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Cairn: Interactive Fiction

Cairn: Interactive Fiction

Classic Adventures, Mapped

10 ratings
8 reviews
🎮 Games
⚔️ Adventure
$19.99

Details

Released
June 15, 2026
Updated
November 3, 2026

Features

Developer

Daniel Ducat
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About

This app serves as a player for classic text adventures, allowing you to bring your own story files. It automatically generates visual maps as you explore, offers a built-in notebook for notes, and supports attached reference materials like PDFs and images.

✓Automatic live mapping
✓Session notebook saved with games
✓Support for Z-machine story files
✓Attached PDF and image materials
✓InvisiClues hint browsing
✓Customizable themes
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What's New in Cairn

3.5.1

November 3, 2026

- A more accurate map and inventory bar. - Rooms that share a name now each get their own place on the map. - Typing several moves at once maps every room you pass through. - When a game moves you itself, the map follows without drawing a false path. - The inventory bar now matches what a few more games list. - Full-screen pages that were cut off on iPhone now fit. - Plus other fixes for maps, undo, and games built with the latest Inform 6 library.

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User reviews

Most RecentHighest RatedLowest Rated

Fantastic

As a lo mg time fan of Zork, this is a fantastic new way to enjoy classic text adventures on the go. The interface is wonderfully fluid and intuitive.
TThanatogenos

Accept no substitute.

The absolute best at what it does.
HBHenry Breen

Wonderful interpreter

Loads of polish and fun in this application. And with one purchase it’s on all supported devices. Hands down one of the best interpreters, library, and notes feature I’ve seen for interactive fiction.
Ffeveredmonk

Amazing

This app is great. The auto mapping feature is super helpful!
HHejgjrbdb

Response from developer

Glad you are enjoying Cairn! Keep an eye out for updates. We've got some mapping improvements planned in the coming months. Thanks for your support!

Well worth the price!

You would once upon a time pay $20 for a collection of Infocom games on CD-ROM. Today that gets you an app on which you can play not only the majority of Infocom’s catalog, but untold numbers of other interactive fiction games. The integration of mapping and hints is seamless, and the UX is excellent. Controls are intuitive and everything is highly customizable. A must-have app for any fan of text adventures, classic and/or contemporary.
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TTheZenMonkey

Response from developer

Thanks for the review! IFDB is a great place to look for 3rd party stories. There is a robust community who are keeping interactive fiction alive.

See 3 more reviews

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FAQ

Does Cairn include any games?

No, Cairn is a player for classic text adventures and does not include any games. You must provide your own story files, which can be found on the Interactive Fiction Database and other community archives.

What platforms is Cairn available on?

Cairn is available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. A single purchase unlocks the app across all supported Apple devices, with your progress syncing via iCloud.

How does Cairn handle maps?

Cairn automatically builds a visual map of the game world as you explore. This live map is flexible, with rooms taking custom shapes, and can be hidden or restored as needed.

Can I attach my own documents to games in Cairn?

Yes, you can attach your own PDFs and images to each story, such as manuals or feelies. PDFs support page navigation, various layouts, and zoom controls, while images can also be zoomed and scrolled.

Does Cairn support hint files?

Cairn supports user-supplied InvisiClues hint files in a compatible JSON format. Hints appear in their own tab, grouped into booklet-style sections, revealing one clue at a time.

What story file formats does Cairn support?

Cairn supports Infocom Z3, Z4, and Z5 story files, as well as Z-machine versions 7 and 8. This includes classics like Zork and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and modern Inform 6/7 fiction.

How often is Cairn updated?

The latest version is 3.5.1, and it was last updated on November 3, 2026. This indicates a relatively active development cycle for the application.

What is the price of Cairn?

Cairn is a paid application priced at $19.99. This one-time purchase grants access to the app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.