I just finished reading Lost Man’s Lane by Scott Carson. That’s not the topic of today’s post but it’s a good book. You should read it. It’s got a ghost-snake. It’s also got some awesome rock climbing scenes. Upon finishing it, I wondered if there were any rock climbing games out there. This is the way my mind works.

I immediately thought of Jusant a game about climbing a tower which was a part of October 2024’s Humble Choice. I also came across the Cairn demo a few weeks back which looked interesting enough to download but not immediately play. Both seemed to be what I was looking for.

I tried the Cairn demo first, because it was shorter and it was already installed. It bills itself as a survival-climber which it is to a tee. You climb, and you have some meters you need to keep full to continue to climb. The demo focuses a lot more attention on the climbing bit which is exactly what I was looking for. You control Aava by taking control of one limb at a time, finding hand and foot holds to climb the cliff side. It’s slow, it’s methodical, and it is way more satisfying than it should be to reach the next flat area to rest. I felt like I had climbed some rocks and needed a breather, which of course, is absurd. I think this effect is achieved by a mix of micro decisions on the best placement of each arm and leg coupled with no background background music and Aava’s heavy breathing. The focus is on climbing so the survival elements are rather simplified. One odd thing I encountered is health and stamina are shared on one bar. I had to go digging around in the Steam discussions to find out why I was losing health while running. Overall, it is exactly the kind of experience I was looking for but it was short. It took me just under 45 minutes to complete my first climb. I am looking forward to the full release, which is slated for sometime this year. I hope sooner rather than later.

Then there’s Jusant which is another game about climbing but with a focus on storytelling and puzzle solving. You control each of your arms while climbing, which did give me a sense that I was, in fact, climbing something. But not quite in the same way as Cairn The climbing paths are per-defined and while there is some freedom in the ways you can tackle a situation, it’s still mostly a linear game. There are collectibles to find and letters to read. Even some cairns to place a stone on top (see what I did there?). So there are reasons to go off the beaten path, but it doesn’t quite have enough freedom. I am constantly seeing things in the distance that I want to be able to get to and the game won’t let me. Even when it does, there isn’t anything there. The game could do with just a little bit more exploration.

The story revolves around the cliff/tower the main character is climbing and is told through these letters. The ocean has receded leaving only a desert behind. The remaining people who inhabited the tower have gone on an expedition to the top to find water in the clouds. As you explore, you’re going through a ghost town, but one that looks recently abandoned. It’s got a cozy, post-apocalyptic vibe, if you can even have such a thing.

While Jusant has weaker climbing mechanics than Cairn, it’s a full game and I will continue to play it. It’s not very long, 5 hours or so, and I think I’ll see it through to the end.