Routine launched December 4, 2025, ending one of gaming’s longest development sagas. First announced in 2012 with a trailer that went viral among horror fans, the lunar station survival game disappeared completely for years before resurfacing in 2024 with a surprise Xbox Game Pass day-one release. Reviews dropped December 2 with a 79 Metacritic average based on 10 critics – scores ranging from 5 out of 10 to a stunning 9.7. The consensus? Routine delivers stunning visuals, excellent puzzles, and genuinely terrifying atmosphere, but annoying enemy encounters and pacing issues keep it from greatness.
What Took 13 Years
Routine appeared on Steam Greenlight in 2012 when we were all innocent and “Call Me Maybe” dominated radio stations. The announcement trailer showcased first-person sci-fi horror on an abandoned lunar base with 1980s retrofuturism aesthetics inspired by Alien and Moon. Players would explore as a software engineer sent to investigate a system malfunction, only to discover hostile robots and mysterious illness turned the station into a death trap. The premise was simple but effective – Alien Isolation meets Dead Space on the moon.
Then it vanished. Years passed with no updates. The developers went silent. Reddit threads asking “whatever happened to Routine” accumulated confused responses. Some assumed it was abandonware, another victim of indie development hell where ambition exceeds resources. Others held out hope that silence meant focused development rather than cancellation. In late 2024, Routine suddenly resurfaced with a release date announcement for December 2025 – a full 13 years after the original reveal.
Kotaku’s review acknowledges the miracle – “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.” That’s high praise from a publication that’s seen countless promising indie horrors fail to launch. The fact that Routine not only released but managed to feel contemporary rather than outdated is remarkable given the timeframe.
The Visuals Are Stunning
Every single review mentions Routine’s graphics as a standout element. GamesRadar called it “imperfect but wonderfully atmospheric.” Kotaku gushed that “at times, the derelict environments of Routine look photorealistic. Lighting and texture detail, in particular, are astonishing.” One reviewer noted hiding behind machinery and being distracted by a detailed warning label with scratch marks – that’s the level of visual fidelity we’re talking about.
The 1980s retrofuturism aesthetic perfectly captures that Alien vibe – chunky monitors, analog controls, tape reels, and utilitarian design that feels grounded and believable. This isn’t the sleek, minimalist sci-fi of modern games. It’s lived-in, functional technology that looks like it was actually built by humans who prioritized practicality over style. The attention to environmental storytelling through mundane objects creates authenticity that makes the horror elements hit harder.
CGMagazine specifically praised how the base feels important room by room – “every room feels important to your progress, slowly but surely bringing you closer and closer to madness, but perhaps also to the truth.” This environmental design creates a sense of place lacking in many horror games where locations blur together into generic scary corridors. You remember specific rooms in Routine because they’re distinct and detailed.
Next-Gen Lighting and Sound
Wccftech highlighted the “stunning soundscape that immerses you in its world and gets you listening for the sound of a pin drop to avoid getting caught.” Audio design plays a critical role in horror, and Routine apparently nails it. Creaking metal, distant mechanical sounds, your own breathing – all combine to create constant tension even when nothing’s actively hunting you. The silence between sounds becomes as terrifying as the sounds themselves.
The Puzzles Work – Mostly
GamesRadar called Routine’s puzzles “excellent,” praising “an impressive balance of game logic and common sense, with a sprinkle of randomization here and there to ensure you can’t just look up codes on the internet.” This design philosophy respects player intelligence without being aggressively complicated. You’re solving actual problems rather than hunting for arbitrary solutions that only make sense to the developer.
Some puzzles involve straightforward “find this code” tasks, but others require genuine thinking. One amusing detail – you can fix a malfunctioning terminal simply by turning it off then turning it on again. That’s the kind of grounded logic that fits the game’s realistic approach to sci-fi technology. Not everything requires elaborate multi-step solutions when basic troubleshooting would work.
