Hello, my name is Emeric Thoa, inventive director at The Game Bakers. I’m joined by artistic director and screenwriter Mathieu Bablet. Today we would like to tell you a little about history Mound and its main character, Aava.
So far, we’ve been focusing on the ultra-realistic climbing simulation of Cairn – a brand modern climbing system that’s straightforward to learn but creates surprising tension as you venture to the walls of Kami, a mountain no one has ever climbed before.
But Cairn is more than just a climbing game. As you climb Kami, you’ll also have to survive in the mountains – finding food, water, and places to rest. It is also a human adventure: the story of a determined alpinist, and perhaps something more – a reflection on alpinism itself, on what prompts people to cross their own limits to climb the mountains.
Cairn tells the story of Aava, an experienced mountaineer who decided to do the impossible: reach Kami Peak alone.
Emeric: How would you describe Aava – her personality, her motivations?
Mathieu: Aava is a climber with a mind of steel, shaped by years of climbing that demanded a lot from her as she continued to break records. She is demanding, a perfectionist and hates failure. And when she overcomes a complex route, when she stops for a moment on a rock shelf with a breathtaking view, she feels free. She climbs for moments like these – this is her main motive.
Emeric: What I love about Aava is her sense of determination – even though it makes her a little tough sometimes. Was it intended to make her a bit lonely?
Mathieu: After watching many documentaries about climbers and alpinists, one clear pattern emerged: this discipline, while liberating, involves certain sacrifices and compromises. You have to toughen your body, toughen your mind, and sometimes put your emotions aside. Such individual feats often leave marks on the people around these athletes.
Emeric: That said, not all climbers are the same. In Cairn, Ava crosses paths with a certain Marco – who is he?
Mathieu: Marco is also a climber, younger than Aav. In fact, she’s kind of like Aava before she became the accomplished climber she is in the game. He is carefree, someone who climbs purely for pleasure, not for the pride of reaching the peak. Thanks to it, Aava rediscovers a bit of the straightforward pleasure of climbing.
Emeric: And are there other characters and encounters that Aava will encounter on her climb?
Mathieu: Cairn is a true adventure game with an emotional and meaningful story. Even though this is a solo climb, Aava will meet people on the mountain and reveal more of her personal story. This happens through exchanges with those she left behind – Naomi, who checks on her regularly, and her agent Chris, who constantly chases her! But also by meeting other climbers in the mountains – those who live like Marco, and those who never managed to get back down. There is also the troglodyte civilization, or rather what is left of it – incredible climbers and rock carvers who lived in isolation high in the mountains. Cairn is the story of Aava and her passion for the mountains, told through these encounters and places to discover – showing what drives people to push their limits and reach modern heights.
Emeric: We could have only made Cairn a climbing simulation, but it was vital for the entire Game Bakers team to go further – to tell a story that moves us. Mathieu, what do you think is the most vital part of this story?
Mathieu: For me, Cairn is about Aava’s obsession – the kind of constant desire that keeps her from thinking about anything other than climbing Kami. I want players to experience this sense of determination throughout the game, with all the consequences that come with pursuing the absolute.
Emeryk: It also made me want to make a game like Cairn. I was fascinated by this very material sense of determination that can be found in mountain climbing stories (like Taniguchi’s manga The Summit of the Gods). I started to wonder – what would I be willing to give everything for? What’s my peak? And what is yours?
Get ready for a climbing thrill Mound coming to PS5 on January 29!
