ROUTINE

ROUTINE combines a retro-futuristic aesthetic with an unnerving sense of dread to create an incredibly engaging and highly atmospheric horror experience.

87%Game Brain Score

story, atmosphere

replayability, grinding

94% User Score Based on 3,984 reviews

Critic Score 80%Based on 14 reviews

Platforms

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About

ROUTINE is a single player survival action adventure game with horror and science fiction themes. It was developed by Lunar Software and was released on December 4, 2025. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Routine is a First Person Sci-Fi Horror title set on an abandoned Lunar base designed around an 80’s vision of the future. Curious exploration turns into a need for survival when a lunar base goes completely quiet. Searching for answers puts you face to face with an enemy who is certain the main threat is you. Discoveries lead to deeper unknowns and the only way to go is forward.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,984 reviews

story455 positive mentions

replayability14 negative mentions

Exceptional atmosphere and immersive audio design create a truly tense and terrifying experience.
Outstanding retro-futuristic visual style with detailed environments and diegetic user interface enhances immersion.
Unique gameplay mechanics with the C.A.T. tool offer satisfying interaction and puzzle solving without handholding.

Story and narrative feel disjointed and ambiguous, especially with a drastic shift halfway, leading to an unsatisfying ending.
Enemy AI and combat can be inconsistent or frustrating; some enemies are easy to evade while others may seem unfair due to bugs or teleportation.
Lack of in-game guidance and limited map/navigation aids cause frequent player confusion and excessive backtracking.

