Routine: Lunar terror with an ’80s retro-future edge

A first-person sci-fi “stalk ’em up” where a lone software engineer and their C.A.T. tool pick through a silent moon base.

Platform played: PC (Windows) — preview build.

ROUTINE is a first-person sci-fi horror “stalk ’em up” set on an abandoned lunar base built around an ’80s vision of the future.

You’re a software engineer sent to repair a broken security network with the C.A.T. (Cosmonaut Assistance Tool) — a diagnostic multi-tool that can also deliver electrical jolts as a last resort. For another recent FGC spotlight with strong atmosphere, see our Overkill Squad first impressions + dev Q&A. We also included ROUTINE in our broader look at 20 horrific games to play in 2026.

ROUTINE — Trailer

Trailer © Lunar Software / Raw Fury — used for editorial coverage on Fix Gaming Channel.

What it is: Routine isn’t about jump scares every five seconds; it’s about dread, space, and silence. The base feels lived-in but wrong — maintenance notes on dead terminals, half-functioning doors, and rooms where analog tech hums like it’s remembering something bad.

Routine key art. © Lunar Software / Raw Fury — used for editorial coverage on Fix Gaming Channel.

How it plays: The C.A.T. is the star. You’ll scan panels, restore fuses, and reroute power, then use the device as a desperate defensive jolt if a patrol catches you. It’s not a power fantasy — it buys you seconds. Routine is deliberate: watch patrol paths, listen for servo whines, and time your moves.

Pacing & tension: Brightness never equals safety. The scariest beats are often before you move — a flicker down-hall, a clank from a vent, or a silhouette that isn’t there when you raise the C.A.T. The best runs come from patience and reading rooms, not sprinting.

Dim, silent corridor inside the lunar base. © Lunar Software / Raw Fury — editorial use.

The moon is cold and quiet. © Lunar Software / Raw Fury — editorial use.

Look & sound: It nails late-’70s/early-’80s retro-futurism without cosplay: beige plastics, CRT scanlines, big toggle switches, and a pale, washed palette that sells “institutional” more than “space opera.” Audio carries the fear — distant machinery, failing lights, environmental groans, and crisp little UI beeps that feel tactile.

PC notes (preview build): Played on PC; movement and crouch feel weighty but responsive, and using the C.A.T. on terminals is snappy. We’ll save any performance commentary or settings breakdown for a future impressions/review once we’ve tested more areas.

The hook: Routine’s threat feels more like a corrupted logic than a movie monster — a machine that learned the wrong lessons from people. It’s less “boo!” and more “don’t breathe.” If that’s your thing, this scratches the itch.

Retro-future analog tech everywhere. © Lunar Software / Raw Fury — editorial use.

For more information

Check out ROUTINE on Steam: Steam Store Page

Why we like it

• Fantastic tension and a constant sense of foreboding
• An ’80s sci-fi aesthetic that honors the classics
• Exploration and puzzle-solving that reward attention
• Doesn’t hand-hold — you earn your progress