ROUTINE

Game images by RAWG

ROUTINE

Lunar Software

PC (Windows); Xbox One; Xbox Series X/SPaid (one-time purchase); Day-one on Xbox Game Pass

Health Score

DECENT

Official Website Watch Gameplay

About This Game

Super Review

ROUTINE is a tense, atmospheric sci-fi survival horror game best suited for older teens and adults due to its frequent violence, gore, and frightening encounters. Players explore a derelict lunar base, solve puzzles, and evade threats through stealth or limited tools. While its immersion is exceptional, parents should be aware of the intense content and ensure a child's maturity level before allowing play.

Super Review

Parent verdict

With a "Decent" health score, ROUTINE offers a compelling, albeit intense, single-player horror experience. It's a qualified fit, best considered for mature teens aged 16 and up who appreciate atmospheric horror, puzzle-solving, and stealth gameplay. The game's strong points are its immersive world and environmental storytelling, but parents must weigh these against the persistent horror themes, graphic violence, and jump scares.

What players actually do

Players navigate an abandoned lunar base, carefully exploring environments to uncover clues and progress the story.
Players solve environmental puzzles by interacting with machinery and objects to unlock new areas or activate systems, exercising critical thinking.
Players evade dangerous robotic entities by running, hiding, or utilizing a diagnostic tool to distract or disable them, testing their stealth and quick decision-making skills.

Where it shines

The game excels in creating a deeply immersive and unsettling atmosphere through its exceptional sound design and sparse user interface, drawing players into its sci-fi world.
Its puzzle-driven exploration and strong environmental storytelling reward curious players who enjoy piecing together narratives from their surroundings.

Parent watch-outs

ROUTINE features frequent violent and gory imagery, including dismembered bodies and blood, which can be disturbing and may upset younger players.
The game relies heavily on tense, frightening encounters and jump scares, creating sustained periods of anxiety and fear that are not suitable for sensitive players.

Family rules worth setting

Establish a firm rule that play is restricted to specific times and limited durations, especially before bed, to manage the game's intense and scary elements.
Consider co-playing or being present during sessions to provide comfort and context for the frightening scenes and violent content, ensuring the experience isn't too overwhelming.

Talk about this

Discuss how the game uses sound and visual design to create a scary atmosphere, and how knowing it's just a game helps manage fear.
Talk about the narrative clues found in the environment and how piecing together the story helps understand the game's world without relying on explicit dialogue.

Play style

ROUTINE is a single-player experience with a deliberate, tension-filled rhythm. Sessions can be intense, characterized by careful exploration interspersed with sudden, frightening encounters. The difficulty largely comes from managing fear and making quick decisions under pressure, particularly during stealth segments. While there's no online social interaction, younger players might benefit from a parent's presence during tense moments.

Score Breakdown

Positive Aspects

Educational Value

0/5

Creativity

4/5

Pro-Social

1/5

Risk Factors

Addictive Monetization

0/5

Time Pressure / FOMO

2/5

Social Risk

0/5

Content Intensity

4/5

Why this rating

Educational Value

0/5

ROUTINE is a narrative-driven survival horror game focused on atmosphere and player immersion. It does not present any overt educational objectives or learning opportunities, hence its score of 0 for educational value.

Addictive Monetization

0/5

The game operates on a one-time purchase model and is available day-one on Xbox Game Pass. Storefront pages confirm no in-game purchases or online multiplayer, leading to a score of 0 as there are no elements of addictive monetization.

Creativity

4/5

Players are encouraged to think creatively to solve environmental puzzles and find stealthy ways to navigate threats. The game's minimal UI and reliance on environmental storytelling foster imaginative problem-solving within its contained narrative, justifying a score of 4.

Content Intensity

4/5

The game's primary genre is survival horror, featuring frequent violence, blood, gore, and sustained frightening encounters. These elements, explicitly noted by both ESRB and PEGI, make for a very intense experience, resulting in a high content intensity score of 4.

Negatives

•Frequent violent/gory imagery and tense, frightening encounters that may upset younger players
•some reviewers note repetitive stealth/hide sequences and occasional combat frustration
•no online/social features.

Positives

•Exceptional atmosphere and sound design
•strong environmental storytelling and puzzle-driven exploration
•minimal UI/design encourages immersion.

Gameplay Videos

PRIMER CONTACTO | ROUTINE Gameplay Español

Menos Trece

1 of 3

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Official Ratings

T (Teen)

ESRB

ViolenceBlood and GoreHorror themes. (Developer/Store note: frequent violence/gore). citeturn2view0turn6search4

Single-player experience; no reported online multiplayer or in-game purchases on storefront pages. citeturn2view0

PEGI 16

PEGI

ViolenceHorror / Fear. citeturn3search3

Age Fit

ℹ️Ages 3-5

Not appropriate. Intense horror, violence, and gore make this completely unsuitable for this age group.

ℹ️Ages 6-8

Not recommended. The frightening content and graphic violence are far too intense for most children in this age range.

ℹ️Ages 9-12

Not recommended. While older preteens might engage with puzzles, the pervasive horror, violence, and jump scares are generally overwhelming.

ℹ️Ages 13-15

Cautious recommendation. Only for mature teens who understand and can handle sustained horror, graphic violence, and intense fear. Parental discretion is strongly advised.

ℹ️Ages 16-18

Suitable for older teens. Designed for mature audiences, offering a deep horror experience for those who appreciate the genre and can tolerate graphic content.