Routine is essentially the absolute best case scenario in a subgenre I typically don’t usually enjoy. It has some of the best art direction in any game I’ve played - ever. The sound design is equally impressive, both exuding a kind of 80’s technology meets futuristic Sci-Fi dystopia. But even more remarkable to me is the puzzle design- both the clever design of the mechanics as well as the brilliant way they are seamlessly integrated into the environment. It all amounts to one of the most unique and engaging games I’ve played in a very long time.

While I do prefer games of this ilk a lot more than the thousands of indie horror walking sims on Steam (of which I suspect the quantity is due to their ease of production), the first-person psychological horror genre is just not quite my taste. It often features a run-and-hide system in exchange for combat, linearity in exchange for interconnected level design, overly simplistic gameplay, and an emphasis on story and atmosphere while often overlooking fun dynamic gameplay. I have enjoyed games like Outlast or Amnesia, but I much prefer the third-person survival horror genre that incorporates the game design philosophy of the 90’s classics.

Routine pretty much breaks through all of my previously held preferences though. Its expertly crafted world just sucked me in and I could not put it down. The gameplay centers around your C.A.T. device, a gun / camera hybrid that allows you view and interact with the world in variety of ways. Much like Dead Space, everything you do in this game is directly integrated into the world itself - all menus, save functions, records, media, and UI is all accounted for in-game.

The art style is hyper realistic (with some cinematic flair), which makes the in-game dated technology shine through in its flawed and crude forms. Your C.A.T. device, which is often required for navigating dark and oppressive environments, will distort the world with low-frame rates, chromatic aberrations, bending light refractions, and blurring effects. This dual-media interplay is just so interesting and immersive and unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.

I truly cannot recommend this gem of game design enough. On top of the unique presentation, the puzzles and level design and yes - the scares - are all equally amazing. It’s a tight little package of perfectly designed horror gameplay and easily one of the greatest games I’ve played this year.

10/10