All Ending Requirements in Cairn

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Cairn provides a compelling experience with both challenging rock climbing and a thought-provoking story. What makes the story particularly interesting is that your choices determine one of two different endings. You’ll decide whether Aava completes her quest or returns home, shaping her fate along the way.

This is a significant moment in the game, and honestly, the ending feels similar to Expedition 33 – it’s not entirely satisfying. The best you can expect is a slightly sad, but meaningful conclusion, or maybe you’ll have a different take on how endings are handled here.

This guide explains how to unlock both endings and the rewards you’ll receive for completing them. We’ll also share some helpful tips to make the game a little easier, though you’ll still need to do the climbing yourself.

How to Get Both Endings?

It’s actually quite simple to get both endings in Cairn. You don’t need to do anything complicated, and you won’t have to replay the game to see them – you can get both endings without starting over.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the story’s events, it’s okay to take a short break. Otherwise, you can immediately replay and make different decisions to experience all the possible outcomes. While replaying isn’t required, it’s a good way to discover anything you might have missed or explore alternative storylines.

Here’s a guide to getting both endings. You can tackle them in any order, but we suggest following the steps as presented. Trying to do them out of order might force you to start over instead of letting you continue from where you left off.

Leaving the Mountain

When Marco asks Aava about her plan, she’ll have two choices. Choose the option to leave the mountain. This will start a short cutscene showing Aava and Marco descending.

Once that scene finishes, a new cutscene shows Aava sitting on her bed, looking a little sad. It’s obvious she doesn’t regret leaving the mountain, but she feels like she quit just before reaching the end.

It’s up to you how this story ends, but either way, you’ll get the “Home” achievement for going back down with Marco. After you do that, you can return to the game selection screen and continue from that point without any issues.

Finish the Climb

Now things get serious, and you’ll face some difficult decisions before reaching the summit. You’ll talk to Damas again, and he’ll present you with a grim choice: shoot down the body of another climber or leave it hanging on the mountain.

That decision mostly comes down to what you prefer. You’ll then return to the extremely cold mountains and start the last leg of your adventure.

You can save your progress near Damas, but be aware that you’ll likely face challenges later on, so it’s best to prepare in advance.

This section of the climb is really frustrating. There’s nothing to collect along the way, so you’ll be completely reliant on your preparation. Make sure you have a few essential items with you, such as:

  • Bottles of Water
  • Herbs
  • Food
  • Finger Tape

Beyond the necessary gear, you won’t need much for this climb. It’s going to be challenging, and you’ll face a tough decision partway up the mountain. Your climbbot will stop working, and you’ll have to choose between leaving it behind or carrying the extra weight yourself.

Letting go is likely the most practical option, though it might feel like abandoning the only support you have left. You can still reach your goal if you continue to carry it, but it will be more difficult.

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After finally reaching the top, there’s only one step left: to touch the stars. This symbolizes the true, irreversible ending. Aava has reached her peak, but she did so by herself. You’ll also unlock the “Part of a Whole” achievement.

This independent game features surprisingly strong writing, though it might feel a bit slow-paced for some players. If you persevere and unlock both endings, the game asks a powerful question: does the ultimate goal justify the struggle to achieve it?

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2026-02-06 02:40