Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 79 | 104 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 60 | 2 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 92% | 86 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 82 | 65 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 91% | 85 | 126 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 300 reviews sampled · 359 total reviews in window · weighted 190.4 up / 18.5 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (62)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 85
“This is a bold, uncompromising vision of horror. It rejects modern gaming conveniences in favor of deep immersion and palpable dread. While its "analog" design and lack of hand-holding will alienate some, those who crave a true survival horror experience will find it unforgettable. It’s a flawed, frustrating, and absolutely brilliant nightmare. It was worth the 13-year wait. Just remember: in space, no one can hear you scream at your map.”
read full review ↗ - 60
- 60
“Routine seems stuck in the past, and the long-awaited project has once again failed to meet expectations. The work of Lunar Software rather resembles a bizarre sequel to Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park: Trespasser, where the heroine would practically dislocate her arms trying to pick up a rock or a pistol.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“13 years have not been a waste. Routine is not a perfect horror game, but it is very thrilling, atmospheric and (in a good way) unfriendly.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Lunar Software’s title stands out as a gem of analog horror, offering a brilliant and immersive experience thanks to its suffocating atmosphere and obsessive attention to detail. Routine earns its well-deserved acclaim through its 1980s-inspired, analog world-building and a carefully crafted atmosphere that extends to its style, design, and gameplay. With all these elements, it manages to offer a truly unique experience of isolation and spatial desolation.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“This is a game that’s both notable for convincingly placing you in the shoes of its protagonist and for the way it builds tension on the margins.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Routine is one of those games that made me feel relief after finishing it. And I will never play it again. But not because it’s bad, on the contrary, it is a terrifying horror with a very immersive world. The atmosphere is so bleak and heavy that it can scare off some players. And that’s good.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“In conclusion, ROUTINE stands out as an experience that leaves a deep and lasting impression, not through what it explicitly shows, but through what it hints at, suggests, and allows to resonate long after the console or PC is powered down. It is a game that demands patience, focus, and a willingness to engage with its deliberate pace, qualities that set it apart in a gaming landscape dominated by louder, faster, and more immediately gratifying experiences. Its most striking achievement is the creation of an authentic, almost oppressive sense of solitude. This is not conveyed through grand set pieces or sensational events, but through the meticulous consistency with which every element, environment, sound, and design, reinforces feelings of disorientation and vulnerability. Exploration of the lunar station is never mundane; even the simplest actions carry weight, and the pervasive tension turns every movement into an emotionally charged decision. Equally noteworthy is the trust ROUTINE places in the player. It does not guide, explain, or reassure; it expects careful observation, attentive listening, and personal interpretation. While this approach may frustrate those accustomed to conventional narratives, it is precisely what makes the experience compelling for players seeking introspective, unconventional horror. Emotionally, the game conveys a steady, understated unease. The tension is never forced, manifesting through environment, sound, and silence rather than sudden shocks. It is a slow-burning anxiety, one that lingers even in moments of apparent calm, making the experience deeply immersive and memorable. From a development perspective, ROUTINE demonstrates rare coherence and artistic clarity. Despite a prolonged and complex production, it maintains a distinct identity. It is not perfect, nor does it claim to be; its imperfections are embraced, reinforcing a sense of authenticity and a non-standardized horror experience. Exquisitely crafted and sonically immersive, ROUTINE is recommended for players willing to engage with atmospheric, reflective horror, games that demand thought and attention in exchange for a uniquely immersive experience. It is a solitary, unsettling journey, one that does not entertain in conventional ways but fully immerses the player in a hostile, silent world, leaving a mark long after the credits roll.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“ROUTINE is an atmospheric horror film, fascinating but imperfect: punitive, divisive and deliberately anachronistic, it foregoes jump scares in favour of loneliness, tension and powerful aesthetics, capable of imposing a unique vision despite its limitations.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Unfortunately, while Routine has flashes of brilliance in its found-footage presentation and lovingly rendered Space Race-era tech, it’s unable to live up to a decade-plus of anticipation. ”
read full review ↗ - 85
“It may have taken Lunar Software's Routine thirteen years to come out, but it just became one of my favorite horror games of all time, because, quite frankly, the game does everything right”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Routine was a really cool experience and I enjoyed it a lot. I was completely drawn into the atmosphere of the game, I had some trouble with the robots, and most importantly, I had fun the whole time.”
read full review ↗
TheBigBois
Stryftek
GameMAG
3DNews
La Orden del Pixel
Slant Magazine
GRYOnline.pl
Indie Games Devel
STWGames Italia
The A.V. Club
XDA
Pizza Fria…and 50 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- HOTFIX R.2.2.0.0Mar 9, 2026
- PATCH R.2.1.0.0Mar 4, 2026
- PATCH R.2.0.0.0Jan 19, 2026
- HOTFIX 1.9.0.0Dec 12, 2025
- PATCH 1.8.0.0Dec 11, 2025
- Update - October 30, 2022Oct 30, 2022