Cairn Free DLC On the Trail Adds Marco as Playable Character
The free DLC, delayed to boost quality, gives players a new perspective through Marco's shorter reach, forcing veteran Aava players to rethink their climbing routes.
Reporting from 1 source: 4Gamer.net.
The Game Bakers revealed the first DLC for rock climbing sim Cairn at gamescom 2026. The free expansion, On the Trail, is a prequel set a year before the main story. It adds Marco as a playable character, introduces Deep Water Soloing, and is scheduled for PC and PlayStation 5 release after a slight delay.
At gamescom 2026, community manager Lauranne Cauduro showed a demo of the first DLC for Cairn, the survival climbing sim from The Game Bakers. The free expansion, On the Trail, is a prequel set one year before the main story and follows the training routes left by the Akemi climber Ottmand.
The main draw is Marco, who supported protagonist Aava in the base game, now playable. Marco is very short, with shorter arms and legs, so his reach to cracks and ledges is reduced. Players used to Aava will need to reconsider their routes, though his high arm strength lets him endure shaking longer, giving more time to change direction or apply chalk.
On the Trail also adds Deep Water Soloing, climbing over water rock faces without a rope. Falls mean a plunge into water, removing fatal fall risk and enabling bolder attempts, but backpack capacity shrinks further. The DLC was originally set for August 13 but was delayed for fine adjustments; it is scheduled for PC and PlayStation 5.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.