story
1,473 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
64%
5%
The story of the game is atmospheric and intriguing, delivered mainly through environmental storytelling, audio logs, and scattered notes, which encourages player curiosity and interpretation. While many praise its immersive, cryptic narrative and strong world-building, others find the plot disjointed, vague, and underdeveloped, especially due to an abrupt tonal shift and an ambiguous or unsatisfying ending. Overall, the story enhances the haunting ambiance but may leave players wanting more coherence and depth.
- “Absolute horror masterpiece, perfect setting and vibes, 10/10 visuals and audio, great enemies, engaging storyline, a few very minor hiccups in puzzles and gameplay that in no way detract from the experience.”
- “The story takes you on quite the ride and does not leave you once you departed, at least it didn't leave me.”
- “Incredible atmosphere, sound design, story, and art direction on top of being incredibly immersive and of course insanely scary!”
- “The story feels like the devs forced themselves to hit every beat from the trailer they made 12 years ago.”
- “What is initially very interesting becomes clearly hollow, you never get the answers you want, as if somehow after an additional decade of development, the story is unfinished.”
- “Theres a few small details like that in routine that make it feel like there was never a coherent story, and that either they cut a load of content or just hoped to hide a poorly written story behind stunning art direction and sound design.”
atmosphere
1,255 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
37%
1%
The game masterfully delivers a dense, immersive atmosphere combining eerie retro-futuristic visuals, superb sound design, and tense environmental storytelling, often compared to classics like Alien: Isolation and Soma. Its minimal HUD, analog aesthetic, and careful audio design evoke a gripping sense of isolation, dread, and suspense that sustains engagement throughout the experience. While gameplay and story elements receive mixed feedback, the atmosphere is universally praised as the game's defining and standout strength.
- “You can tell this game had 'out of this earth' level of love invested in it which shows greatly in the atmosphere, sound design, gameplay, attention to details, every little and big thing you encounter, and mind you, devs did a brilliant job at making it as horrifying as it is beautiful.”
- “Every inch of the game drips in so much detail, character and atmosphere that I audibly gasped when the credits rolled and I realized just three devs made it. Mick Gordon of Doom and Prey fame provides much of the audio design and it is some of the best I have ever experienced in a game. This combined with the simple but gripping stealth/horror gameplay creates some of the most intense heart-sinking moments in all of gaming. This is not a game that will give you waypoints or a map; instead it hands you a completely diegetic UI and expects you to use your head to survive and progress. It is one of the most immersive games I've ever played, and such a breath of fresh air coming from the yellow paint and quest tabs much of the genre has fallen prey to.”
- “The atmosphere in this game is alien isolation turned up to 11.”
- “You can feel that the vision has begun to fade, and the atmosphere is still incomparably worse than in the first hours of the game – as if the developers were rushing to finish it.”
- “I like the atmosphere of the game but it's so bad at telling you what to do and where to go at times, and you have to constantly go searching for codes in every single area you go to... I had to stop and look at YouTube videos constantly to progress (even then it was still hard).”
- “Routine is pretty much going all in on atmosphere, and lacking enough in most other parts to really give it a full recommendation unfortunately.”
gameplay
1,076 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
66%
5%
The gameplay in Routine is characterized by immersive, diegetic mechanics centered around a multi-tool (the c.a.t.) used for puzzles and interacting with the environment, combined with stealth and hide-and-seek elements reminiscent of Alien: Isolation. While praised for its tense atmosphere, tactile interactions, and lack of hand-holding, many reviewers found the gameplay somewhat simplistic, repetitive, and underutilized—introducing mechanics that are often only briefly used and then discarded. The game emphasizes exploration, puzzle-solving, and vulnerability over combat, delivering a unique but occasionally clunky experience that shines more through its atmosphere and sound design than deep or varied gameplay systems.
- “You can tell this game had 'out of this earth' level of love invested in it, which shows greatly in the atmosphere, sound design, gameplay, attention to details, every little and big thing you encounter in it. The devs did a brilliant job at making it as horrifying as it is beautiful.”
- “Every inch of the game drips in so much detail, character and atmosphere that I audibly gasped when the credits rolled and I realized just three devs made it. The audio design by Mick Gordon is some of the best I have ever experienced in a game. Combined with the simple but gripping stealth/horror gameplay, it creates some of the most intense heart-sinking moments in all of gaming. This is not a game that will give you waypoints or a map; instead, it hands you a completely diegetic UI and expects you to use your head to survive and progress. It is one of the most immersive games I've ever played; a breath of fresh air coming from the usual quest tabs and paint markers many games rely on.”
- “The primary mechanic around the 'tool' you use the entire game is extremely well done as a mechanic that is interesting and can add to the stress of a dangerous situation. Along with marvelous sound design and clever gameplay mechanics, you are offered an unparalleled experience that got my blood pumping like no other game has before.”
- “What really agitated me during my gameplay was the number of times I had to pull up YouTube to see where I was supposed to go due to the lack of directional clues. There are no waypoints or fixed pathways; you can travel miles back to where you began. It's completely free roam but confusing.”
- “The core gameplay revolves around a hide and seek mechanic, and that’s where the experience falls apart for me. Enemies are often predictable, the gameplay loop becomes repetitive, and stealth mechanics feel stale and underdeveloped.”
