About Routine
Routine is a survival horror game set in an abandoned lunar base. Combining exploration and puzzles in an environment reminiscent of the Alien films, it delivers a deeply immersive experience. First announced more than a decade ago, the project took a considerable amount of time to come to fruition, but it now boasts a remarkable art direction. Players step into the shoes of an external software engineer stranded alone on a retro-futuristic space station, frozen in a distinctly 1970s aesthetic reminiscent of classic science fiction.
Deliberately slow-paced and incredibly atmospheric, the game takes its time establishing its mood. During the opening minutes, there is no immediate danger. The protagonist is an ordinary employee sent to carry out maintenance tasks—routine work, as you might expect—exploring the station to repair computers and electronic equipment. However, the deeper he ventures into the complex's corridors, the more he uncovers a profound threat lurking within its outdated systems and technology.
Visually, Routine makes an impression from the title screen. Its minimalist interface and pixelated appearance give the menus a distinctive charm. The game makes extensive use of visual interference and grainy effects reminiscent of old VHS tapes from the 1980s and 1990s, heightening the sense of unease and strangeness.
The adventure begins in a small cabin. Still disoriented, our engineer explores the confined space, searching for a way out. The first-person perspective reinforces the immersion, as does the environment, which seems frozen in time. The gameplay, meanwhile, refuses to hold the player's hand, encouraging experimentation as a means of making progress. As soon as you put on your helmet to leave the cabin, it quickly becomes clear that computer tools play a central role. To open the first door, for example, you must print out a form and use it with a designated device.
Through documents, notes, and tape recorders scattered throughout the station, players gradually piece together what happened to the crew. Routine naturally brings Alien: Isolation to mind, but replaces the organic creature with a robotic threat. Everything is slow, deliberate, and oppressive, supported by 360-degree sound design that makes you feel as though you are constantly being watched. The atmosphere is simply outstanding.
Why Should I Play Routine?
Released in December 2025 after more than a decade of troubled development, Routine is a survival horror game set in a retro-futuristic lunar base. Developed by a small team that switched graphics engines several times, the game stands out for its art direction, inspired by the Alien films. Its environments are frozen in a 1970s aesthetic, complete with analog technology, monochrome screens, and a cold, oppressive atmosphere. The sense of immersion is remarkable!
Players control a software engineer assigned a series of simple maintenance tasks. Alone in the abandoned base, they begin exploring its facilities. Progress is slow and immersive, with no immediate danger, as the game focuses on psychological tension rather than action. The gameplay deliberately offers little guidance: players must experiment, read the documents they find, and listen to recordings to discover what happened to the crew and work out how to survive.
Routine is an extremely deliberate, slow-paced game. This carefully considered approach allows players to immerse themselves in a world reminiscent of some of the finest films in the Alien franchise. The game takes place aboard an abandoned space station, where a software engineer finds himself alone in the sprawling complex, tasked with maintaining its computer equipment. A constant sense of oppression makes exploring the station feel like wandering through a gigantic airport.
Everything encourages players to move slowly and cautiously, solving puzzles one at a time. However, Routine never holds your hand. You must gather clues from the places you visit and use them to work out what to do next. One of the things that sets Routine apart from other games in the genre, while bringing Alien: Isolation to mind, is the sheer power and danger of its robotic threat. As a result, the tension never lets up. The game surrounds players with an extraordinary atmosphere, effective staging, and meticulously crafted visuals.
This is one of the game's greatest strengths. Its immersive quality comes in part from graphics reminiscent of old VHS tapes from the 1980s and 1990s, with an image that appears grainy and occasionally degraded. The 360-degree sound design adds another layer of immersion, allowing players to pick up on every sound and noise so they can react to emerging threats in real time. As in Alien: Isolation, players are constantly at risk of being hunted by robots patrolling the station's corridors. Before long, even venturing into the darkness can become intimidating when you have no idea what lies ahead.
Built around deduction and the intelligent use of clues, Routine offers an experience rarely found in mainstream video games. Its core mechanics are relatively straightforward, yet it provides options that are seldom seen elsewhere. For example, when hiding behind an object, players can rise onto their tiptoes to look into the distance. They can also zoom in or lie completely flat to spot objects concealed beneath furniture. Naturally, when danger strikes, sprinting away to find cover is also an option. Routine is a distinctive experience that fans of the genre are sure to appreciate.
Is Routine Free-to-play?
Routine is not free to play or download, but it is available at a reasonable price on various digital storefronts. Through Microsoft's subscription service, gamers who have a PC Game Pass or Xbox Game Pass subscription can also download and play it through cloud gaming.
Where Can I Download Routine?
Routine is a survival horror game available for download on Windows PCs and consoles. It can be played on computers as well as Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and even Xbox One. If you enjoy games inspired by Alien, you may find plenty to like here, especially since the game is also available through Game Pass.
What Games Should I Play If I Enjoy Routine?
Highly regarded by fans of the genre, Alien: Isolation stars Amanda Ripley, Ellen Ripley's daughter, in an intensely suspenseful survival horror adventure. While trying to discover what happened to her mother, Amanda becomes trapped aboard an abandoned space station, alone and hunted by a Xenomorph that can emerge from almost any vent to stalk her. With its oppressive atmosphere and relentless tension, Alien: Isolation is a gripping first-person experience. It skillfully draws on the best elements of the films while challenging players to rely on observation, stealth, and anticipation to predict the creature's movements. It is a standout title in its genre.
If you enjoy the atmospheric sci-fi horror of ROUTINE, Species: Unknown offers a similar experience built around exploration, suspense, and survival. Set aboard a spaceship overrun by mysterious alien creatures, the game puts you in the middle of a dangerous investigation where every mission can turn into a fight for survival. Explore abandoned corridors, complete objectives, gather resources, and learn to deal with unpredictable threats. The game can be played solo or cooperatively with up to three other players, adding another layer of tension as you work together to uncover the secrets of the ship.
We round off this selection of alternatives with a survival horror classic: Resident Evil 7. After two installments that leaned heavily toward action, the series returns to its roots. Players take on the role of Ethan Winters, an ordinary man who finds himself trapped in an isolated house deep in the bayou. Like Routine, Capcom's game uses a first-person perspective and relies on a suffocating atmosphere to sustain tension for hours, constantly reminding players of their vulnerability. Fighting is not always the best option: sometimes, you have to hide, run, and hope to survive. The family living in the house, meanwhile, is anything but normal. Blending supernatural elements with pure horror, Resident Evil 7 is a standout entry in the genre.
