Image credit: The Game Bakers

The indie climbing sim Cairn has just passed 500,000 demo downloads — and a post from the team behind Peak likely played a role in that.

When One Indie Props Up Another

It started with a clip shared on X. The Game Bakers, developers of Cairn, posted a short video showing Peak’s plush toy Bing Bong added into their game. In Peak, players carry Bing Bong through the game to earn an achievement, similar to the gnome challenge from Half-Life 2: Episode Two.

Landfall Games, co-developer of Peak, responded by resharing the video with the caption: “Cairn might be peak.”

The next day, The Game Bakers announced the download milestone. While Cairn stands on its own as a well-made game, the attention it received through Peak clearly helped more players discover it.

https://twitter.com/TheGameBakers/status/1938628396113674420

How Cairn’s Climbing Differs from Peak

The two games are built around climbing, but play very differently. Cairn, from the creators of Furi and Haven, is a single-player experience with a slower pace. Players move each limb manually, setting precise hand and foot placements. There’s also fatigue, gear, and weight to manage.

The game follows a professional climber named Aava, aiming to reach the top of Mount Kami — a peak no one has climbed before. The mountain is open to explore, and players need to plan their routes carefully. Each section of the climb can feel like a mini challenge. The difficulty is adjustable, and the game includes sound work by people behind Limbo, INSIDE, Control, and COCOON.

: Cairn - Release Date and Demo | PS5 Games

Art and story are handled by comic artist Mathieu Bablet. The demo currently has a 99% positive rating on Steam, based on 5,900 reviews, and the game is 72nd on the wishlist chart. Jake Tucker from PC Gamer said it might be the best climbing game he’s played.

Peak, released on June 16, 2025, is built around co-op and comedy. Players control lost nature scouts helping each other up a dangerous mountain. The game is fast, chaotic, and meant to be played with friends. Ropes, spikes, injuries, and limited supplies all come into play.

The map resets every 24 hours, with four biomes and new challenges each day. The idea for the game came from a conversation in a hot tub and was developed during a four-week game jam in Korea. The team worked out of an Airbnb in Hongdae. Peak sold 1 million copies in its first week, and 2 million after nine days. The success has already had an impact on Landfall, encouraging a move toward smaller, focused projects. On Steam, Peak has a 93% positive rating from over 24,000 reviews and costs eight dollars.

Indie Devs Helping Each Other Win

The connection between the two games shows how smaller studios can boost each other simply by staying visible and being supportive. Cairn’s demo is still available on Steam, and the full release is set for November 5, 2025. With both games doing well, interest in climbing sims is clearly growing.