However, Kotaku complained about “annoying puzzles” that occasionally broke immersion. One puzzle involves photos left by a missing crew member who was apparently ten seconds from solving it herself before giving up – the kind of contrived situation that only exists to create gameplay challenges. Another involved cutting power to an elevator to prevent enemies from following, only to have them use that same elevator anyway. These logical inconsistencies stand out precisely because most of Routine’s puzzle design is so strong.
The Enemy Problem
Here’s where reviews diverge sharply. The hostile robots that stalk you through the station look creepy and are superbly designed. GamesRadar admitted that “when I’m literally crawling just a few feet from an inactive one hoping it won’t suddenly spring to life, it’s always tense.” But the actual mechanics of dealing with them frustrated multiple critics.
The complaint is consistent – you get interrupted by robots too often, hide or run away, then return to continue whatever you were doing. This loop repeats constantly throughout the game. GamesRadar bluntly stated “I never find enemies frightening. I just find them annoying.” The comparison to feeling like “a grumpy old man peeking out of his curtains to see if the Christmas carolers have left his driveway yet” perfectly captures the tedium.
Enemy AI is described as overly basic. Robots hunt and react to you in predictable patterns that become tiresome once you figure out their behavior. The regularity of these encounters turns what should be terrifying moments into routine annoyances – which is ironic given the game’s title. GamesRadar recommended that “this aspect should have been dialled back,” with fewer interruptions to exploration and puzzle-solving.
The Second Half Changes Everything
Multiple reviews hint that Routine transforms dramatically in its second half without spoiling specifics. Kotaku noted “I appreciated the swerve that occurs in Routine’s second half. Up until that point, I found Routine to be a solid Alien Isolation-like experience, but nothing too remarkable. But by the end, after it zigs and zags, Routine had fully escaped Isolation’s shadow, becoming its own worthwhile horror game and scared the shit out of me in the process.”
This suggests the game starts as one thing – Alien Isolation on the moon with robots – then evolves into something different and more original. Several reviewers mentioned being genuinely scared and surprised by the second half’s direction. Whatever happens, it apparently justifies sitting through the occasionally tedious robot encounters early on.
The Metacritic Spread
Routine’s 79 Metacritic comes from wildly divergent scores. Game Rant gave it 5 out of 10, declaring it “sadly does not live up to expectations” after the 13-year wait. On the opposite end, Xbox Tavern awarded 9.7 out of 10, calling it a captivating experience with genuine scares. GameSpew landed at 9 out of 10, praising how it “captivates throughout with its tense atmosphere and engaging puzzles.”
This spread suggests Routine is divisive in ways that make numerical scores less meaningful. If you value atmosphere, visuals, and puzzle-solving over combat mechanics, you’ll likely love it. If enemy encounters that interrupt exploration frustrate you, the score drops significantly. The game’s slow pacing and deliberate design will either feel immersive or tedious depending on personal preference.
OpenCritic’s summary captures the consensus – “ROUTINE is an excellent puzzle-focused first-person horror game that, despite its slow pacing, is able to keep you at the edge of your seat for 10 hours straight, with a tense, rich atmosphere.” That description tells you exactly whether this game is for you. If slow-burn horror with exploration and puzzle-solving sounds appealing, Routine delivers. If you want action-heavy scares, look elsewhere.
For Alien Isolation Fans
Almost every review compared Routine to Alien Isolation – Creative Assembly’s 2014 masterpiece of sci-fi horror. Wccftech explicitly called it “the game that Alien: Isolation fans should play while we all wait for Alien: Isolation 2.” The similarities are obvious – solitary exploration of a detailed sci-fi environment, hiding from unkillable enemies, environmental storytelling through found audio logs and emails, and emphasis on atmosphere over action.
But several reviews noted that Routine eventually escapes Isolation’s shadow to become its own thing. The second-half twist apparently differentiates it enough that comparisons stop being useful. For fans who’ve replayed Isolation multiple times desperately waiting for a sequel, Routine offers a similar vibe with enough unique identity to feel fresh rather than derivative.
