Routine Reviews
It’s hard not to overhype a game after waiting for over a decade, but when I think back to what I hoped for when I watched the original trailer all those years ago, it delivered. Routine is a creative, tense, and dread-filled experience that makes the most of its aesthetic and sound design, and horror fans shouldn’t miss it.
As crazy as a 13-year dev cycle may be, Routine was more than worth the wait. Over a decade of dedication to the project has resulted in a masterclass of sci-fi survival horror, the likes of which immersed me completely throughout. The liminal vibes are immaculate, the environmental storytelling top-tier, and the sense of existential dread around each and every corner of yet another claustrophobic corridor is palpable. Some wonky controls and a couple instances of stuck momentum are the only minor issues within an otherwise incredible, rewarding, terrifying experience that feels like a love letter to old-school horror games of the past.
In the pantheon of sci-fi horror, ROUTINE is a noble effort.
Routine is an essential game for fans of sci-fi horror! With strong inspirations from Alien Isolation, mechanics such as the use of the C.A.T. tool can become a major differentiator. Beyond the new features and gameplay mechanics, the game struggles with clunky combat, but it encourages and rewards players through exploration.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Routine isn’t trying to be a loud, cinematic horror game, but slow, cerebral, and far more interested in tension than spectacle. It definitely has some rough patches – its stealth sections can be repetitive and the game sometimes hides important clues a little too well – but these issues don’t outweigh what it gets right: atmospheric environments, clever puzzling, and a palpable sense of tension that’ll constantly keep you on the edge of your seat. If you’re into more thoughtful horror games that rely more on atmosphere than constant jump-scares, Routine is well worth checking out – I just wish that I wasn’t in a constant game of cat-and-mouse with easily outsmarted enemies when trying to solve puzzles.
Usually when a game is in development for as long as Routine was, the result is at worst abandonware and at best a highly dated experience. Not only does Routine exist, but it’s one of the best games of the year. Routine is gorgeous, extremely original, highly immersive with impeccable atmosphere, incredible environments and a narrative that was captivating from beginning to end. For some people, Routine will be too slow and archaic, but for those who can appreciate the analog nature of the experience, the intricacies and the slow burn, Routine is unforgettable.
Routine grounds the player within this lunar base, and trusts them to get out alive with a fantastic diegetic presentation, compelling narrative and setting, and genuine creeps and tense atmosphere.
I was excited about “Routine” and prepared myself for the usual space horror experience. The somber atmosphere is unfortunately the only positive aspect of the game. The immersive handling of the terminals and my C.A.T. assistance tool quickly loses its appeal. What remains is an environment that I have to traverse dozens of times before I find the right detail to move forward. If the interaction options were better highlighted and the game were more intuitive to control, “Routine” would be a nice little horror treat. As it is, it’s thoroughly undercooked.
Review in German | Read full review