climb, or in the rock and its capacity to bear your weight as you struggle to reach the summit, where you can, at last, stand in triumph. No work of art, and particularly no video game, I have encountered has ever quite captured the deep connection between faith and climbing quite like Cairn, the most recent title from The Game Bakers. In the game, the enigmatic protagonist Aava undertakes the perilous voyage of a lifetime to conquer the near-mythical Mount Kami, a yet-untouched peak that profoundly tests her resolve, echoing the experience of the Christian faith journey.

The player controls Aava using a very slow, but highly realistic, limb-by-limb climbing system that forces them to think long and hard about the consequences of every decision they make. Players are also required to negotiate and master survival mechanics, preventing Aava from suffering starvation, dehydration or fatal cold exposure. The result is an edgy, immersive experience in which players must display patience, intelligence and resilience, approaching every choice with the vigilance and care necessary for survival in real-life mountain climbing and, as it happens, in the Christian faith journey.

Therefore, in Cairn, climbing does not just represent an imagined physical challenge but also serves as a powerful metaphor for the life of a Christian, reminding players of the virtues needed to spiritually mature, even when the summit is not in sight.

In Cairn, climbing Mount Kami, much like authentic spiritual growth, cannot be accomplished simply by travelling from point A to point B. The player does not receive direct guidance on how to reach the mountain peak but is given the autonomy, or perhaps the burden, of prudently choosing their own route, taking into account variables such as Aava’s current stamina, hunger or thirst and the state of the weather on the ascent. Because no map markers are included, players must carefully inspect the rock face to decide the best placement for each hand and foot, keeping in mind how gravity and fatigue might affect the climb. Although they are free to choose any route up the mountain, based on their planning and climbing ability, that route is not guaranteed to reach the summit.

This gameplay might be interpreted as mirroring the Christian understanding of spiritual development, since, like the difficulty involved in reaching the summit of Mount Kami, there are no shortcuts to holiness. Just as Aava must make conscious, intentional movements toward the rocks she needs to hold onto, Christians pursuing personal growth are compelled to intentionally deepen their connection with God through small, daily acts of obedience, discipline and prayer.

And just as Aava cannot skip any part of the climb to the summit, we cannot avoid the “hard parts” of being a Christian—enduring trials or wrestling with doubt—if we are striving for spiritual maturity.

As James 1.4 reads, believers must “let perseverance finish its work so that [we] may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (New International Version).

Mount Kami, and the gameplay loop the players must engage in, is unforgiving. Players will often fall. I fell 98 times before even reaching a third of the way up Mount Kami, which hurt more than just Aava’s ego. A single misjudged move or bodily injury can have serious results, from major delays in progress to a fatal injury. These frightening falls remind players that, in both climbing and faith, progress is born of perseverance and endurance, not evasion, procrastination or shortcuts. Many biblical passages highlight the need for perseverance when we are in the face of adversity. As Paul writes, there is even “glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Rom. 5.3-4). 

Although Aava is fixated solely on the climb, she, like Christians, cannot triumph in her quest if she fails to address her other needs. She will not survive through expert climbing techniques and having a drive to succeed if she does not pay attention to her bodily needs for food, water, shelter and treatments of injury. She must also have the right climbing gear. Without carefully managing these needs and tools, the climb becomes nearly impossible. For Christians, religious resources are just as vital to satisfying our spiritual needs. Tools like prayer, Scripture, fellowship, rest and collective worship are the pitons and chalk of the Christian soul. Neglect any of these, and a believer’s spiritual stamina can falter, leading one to fall into doubt, temptation or despair. In Ephesians 6.18 and 5.18, for example, Paul encourages believers to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions” and to “be filled with the Spirit.” Ultimately, in the same way pitons secure Aava, prayer steadies Christians, and just as chalk reinforces her grip, Scripture strengthens them.

Though Cairn places players largely in solitude, Aava happens upon remnants of past expeditions, abandoned towns and stories of others who attempted to conquer the mountain, reminding her that no journey occurs in a vacuum. Even as she spends the first two-thirds of the story trying to escape human interaction, she eventually realizes that isolation, especially from loved ones, slows her progress, increases risk, causes emotional distress and deprives her of helpful advice. Aava’s experience with isolation parallels the Christian experience in some ways: those who isolate themselves from their community often miss the encouragement and guidance that helped them sustain and develop their faith. In this way, Cairn effectively underscores the harsh cost of isolation, as Aava’s internal journey becomes increasingly challenging without relational support, including that of the other climbers, shepherds, miners and even the radio that connects her with friends and family.

Fortunately, for Christians journeying up the mountain, even when we cannot access Christian fellowship, we are never alone, as God dwells within us and “we are surrounded by … a great cloud of witnesses” (Heb. 12.1). Therefore, we are spared from the true depths of harm that isolation can do to a human spirit, for as we read in Hebrews 13.5, God will “never leave you” nor “forsake you.” Moreover, reading the stories of notable Christians like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, or recalling the testimonies of friends and family, can provide a believer with wisdom and companionship in a time of need. In Cairn, the lingering presence of others on Mount Kami subtly reminds us that our journeys are shaped by shared struggle, memory and legacy, just as Christian lives are interwoven across generations.

When I reached the summit of Cairn after nearly 19 hours of stressful, punishing gameplay, the profoundness of the journey hit me with incredible intensity. Looking down upon all that I had conquered was exhilarating, but the moment also inspired deep introspection, as I immediately began reflecting on the challenges I had overcome and all I had done to surmount them. From a spiritual perspective, this summit seems to represent a sacred space, where Christians who have completed part of their spiritual journey can pause to give thanks to God, recognize their growth and find renewed strength and insight. The summit of Mount Kami, in this way, embodies the spiritual truth of 2 Timothy 4.7–8, where it is written that one has “fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith,” reminding us that a “crown of righteousness” is in store for those who persevere through hardships.
Ultimately, Cairn is not just another climbing simulator on Steam or Meta Quest. In my experience, it is not only a challenging and enjoyable game but also a way to contemplate the value of effort and endurance and to celebrate the flourishing of the human spirit. By controlling Aava’s slow, painful and deliberate ascent up Mount Kami, players have a vivid and authentic experience of what it takes to strive toward a goal that demands all their effort, a concept that resonates deeply with Christians. In both Cairn and the Christian walk, the ascent shapes us as much as the summit itself.