The Xbox Game Pass day-one release makes trying it risk-free for subscribers. No need to gamble $30-40 on whether you’ll enjoy the pacing and puzzle focus. Download it, play a few hours, see if the atmosphere grabs you. If robot encounters become too annoying, uninstall with no money wasted. This accessibility should help Routine find its audience rather than disappearing into obscurity.
Was 13 Years Worth It
The answer depends on what you expected. If you wanted the groundbreaking horror experience the 2012 trailer promised, Routine might disappoint – it’s a solid genre entry, not a revolutionary masterpiece. But considering how easily this project could have become vaporware, the fact that it released at all and earned mostly positive reviews is impressive.
GameSpew’s 9 out of 10 suggests Routine succeeded despite its troubled development – “In this first-person horror title, players explore an abandoned lunar facility to uncover its mysteries. The game captivates throughout with its tense atmosphere and engaging puzzles.” That’s exactly what was promised 13 years ago, delivered with modern visuals and design sensibilities.
Game Rant’s harsh 5 out of 10 represents the disappointed camp who waited over a decade and expected more. Their brief review states it “sadly does not live up to expectations,” though they don’t elaborate on specific failures beyond the general sentiment. This shows how long development cycles create unrealistic expectations – no game can justify 13 years of anticipation.
FAQs
What is the Metacritic score for Routine?
79 based on 10 critic reviews as of December 2, 2025. Scores range from 5 out of 10 to 9.7 out of 10, showing significant disagreement about the game’s quality.
When does Routine release?
December 4, 2025, as a day-one Xbox Game Pass title for PC and Xbox consoles. It’s also available for purchase on Steam for players without Game Pass subscriptions.
How long is Routine?
Approximately 6-10 hours depending on how thoroughly you explore and how much you struggle with puzzles. Kotaku finished the story in about 6 hours, while other reviews mention 10-hour playthroughs.
What is Routine about?
You play as a software engineer sent to investigate a system malfunction on an abandoned lunar base with 1980s retrofuturism aesthetics. The station’s robots have become hostile, and mysterious illness affected the crew. It’s first-person sci-fi horror inspired by Alien and Moon.
Why did Routine take 13 years?
The game was announced in 2012, disappeared for years with no updates, then suddenly resurfaced in 2024 with a December 2025 release date. Developers never publicly explained the development hell, but the final product looks modern rather than dated.
Is Routine scary?
Reviews say the atmosphere is consistently tense and the second half gets genuinely terrifying. However, robot encounters become annoying rather than frightening due to repetitive AI patterns. The environment and sound design create more fear than actual enemies.
Does Routine have combat?
No traditional combat. You hide from or run away from hostile robots and other threats. It’s stealth-focused survival horror, not action horror with weapons.
Is Routine like Alien Isolation?
Yes, with similar mechanics – solitary exploration, hiding from unkillable enemies, environmental storytelling. Reviews say the second half differentiates it enough to stand on its own, but the comparison is accurate for the first half.
Should I play Routine on Game Pass?
Yes if you enjoy slow-burn atmospheric horror with puzzle-solving. The day-one Game Pass release makes it risk-free to try. If robot encounters frustrate you after a few hours, uninstall with no money wasted.
Conclusion
Routine defied the odds. After 13 years in development hell and years of complete silence, it emerged as a flawed but atmospheric horror experience that justifies its existence. The 79 Metacritic accurately reflects a game that nails visuals, puzzles, and environmental storytelling while stumbling on enemy encounter design and pacing. For Alien Isolation fans desperate for similar experiences, Routine delivers enough of that tense lunar exploration vibe to satisfy while eventually carving its own identity in the second half. The divisive reviews show this isn’t for everyone – if you need constant action and hate backtracking through environments, skip it. But for patient horror fans who value atmosphere over adrenaline, Routine represents a miracle – a decade-old project that not only shipped but managed to feel contemporary. Download it on Game Pass, give it three hours, and decide if the gorgeous retrofuturism and creeping dread outweigh the occasionally annoying robots. At worst, you’ll appreciate that someone finally finished what they started 13 years ago. At best, you’ll discover one of 2025’s most atmospheric horror experiences hiding in plain sight.