PS5 Console Exclusive Is 2026's Highest Rated Game So Far
Topics: Indie Games, PlayStation, PlayStation 5, Sony
Featured Image Credit: The Game Bakers
Topics: Indie Games, PlayStation, PlayStation 5, Sony
We’re one month into 2026, and the highest rated game of the year so far is also a PS5 console exclusive that launched last week.
2026 is set to launch the likes of Fable, Marvel’s Wolverine, and of course, GTA VI.
And while those games may all cause a major stir when they release later this year, the highest-rated game of the year is already proving itself to be quite popular.
Cairn, developed by The Game Bakers, is currently the highest-rated game of the year so far, tied with The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon at 84 on Metacritic.
Well, technically Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven is higher at 86, but that’s a DLC so we’re not counting it. But it's still a class update.
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If you don’t know what Cairn is, it’s a rock climbing game where you play as Aava, a professional mountaineer who aspires to be the first person to reach the summit of Mount Kami.
The game has a realistic physics system where you control each of Aava’s individual limbs as she scales the mountain, having to account for balance, weight distribution, and other variables which will allow her to continue climbing.
In addition to that, you have a survival system where you need to keep Aava fed and warm, and there are also numerous quests and hidden discoveries for you to make.
Having played and reviewed Cairn myself, I’d actually call it one of the best video games I’ve ever played, and wrote that “the game’s reactive climbing mechanics, the tough-but-fair difficulty, and its entire presentation is simply gorgeous.”
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On Metacritic, Cairn has a score of 84 for the PC version, and 82 for the PS5 version, with many critics praising the climbing, art style, and story. I’d say it’s well worth your time, especially for the price of $29.99.
The game has a playtime of around 15-20 hours for the first playthrough, but I enjoyed it enough that I immediately went in for a second run.
The Game Bakers will also be adding free content to the game in the future, including a free climb mode for players to climb without repeating the story.
It’s a shame the game isn’t available on Xbox or Switch 2, but here’s hoping The Game Bakers decides to prioritise those versions now that the game is out on PC and PS5.