- “New mechanics like the EMP electric projectile are introduced but then completely forgotten in the later parts of the game. Many gameplay mechanics feel one-and-done, leading to missed potential and a shallow overall gameplay experience.”
graphics
915 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
47%
2%
Reviews consistently praise the game's graphics for their stunning retro-futuristic, 80s/90s sci-fi aesthetic, photorealistic quality, and detailed environmental design, which together create a highly immersive and atmospheric experience. The visuals are complemented by impeccable optimization and innovative diegetic UI, enhancing player immersion without intrusive HUD elements. While some mention heavy use of film grain and post-processing effects that may affect clarity, overall the graphics and art direction are regarded as exceptional, setting a new standard for atmospheric horror with a distinctive nostalgic style.
- “Routine manages to do soo much in its visuals and sound that it truly balances the bland gameplay loop.”
- “Absolutely impeccable sound design, beautiful diegetic UI, insanely good visuals, some really solid scares, and an all around great horror game.”
- “Routine's graphics and visual design pull their weight as well.”
- “The graphics feel horrendous—washed out, pale, and completely unappealing.”
- “The visuals are the first and biggest issue: the graphics look washed out, grainy, and low‑quality, almost like an early PS4 PSVR title, and the overall look is simply unpleasant.”
- “I requested a refund, and the reason is very simple: the graphics don't match the gameplay trailers from 12 and 3 years ago.”
music
123 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
55%
2%
The music in the game is sparse but masterfully used, complementing the eerie atmosphere without overwhelming it, often blending seamlessly with ambient sounds and silence to heighten tension and immersion. Composed and designed by Mick Gordon, the soundtrack and sound design receive high praise for their subtlety, effective use in gameplay mechanics, and ability to evoke dread and isolation, making music and sound a standout, integral aspect of the overall experience.
- “Now that I've finished it, I can say wow, what an incredible experience. The sound design is top notch, with Mick Gordon (the Doom OST composer) credited for sound design. All the little clicks, cracks, and ambient noises create a believable abandoned moon base environment. The clarity of enemy sounds and their spatial awareness is outstanding, making the sound design award-worthy.”
- “My god, the music and sound design—bonus credit to Mick Gordon—were absolutely superb and terrifying to hear. It might be one of the more standout aspects for me.”
- “The sparse musical score swells only when necessary, heightening moments of danger or discovery without overwhelming the atmosphere.”
- “The biggest flaw with Entity A however is that there is a musical sound cue to alert the player to its presence whenever it’s close.”
- “The only cool thing is the sound design of the game, music kind of doesn't work.”
- “Sound design & music [sometimes excessive, sometimes meager; no music controls] 9/10”
optimization
96 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
38%
4%
The game is widely praised for its exceptional optimization, delivering smooth, high-performance gameplay across various systems, including laptops and the Steam Deck, with minimal to no stuttering or frame drops. Despite being an Unreal Engine 5 title, it runs efficiently even on mid-range hardware, boasting stable fps, low system impact, and impressive visuals without sacrificing performance. Overall, its polished optimization significantly enhances immersion and user experience, standing out as a rare example of a well-optimized, visually stunning modern game.
- “The best optimized UE5 game with some of the best visuals I've ever seen, and is a masterclass in horror and environmental storytelling.”
- “Performance is immaculate, extremely responsive and fluid; mad respect for how well this game runs given the particular visual flair it presents.”
- “Also, this game is polished to a degree that I've not seen much in other games, very optimized and smooth as well, a lot of time and effort went into this one and it speaks for itself gameplay-wise.”
- “Performance is shockingly bad.”
- “One of the more important areas had tremendous performance issues, hampering some important story beats and overall gameplay.”
- “The game runs well maxed out on my machine but for some reason the shadows setting causes a lot of stuttering if set to high.”
emotional
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game delivers a deeply emotional experience through its immersive retro-futuristic setting, evocative sound design, and subtle storytelling that evokes feelings of dread, compassion, and primal terror rarely achieved in horror games. It connects players intimately with its world and characters, provoking genuine fear, sadness, and moments of heartfelt poignancy, often recalling classics like SOMA and Alien: Isolation. While some mechanics could be expanded, the overall emotional impact and atmospheric tension make it a standout, highly recommended for those seeking a powerful, soul-touching horror journey.
- “The last segment of the game, where a certain enemy was shown to feel compassion and humanistic feelings, made me feel like I was there with him mourning someone I lost.”
- “This game is a very emotional experience. The sound design, the aesthetic, and the story all create a very immersive experience: the sudden shock of jumpscares, the anxiety of being stalked and watched, the misled relief when you think you're in a safe space, and—without spoilers—the unexpected feeling you have for a certain person, place, or object.”
- “Feeling like a cross between Deliver Us The Moon and Soma, clever, strange, memorable, a joy, a fright, an emotional powerhouse that will have you thinking about its integrity, motivation, and depth the entire way through.”
replayability
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
47%
31%
