ROUTINE Review – Retro Sci‑Fi Horror That Nails Atmosphere
I played ROUTINE for its vibes and left impressed: tactile diegetic UI, uncanny sound design and a proper retro‑futuristic moonbase. Short, occasionally rough, but for fans of Alien Isolation/SOMA this is a must‑try.
I went in expecting a cult indie with cool aesthetics — ROUTINE delivered more than that. After a famously long development, Lunar Software shipped a first‑person lunar horror that leans hard on atmosphere, diegetic interfaces and old‑school observation over handholding.
ROUTINE is a first‑person exploration horror that makes you work for every answer. You wander a retro‑futuristic lunar base with no waypoint markers and almost no HUD — your Cosmonaut Assistance Tool (C.A.T.) is both menu, puzzle key and last‑ditch defence. Gameplay mixes environmental puzzles, diegetic terminal interaction and tense hide‑and‑run encounters: stun enemies with your CAT, duck into corners, or outrun slow bots. The game rewards observation — passcodes, IDs and solutions live in notes, signs and your surroundings, not in glowing quest markers. Full‑body awareness, tactile CAT operation and superb audio design (there’s a clear Mick Gordon vibe in the soundscape) sell every moment. That said, ROUTINE is short (roughly 4–8 hours depending on how meticulous you are), the second half tones down the wonder for some players, and enemy AI can feel exploitable at times. Performance is impressive for a tiny team: it runs smoothly and looks way above its budget. If you like methodical, immersive horror where thinking and listening matter, ROUTINE scratches an itch.
ROUTINE is a lovingly crafted indie horror that nails mood and immersion even if it stumbles in length and AI polish. Play it for the atmosphere and the C.A.T. moments — just don’t expect a long campaign.
Pros
- Stunning atmosphere and audio — genuinely tense, cassette‑futurist vibe.
- Diegetic C.A.T. interactions feel tactile and clever; no hand‑holding.
- Polished visuals and performance for a tiny team — runs very well.
Cons
- Short runtime and a second half that loses some momentum.
- Enemy AI and design can feel inconsistent; some puzzles are obtuse.
Player Opinion
Players praise ROUTINE’s immersion — the audio, retro aesthetic and the C.A.T. interaction are repeatedly singled out. Many love that the game doesn’t hold your hand and rewards observation, while others complain about the short length, occasional loading screens and a second act that didn’t stick the landing. If you liked Alien Isolation, SOMA or tactile walking‑sim experiences, fans say you’ll likely enjoy this.