Routine [REVIEW] – Retro-Future Dread on the Moon

First shown to the world back in 2012, Routine has gone through some development turmoil, with it completely disappearing and being rebuilt from the ground up before finally releasing thirteen-years on. And thankfully, the result isn’t a complete mess like some titles that have gone through development hell turn out, but an enjoyable sci-fi horror experience that feels like it knows EXACTLY what it wants to accomplish, even if it can occasionally stumble over some of its own ideas at times.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Routine sees you waking up alone on a lunar base and, as is tradition for this sort of sci-fi horror game, absolutely nothing is fine. The inhabitants of the base have vanished, something vicious has swept through the facility, and the machines built to help have clearly chosen a new mission statement… yeah, sounds about right, really. There’s no exposition dump and barely any introduction, with Routine expecting YOU to figure things out through environmental clues, scattered logs, and your own sense of curiosity. It’s engaging, but rarely personal, offering a restrained approach that builds a thick atmosphere of mystery without constantly shouting the answer at you – and if I’m being honest, it helps make the experience all the more intriguing.

The thing that immediately stands out is the game’s outstanding sense of atmosphere, with the moon base gorgeous in a deliberately bleak, retro-futurist way – you’ve got chunky screens, heavy machinery, CRT blur, and lighting that makes every corridor feel both abandoned and lived in… everything you’d expect from an old-school moon base, really. It’s a really neat aesthetic that leans into that 80s vision of space, and whilst there is essentially a checkbox of everything you’d expect to see, it’s all wonderfully presented in-game.

“Routine isn’t trying to be a loud, cinematic horror game, but slow, cerebral, and far more interested in tension than spectacle.”

Gameplay-wise, Routine sits closer to a puzzle-driven immersive sim than a traditional survival horror game, so it’s worth getting your expectations in check. There’s no inventory management, no crafting, and very limited combat, with players instead exploring their surroundings, reading through notes that flesh out the lore, and solving cryptic puzzles. Progress usually involves chasing down systems to reboot, gathering codes, or working out how to access sealed areas, and while some of mechanics these are straightforward in design, others require you to really think outside of the box in order to progress. Fortunately, these puzzles are smart without being obtuse, so solving them always feels rewarding and keeps the gameplay engaging.

That said, it is worth noting that Routine takes a very minimalistic approach to its gameplay, with almost no HUD, no objective markers, and a heavy reliance on visual cues in order to progress. Honestly? The game occasionally hides information a little too well, and there are moments where failing to notice a small clue in the environment can stall progress long enough to turn dread into frustration. Sure, most roadblocks don’t last that long (and nine times out of ten you’ll figure things out just by looking around), but the times I was left stumped were a little annoying, especially since there’s such a reliance on stealth in the game.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Know how I mentioned earlier in this review that there wasn’t much combat? Well, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t enemies out to get you, and you’ll meet some sinister humanoid machines early on that are eager to bring you to your end. It’s worth saying that, visually and conceptually, the enemies are brilliant – retro, uncanny, and immediately unsettling, with their presence adding some intense and eerie thrills to the experience. However, having to actually stealthily sneak your way around them is a little less exciting: you try to get past them, and if you’re interrupted, you run or hide, wait for the situation to reset, then return to whatever you were doing. The AI really is lacking in the game, with these stealth sections feeling more like drawn-out roadblocks than exciting set pieces that really ramp up the tension. It really hurts the pacing of the game, and when you’re looking for some missing element of a puzzle or simply trying to concentrate on something, it’s easy to find the presence of the robots more of a hindrance than an exciting gameplay element. And sure, these situations to evolve a little as you progress through the game, but the formula often remains the same.

Despite these frustrations, I still had a really good time with Routine. There’s enough going on through exploration and puzzle-solving to keep you wholly invested, whilst interacting with the world in various ways using your Cosmonaut Assistance Tool adds a sense of immersion to the actions you complete. It doesn’t outstay its welcome either, with my playthrough coming in at around eight-hours – long enough to allow me to soak in the world and its atmosphere, but not so long that some of its more frustrating elements of design became a problem. And best of all? It made me feel uncomfortable. The eerie environment, the effective sound design that left me constantly scared at what was around the corner, the dark narrative that didn’t paint a clear picture… it all pulled together to make for an effective sci-fi horror experience where I constantly felt on edge, and honestly, that’s all I really want from the genre.

Developer: Lunar Software
Publisher: Raw Fury
Platform(s): Xbox Series X|S (Reviewed), PC
Website: https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/routine/9pcjt6tlcggv