The game is widely regarded as having very low to no replay value, mainly due to its short, linear experience and lack of alternative endings or significant unlockables. While its atmosphere, visuals, and story are highly praised, most players feel that once completed in 5-7 hours, there's little incentive for multiple playthroughs. Some mention minor replayability from randomized puzzle solutions or optional cleaner routes, but these are generally insufficient to substantially extend engagement.
- “Codes and puzzle solutions are randomized per playthrough to add some replayability.”
- “ Replay value: optional notes and cleaner routes reward a second run.”
- “Immersion and replayability: 8/10.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, the sound design is great and the atmosphere is tense but the game had zero replayability.”
- “Not super replayable because you can see all of the content in 5-6 hours, but I doubt any other game this year will have a better atmosphere.”
- “Many also complained about lackluster length of around 4 to 6 hours, lack of replayability value, wide yet shallow gameplay mechanics as well as primitive and unsatisfying ways the story unravels.”
grinding
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
7%
91%
Grinding in the game is frequently described as tedious and clunky, with repetitive puzzles and backtracking that often disrupt immersion and slow pacing. While some players appreciate the challenge and atmosphere, many find later sections, especially chapter 4 onward, bogged down by frustrating navigation, simplistic enemy AI, and slow gameplay loops that detract from the horror experience. Overall, the grinding elements tend to pad a short playtime but may wear thin for players sensitive to monotonous or sluggish game progression.
- “Enemies so far strike a nice balance of being threatening but not tedious to deal with.”
- “I quickly learned that solving puzzles was the one and only way to move forward, but every puzzle was more tedious than the last, like having to run laps between three points on the level to do things like activate a puzzle element or read a puzzle element, while dodging immortal enemies.”
- “Once you understand the rules of this game e.g. puzzle types and enemy patterns, everything just becomes so tedious and slow.”
- “I took a break from the game after the boss and watched my friend stream the remainder, which I'm glad I did because seeing him play the rest looked way too tedious for my taste.”
stability
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's stability is generally praised, running smoothly with no crashes or major stutters across various platforms, including Steam Deck and Linux. While many users report a mostly bug-free experience with solid performance and optimization, some mention occasional glitches, particularly with puzzles and enemies, which can impact gameplay. Overall, the game balances impressive visuals and stable performance, though a few frustrating bugs persist for some players.
- “Routine is living proof that with enough will, passion, and know-how, one can make an amazing game that runs incredibly smooth and bug free in this day and age!”
- “It didn't stutter or crash either and the experience was bug free.”
- “Visually it's really good and runs great on my PC; I have an RTX 3080 Ti and a Ryzen 9 5900X with 32GB RAM, maintaining a steady 180 FPS on my 180Hz 2K monitor.”
- “It is a horrifically buggy mess that breaks so often an entire 3 hours of my 7 hour playtime was spent dealing with them.”
- “It grows increasingly frustrating as you slog through gameplay that seems to grow exponentially more buggy.”
- “The game is alright but very vague, and some of the puzzles, especially the codes (even though they are randomized), are very buggy; sometimes I enter a code and it doesn't work, and sometime later when I try the same code it somehow works.”
humor
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mix of subtle, dark, and absurd moments that blend well with its horror themes, often providing comedic relief through quirky characters, peculiar design choices, and ironic situations. Players find amusement in the game's unconventional mechanics, sarcastic environmental storytelling, and playful minigames, which contrast with the tense atmosphere. Overall, the humor is appreciated for adding charm and levity without undermining the scares.
- “The designers of these spaces were clearly possessed with a sick sense of humor, mounting low-res 5 fps CRT screens to guns and flashlights as scopes, putting monster teeth on their ostensibly peaceful maintenance robots for no discernible reason, and constructing the most sterile, claustrophobic, threatening tourist resort imaginable.”
- “One moment that made me laugh out loud was when a tourist remarked through text log that his room was 'comfortable as advertised.' The room in question was an Orwellian nightmare of bare orange windowless walls, more like a sanitarium cell than a hotel room.”
- “The minigames in the arcade are a cute and funny distraction; one's a memory game, the other is a reaction speed test with a goofy biff dude.”
monetization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
86%
The game avoids microtransactions and cash grab tactics, earning praise for its dedication despite misleading advertising focused on robots. Its unique atmosphere and detailed world-building stand out, contrasting with typical low-quality, monetized games in the market.
- “However this game is pretty misleading in its ads.”
- “Ultimately, it is through this excessive dedication to not just a "retro" vibe, but a bizarre Reaganomic totalitarianism that routine leaves its mark in a market filled with second-rate demakes and low-res cash grabs.”
- “A shame, considering this game's advertising was always focused on robots and how it's a "robot horror game".”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
Reviews praise the game's character development for its intellectual narrative and well-crafted design, enhanced by detailed visuals, sound, and voice acting. The strong atmosphere effectively supports the story, making the characters engaging and the experience immersive.
- “I enjoy an intellectual narrative and character development, and I know we're all tired of cheap cop-out plots left up to the viewer, but more times than not, without the right atmosphere, things fall flat even when it is clear.”
- “Interesting story, constant unnerving atmosphere, nostalgic visuals, fair puzzles, character designs... this is the perfect horror game.”
- “And it shows, from the extremely detailed environmental design, to the voice acting, music, story and character design.”