ROUTINE Review Summary

Outstanding audio and visual design: The game features exceptional visual and audio aesthetics, with players consistently praising the immersive atmosphere created by the detailed graphics and sound design.

Immersive and terrifying atmosphere: The game's atmosphere is highly praised for being terrifying and immersive, pulling players into its claustrophobic and tense environment.

Retro-futuristic aesthetic: The game successfully combines retro and futuristic elements, creating a unique and visually appealing setting that resonates with players.

Challenging and engaging puzzles: The puzzles in the game are noted for being challenging yet solvable, requiring players to use their brainpower and attention to detail.

Unique and immersive CAT tool: The CAT tool is highlighted for its unique design and multiple functions, adding to the game's immersive and tactile feel.

Poor enemy AI: Enemies are often described as slow, stupid, and easily avoided, with basic and predictable behavior.

Complex and confusing story: The story is often described as complicated, obscure, and difficult to follow, requiring additional reading to understand.

Disappointing and unclear ending: The ending is often described as disappointing, unclear, and anti-climactic, leaving players unsatisfied.

Short gameplay duration: Many players noted that the game is relatively short, with a duration of about 10 hours, which some found disappointing.

Lack of clear guidance: Players frequently mentioned a lack of clear instructions, objectives, and directional clues, leading to confusion.

Survival horror elements: The game features first-person survival horror gameplay, including stealth and atmospheric horror elements.

Exploration and puzzle-solving gameplay: The game emphasizes exploration and puzzle-solving, requiring players to read documents and pay attention to detail to uncover mysteries on a lunar station.

Immersive and story-driven experience: The game offers an immersive experience with a strong narrative, diegetic interfaces, and objective-based gameplay.

Lack of hand-holding: The game does not hold the player's hand, requiring attention to detail and offering little guidance or hints.

Use of the CAT tool: The game features a multifunctional tool called the CAT, which is used for various interactions, replacing traditional UI elements.

Excellent performance and optimization: The game is praised for its high performance and excellent optimization across various hardware configurations. Players report smooth gameplay with high FPS even at maximum settings.

High-quality graphics: The game features realistic and high-quality graphics, although there are some mixed reviews regarding graphics quality. Some players find the graphics excellent while others criticize them.

Minimal technical issues: Players report minimal jitters, lag, and stuttering, contributing to a stable gaming experience. There are few reports of frame drops or performance dips.

4K and HDR support: The game supports 4K resolution, but there is a noted lack of HDR support, which might be a drawback for some players.

Specific bugs and issues: There are reports of specific bugs such as issues with the fingerprint module and a constant grey haze, which can affect gameplay.

Highly recommended for horror fans: The game is praised for its immersive and tense horror experience, making it a must-play for fans of the genre. It is particularly recommended for those who enjoy sci-fi horror and cosmic horror.

Unique and original experience: The game is noted for its unique mechanics and originality, providing a fresh experience for players. It stands out due to its atmospheric design and unconventional gameplay.

Recommended for specific audiences: The game is particularly recommended for fans of retro cosmic horror, Alien Isolation, and SOMA. It is also suggested for those who enjoy detailed games and analogue tech aesthetics.

Worth the price: Many reviews indicate that the game offers a high-quality experience that justifies its cost. It is seen as a valuable purchase, especially for those who enjoy horror games.

Not for everyone: The game may not be suitable for players who prefer dynamic action or need guides. It is also not recommended for those who might find it too scary without additional support like watching a playthrough.

Community fair range: $20.00 - $25.00.

Game completion: 6.0h.

Story completion: 4.0h.

The game starts fun immediately due to its immersive atmosphere and exploration elements, but the enjoyment may decrease in the second half as the gameplay becomes more repetitive and tedious.

Reported time to anchor: 2h.

Friction: repetitive puzzles; tedious backtracking; unclear objectives.

Unlock drivers: immersive atmosphere; exploration and discovery; lack of hand-holding.

Casual Horror Enjoyer: Prefers games that are easy to pick up and play without a significant time commitment. Motivation: Enjoyment of straightforward and engaging horror gameplay. Stance: sale.

Atmospheric Horror Connoisseur: Enjoys exploring detailed environments and appreciating the audio-visual design. Motivation: Immersive and atmospheric horror experiences. Stance: buy.

Nostalgic Horror Advocate: Enjoys games that blend classic horror elements with modern gameplay. Motivation: Nostalgic and fun horror experiences. Stance: buy.

Steam Deck: The game receives high praise for its performance, atmosphere, and overall experience, particularly on the Steam Deck. However, there are notable issues with the user interface, controls, and visual quality that detract from the experience. Compatibility with Linux is a positive, though save game transfer issues between Windows and Linux are a concern.

Monetization: The game is generally well-received for its unique qualities and the effort put into it by a small team. However, there are frequent complaints about the game being overpriced for the amount of content it offers. Some players express a desire for additional content, such as DLC or a director's cut. Comparisons to other games highlight its strengths but also note the potential for it to be a cash grab, though it is ultimately praised for not going that route.

External guides: The analysis of user reviews for the game reveals several key themes. The most prominent issues are frustration with puzzle complexity and a lack of guidance, both of which significantly impact the user experience. Players often feel the need to use walkthroughs to progress, which can be frustrating. The deliberate choice to avoid handholding is seen as both a positive and negative aspect, with some players appreciating the challenge while others find it disruptive. Additionally, there are mixed feelings about using walkthroughs, with some players acknowledging the need for external help despite appreciating the game's difficulty.

Severe emotional and physical reaction: A user reported having a severe physical and emotional reaction while playing the game.

Condensed playthrough video created: A reviewer took the initiative to create a condensed playthrough video of the game.

Advice on taking screenshots: A suggestion was made to take screenshots during the fourth chapter of the game.