After an astonishing 13-year development cycle, the long-awaited sci-fi survival horror game Routine has finally launched, delivering a chilling and immersive experience that stands as a formidable rival to classics like Alien Isolation.
A Journey From Development Hell to Lunar Nightmare
First announced at Gamescom in 2012, Routine entered a notorious period of development hell, with its small team struggling to reach a final release. The breakthrough came after signing with publisher Raw Fury, known for its supportive approach to indie developers. With renewed focus and resources, Lunar Software has delivered a first-person horror experience with a unique aesthetic and punishingly clever design.
Atmosphere and Isolation on a Desolate Moonbase
You awaken as an IT technician for Union Plaza's lunar operation, locked in a bleak, windowless room on a deserted moonbase. The setting immediately establishes a grim, industrial 'space trucker' aesthetic reminiscent of Dark Star or the original Alien film. The environment is worn, littered with detritus, and feels authentically lived-in yet utterly neglected.
The game's commitment to immersion is absolute. Your movement is deliberately physical, involving tip-toeing, crouching, leaning, and lying flat, accompanied by your character's laboured grunts. There is no hand-holding. The entire on-screen overlay is a single, tiny white circle that only appears when you point at an interactable object. If you are weary of quest markers and bloated HUDs, Routine is the antidote.
The Cosmonaut Assistance Tool and Relentless Pursuers
Your primary tool is the C.A.T. (Cosmonaut Assistance Tool), a chunky 1980s-style camcorder with a laggy analogue screen. It functions as a PDA near specific access points and can short-circuit electrical systems. With only three shots per battery charge, its use is precious.
Your progress is impeded by the malfunctioning security system you were sent to repair, now in full lockdown. The facility is patrolled by Type-05 humanoid robots—skeletal, Terminator-like machines whose aggressive metallic stomping signals their approach. They can stun you briefly with the C.A.T., but they will quickly resume their relentless pursuit, forcing you to hide.
The sound design is exceptional, building unbearable dread. You hear the clanks and servo-whines of the Type-05s, the definitive swish and seal of locking doors, and your own character's ragged breathing. It creates a palpably authentic and terrifying sense of presence.
A Triumph of Ambience With Occasional Frustrations
Routine's greatest strength is the oppressive ambience crafted by its near-photorealistic visuals and impeccable sound. Its weakness stems from the same design philosophy: the stubborn refusal to offer guidance can lead to frustrating periods of being stuck, searching for a subtly framed clue you may have missed.
Despite this, for a project 13 years in the making, Routine is a frightening, idiosyncratic, and impressively coherent slab of sci-fi horror. While it shares DNA with Alien Isolation, its more robust puzzles, multiple pursuers, and deeply humanistic movement create a uniquely unsettling experience.
In Short: A scary, atmospheric, and cleverly designed survival horror, whose photorealistic visuals and superb sound design help overcome some occasional frustrations.
Score: 8/10
Formats: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC
Publisher: Raw Fury
Developer: Lunar Software
Release Date: 4th December 2025
Age Rating: 16
