Set for release on December 4, 2025, ROUTINE is a first-person sci-fi horror game set in a retro-futuristic universe inspired by the aesthetics of the 1980s. Taking place in an abandoned lunar base, the game has earned widespread recognition as a symbol of indie developers’ resilience and long-term dedication—thanks in no small part to its extraordinary 13-year development cycle.
Originally revealed at Gamescom 2012, ROUTINE immediately caught the attention of global indie fans. Created by the small UK-based team Lunar Software, the project combines the retro-future aesthetic of Dead Space and Alien: Isolation with exploration-driven horror, creating a distinct vision that has sustained player anticipation for over a decade.
However, ROUTINE’s journey was far from smooth. The team faced severe financial hardship, and development stalled for years. Members had to take on other jobs just to stay afloat. When development resumed in 2020, the team migrated from Unreal Engine 3 to Unreal Engine 5—essentially rebuilding the game from the ground up.
Immersive, Diegetic Design and Tension-Filled Exploration
Players step into the role of an explorer sent to investigate a lunar base after communication suddenly goes dark. As they scour the base for clues, an ominous threat lurks in the shadows: Type 5 robots, hostile security units originally brought from Earth. Their intentionally intimidating design—and AI behavior that allows only one active unit at a time—creates constant pressure without overwhelming the experience.
Instead of traditional weapons, players rely on the C.A.T. (Cosmonaut Assistance Tool)—a hybrid of flashlight, multi-tool, and camera. While originally conceived as a weapon, the developers redesigned it to feel like a practical tool integral to the narrative and environment.
ROUTINE deliberately omits common modern conveniences such as waypoint markers or objective beacons. Players must navigate by observation, intuition, and careful analysis. With no medkits and a permadeath system, survival hinges on stealth, evasion, and environmental awareness.
The result is a minimalistic, diegetic interface that anchors the player deeply in the world, amplifying tension and immersion.
A Retro-Future Vision Inspired by 1980s Aesthetics
One of ROUTINE’s defining qualities is its atmospheric 1980s-style vision of the future: CRT monitors with flickering static, humming fluorescent lights, utilitarian hallways, and an industrial lunar base drenched in analog textures.
Lead designer Aaron Foster cites 1980s VHS culture as a core influence—down to replicating small sensory details such as the buzz of overhead lights. The team even restructured parts of the project to further emphasize the moon setting, particularly in early sequences, drawing from Foster’s long-standing fascination with lunar environments.
A Message in Persistence: The Indie Spirit Embodied
ROUTINE’s 13-year development represents one of the most remarkable stories in indie game history. Lunar Software resisted pressure to compromise or cancel the project, instead choosing to rebuild and refine it until their vision was fully realized. Players have praised the team’s commitment and refusal to abandon the dream—even when the project seemed on the brink of collapse.
Ironically, had ROUTINE been released a decade earlier, it might have been overshadowed by a saturated market of fast-paced shooters. Now, it arrives at a moment when players are embracing slower, atmospheric, claustrophobic horror—making its timing unexpectedly ideal, echoing works like Dead Space and the Silent Hill 2 remake.
Launch Details
ROUTINE will release on PC, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox Game Pass on December 4, 2025.
Its long-awaited launch stands as a testament to how small indie teams—through sheer persistence and vision—can still deliver powerful, resonant experiences even after years of silence.
- Official page: https://www.routinegame.com/
- Steam Page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/606160/ROUTINE/
