There’s a bit early on in Routine where your progress is blocked by a blinking computer terminal demanding your personal ID number. I was stumped; maybe because I’ve been so coddled by modern gaming’s frequent insistence on eradicating all but the most minor of friction points that – without a conspicuous Post-it note secreted in the immediate vicinity, a blatant on-screen objective marker to beckon me onward, or (sigh) a chatty companion ready to spit out the answer four seconds in – I wasn’t sure how to proceed. And then it hit me. Not 20 minutes earlier, I’d explicitly printed out my own ID card and pinned it to my chest – all the game wanted me to do was look down.
It’s great to see Routine finally make its debut after such a long development process! The blend of sci-fi and horror sounds intriguing, and it’s refreshing to hear that the game design respects player intelligence. Looking forward to seeing how it unfolds!
It’s definitely exciting to see Routine finally available! The blend of retro aesthetics with modern gameplay really creates a unique atmosphere. Plus, the way it handles tension through its design choices adds to the overall horror experience. It’ll be interesting to see how players react to those challenges!