Out today on Xbox, Routine is a sci-fi horror game built around a 1980s vision of the future that takes place on our moon. Routine was made with a particular kind of game experience in mind for players, so we’d love to take this opportunity to talk about a few key elements that form the foundation of its art and design.

Relatable Science Fiction

When we started making Routine, we realised that creating a sci-fi world can sometimes conflict with immersion and horror. That is mainly because it is surprisingly easy to fall into the trap of building fantastical environments that end up losing a sense of relatability.

We didn’t let that stop us from exploring more creative ideas, but it did force us to think carefully about what actually needed to be redesigned, and what didn’t.

A chair is still a chair; it doesn’t need to look “sci-fi” if its purpose is straightforward. And unless it’s specifically meant to be visually appealing, it should be cost-effective to produce and probably durable before anything else.

Because of that approach, you will often see familiar, relatable objects throughout our more sci-fi spaces. These touches help ground the environment in a believable way — one we hope players will get completely lost in.

1980s Vision of the Future

As a child of the ‘80s and ‘90s, I grew up tinkering with all kinds of analogue equipment: cameras, VCRs, CRTs, and more. Their tactility, weight, smell, and even the way dirt collects in the recesses of their chunky designs all carry a sense of character and time.

Modern technology is sleek, lightweight, clean, and unobtrusive. It’s convenient and pleasant to use, but as an artist, it can start to feel like it lacks character and soul. However, it usually doesn’t tell much of a story to me and I really miss that aspect.

That’s one reason why we wanted to build a world inspired by that era. Another came from our desire to imagine how people from the 1980s might envision a believable moon base.

And naturally, it would include a holiday resort, with a mall, of course.

Immersive Game Design

There are many aspects of Routine’s design that we could talk about, but I want to highlight one that doesn’t get as much attention as the others, which is our deliberate lack of UI and waypoint markers that guide the player.

We wanted Routine to feel genuinely immersive, and part of that meant stripping away UI elements that distract you from the environment you’re standing in.

This was a challenging design choice, because many players have grown comfortable with strong guidance in modern games. And while that approach works well for many titles, with Routine we wanted players to find their own way forward.

There is still plenty of environmental storytelling and subtle design guidance, but we often encourage players to take their time, not rush, and pay attention to the world around them. By doing so, you will usually find that the path ahead is actually more straightforward than initially thought.

You’ll also have access to a PDA (Personal Data Assistant) when you encounter Wireless Access Points throughout the world. The PDA stores various types of information, including Tasks, which help keep you on track with your current goals.

On paper, this direction might seem like a small part of the overall design, but in practice it fundamentally changes how you navigate each area, something we had to refine through many, many playtests.

New Horrors Await

Routine doesn’t rely on jump scares. Instead, we focus on gradually building tension and subverting expectations to keep players on edge.

While the robotic threat from our previous trailers is ever present, there is something darker and creepier, something that we’ve only hinted at before. If you watch our new launch trailer you will see a small glimpse of what you will encounter, if you persevere long enough.

Available Now

From grounding our world in a familiar, tactile design, to imagining an ‘80s vision of our future on the moon, while also stripping away common UI elements to make exploration really immersive — every art and design pillar of Routine was formed by our desire to create a believable and atmospheric horror experience.  And from today you can experience it for yourselves on Xbox, including Xbox Game Pass. We can’t wait for you to explore the halls of Routine’s moon base and lose yourself in the immersive world we’ve crafted.

ROUTINE

Raw Fury

☆☆☆☆☆
76

★★★★★

$24.99

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█ ROUTINE is a First Person Sci-Fi Horror title set on an abandoned lunar base designed around an 80s vision of the future.

Curious exploration turns into a need for survival when a lunar base goes completely quiet. Searching for answers puts you face to face with an enemy who is certain the main threat is you. Discoveries lead to deeper unknowns and the only way to go is forward. ▌

Note: ROUTINE offers no waypoint markers, finding your way is part of the experience. Slow down, observe your surroundings, explore carefully, and review data to uncover the path forward.

FEATURES

█ EXPLORE: Roam through contrasting sectors of the lunar base, from deteriorating living quarters and tram stations to an abandoned mall. ▌

█ OBSERVE: Investigate your surroundings and uncover crucial information to progress and piece together the events that unfolded before your arrival. ▌

█ IMMERSE: Full body awareness, diegetic audio, and a minimal UI help create a gripping and atmospheric experience. ▌

█ OPERATE: Your Cosmonaut Assistance Tool (C.A.T.) is vital. Use it to access critical terminals, navigate the environment and identify clues. ▌

█ SURVIVE: Run, hide, or attempt to defend yourself against unknown threats using the C.A.T. as a last resort. ▌