Routine

Routine places the player on an abandoned lunar facility where silence and emptiness form the backdrop of the entire experience. The station appears dormant at first, but its unstable condition becomes clear as the player moves through damaged corridors and unlit service areas. The goal is not simply to progress forward but to understand what caused the disappearance of the station’s crew. With no checkpoints and no safe direction guaranteed, the player must rely on awareness, patience, and careful navigation to make sense of the unfolding situation.

Movement, Observation, and Tension

Gameplay in Routine focuses heavily on exploring environments and processing information gathered from each sector. The player must observe details in surroundings, piece together fragments of evidence, and determine the safest path through areas where structural collapse or unexpected threats may interfere with progress. The Cosmonaut Assistance Tool plays a key role in accessing terminals and gathering data, helping establish a clearer understanding of the station’s systems and the events that led to its current state.

Core Activities the Player Must Rely On

Throughout Routine, the player repeatedly engages in:

• Searching for safe paths through unstable station sectors
• Using the Cosmonaut Assistance Tool to unlock terminals
• Observing environmental details to reconstruct events
• Avoiding or escaping hostilities encountered in dark areas
• Evaluating data logs to plan future movement

These actions shape the experience and help maintain a sense of direction within the station.

Traversing Sectors and Managing Risk

The lunar facility is divided into multiple sectors, each with its own atmosphere, design, and hazards. Residential blocks show signs of collapse, transit areas include malfunctioning machines, and commercial sections feel abandoned mid-activity. Navigation requires deliberate pacing, as rushing increases the risk of encountering threats the player may not be prepared to handle. The lack of checkpoints reinforces the importance of precise movement, forcing players to fully consider every route before committing to it.

Encounters and Survival Decisions

The central threat within Routine is an entity that perceives the player as a direct obstacle. Avoiding detection becomes a major part of survival. Players can choose to hide, retreat, or attempt to confront danger using their limited tools, but each decision carries consequences. The Cosmonaut Assistance Tool may offer temporary advantages, yet it does not guarantee safety. Maintaining awareness of sounds, shadows, and movement becomes essential as the player ventures deeper into restricted sectors.