French development studio The Game Bakers, known for trendy hits like Haven and Furi, is further expanding its platform portfolio with ambitious indie game Cairn. The real-life survival climbing adventure game will also be available on Nintendo Switch 2 in early 2027, as officially confirmed by the developer. This means Nintendo’s next generation of hardware joins its already established PC and console distribution platforms. To give those interested an early taste of the fun challenges of rugged Mount Kami, the team is offering a free trial on the digital store today.
In Cairn, players take on the role of Aava, a professional mountaineer who embarks on the life-threatening goal of climbing an unconquered mountain. Unlike representatives of the genre with automatic climbing mechanics, the game Baker relies on simulation-like controls, in which each hand and foot hold point must be set manually. Rigorous physics are complemented by a clear element of survival: players must carefully plan their route, keep an eye on stamina, ropes and hooks, and balance foraging and weather changes before risking a fatal fall.
The release of the Switch 2 version underscores the studio’s commitment to bringing highly tactile gaming to Nintendo’s mobile platforms. According to the developer community, the new handheld version will specifically take advantage of the hardware’s expanded capabilities and more precise input options to more clearly communicate the feel of grip and the risk of slipping on rocky surfaces.
The demo released today allows players on existing platforms to try out basic movement mechanics and take to the rocky slopes of Mount Kailash for themselves.
With a target release date of the first few months of 2027, developers have enough time to seamlessly adapt the complex entity calculations and stylized comic book appearance to the Nintendo Switch 2 system architecture. The plan joins a string of high-profile indie projects aiming to make Nintendo’s successor platform a home for complex gaming concepts.
