On the 30th, a newcomer unseated industry titans like ARC Raiders and Dead by Daylight to claim the number one spot on Steam's global charts. Meet Cairn, a title that has piqued interest with its gritty take on rock climbing and survival mechanics.

The title refers to those stone stacks used as trail markers by mountaineers. True to its name, this survival climbing game puts you in the shoes of Ava, a pro climber attempting to summit Mount Kami, a peak that has thwarted all previous attempts. Far from a simple platformer, it leans heavily into simulation, capturing the psychological toll and physical desperation of extreme high-altitude traversal.

What sets this apart is the uncompromising control scheme and survival loop. Forget one-button climbing; here, you must manage your hands and feet independently, carefully shifting your centre of gravity. You have to read the rock face to plot an efficient route while juggling stamina, hunger, and body temperature. While you can strategically deploy pitons and chalk, there is also an assist mode for those who find the mountain a bit too unforgiving.

As of its launch on the 30th, Cairn holds a 'Very Positive' rating on Steam (93% positive from 818 reviews). Having built a solid reputation during the Next Fest demo phase, the full release seems to be delivering on its promises. While titles like Jusant or Peak have tested these waters, players seem smitten with the deeper, more realistic mechanics here. The consensus suggests that between the tactile controls, survival depth, and the immersive soundscape—right down to the heavy breathing and howling winds—it is quite the experience.

Elsewhere on the charts, Fallout 76 and Fallout 4 climbed to 7th and 9th place, respectively. This bump is likely attributed to ongoing sales and the buzz surrounding the first season of the Fallout series, which is currently streaming for free on YouTube via Amazon Prime.

In the Concurrent Players rankings, Deadlock reached 100,558, showing a steady upward trend as the weekend approaches. This is the second-highest tally since its closed beta began, suggesting that every new hero drop keeps the momentum alive. Meanwhile, Dead by Daylight couldn't sustain its DLC-driven surge, dipping to around 74,000 players. We shall see if the free-to-play event running until the 3rd can provide a much-needed lifeline.