ROUTINE is a first-person sci-fi survival horror game set on an abandoned lunar base, built around stealth, permadeath tension, and an 80s retro-futuristic aesthetic. For most horror fans who enjoy immersive atmosphere and slower, methodical gameplay, it is likely worth buying at its mid-range price, especially with day-one availability on Xbox Game Pass.
What ROUTINE is about
ROUTINE is developed by Lunar Software and published by Raw Fury after a famously long development cycle that started with its first announcement in 2012. The game takes place on a deserted lunar base where the systems have gone quiet, and you play an unnamed engineer sent to investigate what went wrong.
As you explore, you uncover what happened to the crew and why the base’s robotic helpers turned hostile, piecing the story together through terminals, logs, emails, and environmental clues rather than heavy cutscenes. The Moon setting is deliberately chosen to emphasize isolation, distance from Earth, and a constant feeling that help will never arrive.
Core gameplay and mechanics
ROUTINE is played entirely in first person with a focus on exploration, stealth, and survival rather than combat-heavy shooting. Your main tool is the C.A.T. (Cosmonaut Assistance Tool), a handheld device that doubles as a scanner, hacking tool, and limited self-defense option that can briefly stun enemies.
Batteries scattered around the base power the C.A.T., and you can find floppy disks that modify its stats like screen refresh rate or flashlight brightness, adding light RPG-style customization. The game uses permadeath with no traditional health kits, encouraging you to avoid direct confrontations and rely on sneaking, hiding, and careful observation to survive.
Atmosphere, visuals, and sound
ROUTINE leans heavily into an 80s vision of the future, with CRT monitors, analog tech, and chunky industrial design everywhere on the station. The environments are dark, cramped, and partially procedurally generated, which means layouts and some encounters change between playthroughs while still preserving key story beats.
Critics describe the game as “wonderfully atmospheric,” praising the sense of dread, environmental storytelling, and how quiet corridors suddenly become lethal when robots appear. Lighting, sound design, and the constant whir of machinery help create a mood closer to slow-burn sci-fi horror like Alien: Isolation than to action-focused shooters.
Difficulty, length, and structure
Permadeath and limited direct combat options make ROUTINE a relatively demanding game where mistakes can cost a lot of progress. Enemies use AI that reacts unpredictably to your actions, pushing you to experiment with different paths, hiding spots, and timing rather than brute forcing encounters.
Players can expect a focused campaign that prioritizes replayable routes, secrets, and alternate endings over a very long narrative, with partially procedural levels and enemy behavior encouraging multiple runs. Some reviewers note that the difficulty spikes and stealth waiting can feel frustrating, especially if you dislike trial-and-error in horror.
Platforms, price, and availability
ROUTINE releases on December 4, 2025 for PC (Steam), Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. The game launches at about 24.99 USD on Steam and consoles, placing it below full AAA pricing but above ultra-cheap indies.
It is also available day one on Xbox Game Pass, which significantly lowers the barrier to trying it if you already have a subscription. Given its scope and production values, most outlets consider the launch price fair for players who appreciate this style of slow, atmospheric horror.
Is ROUTINE worth buying?
Overall critical reception highlights ROUTINE as a tense, immersive sci-fi horror experience with excellent atmosphere and strong world-building, but with some mechanical rough edges and an occasionally frustrating stealth loop. If you enjoy games like Alien: Isolation or SOMA—where creeping around, reading logs, and surviving a few deadly enemies matters more than constant action—ROUTINE is very likely worth buying at or near launch.
You may want to wait for a sale or try it via Game Pass if you dislike permadeath, get impatient with stealth-heavy gameplay, or prefer more action-oriented horror. For horror fans who value atmosphere, retro-futuristic design, and exploratory storytelling, ROUTINE stands out as a strong, if imperfect, recommendation.
