ROUTINE is an atmospheric sci fi horror game set on an abandoned lunar base where every step could be your last. The world is lonely, oppressive, and full of dangers hidden in the shadows. The game emphasizes stealth, sound awareness, environmental observation, and careful decision making instead of direct combat. Because of this, learning how to approach ROUTINE correctly is essential. Many players enter the lunar station with excitement, only to quickly realize that survival requires patience, strategy, and understanding the many subtle mechanics that shape the experience.

This guide will teach you how to play ROUTINE from beginning to end, walking you through exploration techniques, stealth methods, resource management, upgrades, environmental reading, and emotional control in its tense environments. Rather than simply telling you what to do, this guide will help you understand why you need to do it, so you can adapt your playstyle to whatever the lunar base throws at you.

Whether youre new to horror games or a veteran seeking to optimize your approach, the following sections break down everything you need to know about surviving ROUTINE. Each topic builds logically on the previous one, giving you a full timeline of how to tackle the game from your very first step to your final escape.

Understanding the Atmosphere and Tone

Before you begin learning how to play ROUTINE, you must understand the games core identity. ROUTINE is not an action game and not a traditional shooter. It is a slow burn horror experience. The base is filled with long corridors, dark rooms, and eerie ambient sounds. Your fear is not created by jump scares but by the constant uncertainty of what is lurking nearby. Accepting this slower pace will help you survive.

The game encourages you to treat every new area like a puzzle. Instead of running headfirst into danger, you should take a moment to observe your surroundings, listen for unusual sounds, and watch for movement. Learning to embrace silence and patience is one of the most important steps in playing ROUTINE correctly.

A player who understands the tone will naturally make safer decisions. If you try to rush through the world, you will alert patrolling robots or walk into deadly ambushes. Recognize that ROUTINE wants you to be cautious. Once you internalize this, everything else becomes easier.

How to Navigate the Lunar Base Safely

Navigation in ROUTINE is a skill that grows with experience. The lunar base is designed as a semi open structure where rooms and corridors loop together. Many areas appear similar, which can cause panic when you feel lost, but that confusion is part of the horror. Instead of trying to memorize every hallway immediately, use landmarks and environmental markers to form mental maps.

Look for unique objects such as broken panels, flickering lights, or wall markings. These visual cues help you track which routes youve already explored. Developing a habit of identifying these markers will reduce your anxiety and improve your sense of direction.

It also helps to walk slowly in new areas. Sprinting makes noise and attracts enemies. Moving smoothly lets you stay aware of dangers and gives you time to retreat if needed. When learning how to navigate the base, treat every corner as a threat until proven otherwise.

How to Master Stealth and Avoid Detection

Stealth is the heart of ROUTINE. You cannot overpower enemies, so survival depends on avoiding them. This means staying out of sight, minimizing noise, and choosing safe paths. Darkness is both your friend and your enemy. It hides you, but it also hides threats, making sound awareness even more critical.

To use stealth effectively, crouch whenever you hear suspicious noises. Crouching reduces your sound footprint and allows you to sneak past enemies more reliably. Also, remember that robots react differently depending on the environment. Some patrol slowly and change direction regularly, while others scan areas more aggressively. You must watch their patterns and understand when to move and when to stop.

An important trick is to use cover creatively. Even simple objects like crates, machinery, or wall gaps can break line of sight and save your life. The more confident you become in reading enemy behavior, the easier it becomes to slip past dangers without panic.

How to Use the Lunar Tools and Gadgets

Throughout the game you will acquire tools that enhance your ability to survive. One of the most important is the Lunar Scanner, a device that helps you interact with terminals, unlock doors, and understand the technology inside the base. Learning how to manage and use your tools efficiently is crucial.

Your scanner can reveal information that is not obvious at first glance. Some objects appear inactive until scanned, revealing hidden pathways or safe routes. Make scanning a habit whenever you enter a new room. Even if you think the area is empty, scanning may uncover something vital.

Tools also consume power, so dont use them continuously. Conserve your resources for moments that matter, such as navigating complex rooms or unlocking progress critical objectives. Treat every gadget with respect because each tool contributes to your survival strategy.

How to Read and Analyze Environmental Clues

ROUTINE hides its story and warnings within the environment. If you want to survive and understand the mystery behind the lunar base, you must learn to read your surroundings. Many rooms contain logs, damaged equipment, or signs of struggles. These details hint at what happened before your arrival and warn you about potential dangers.

For example, if you see damaged walls or destroyed machinery, it may indicate the presence of a hostile unit nearby. Flickering lights often signal unstable power sources, which can affect enemy behavior or create opportunities for stealth. Taking time to examine these clues gives you advantages that rushing players miss.

Additionally, environmental storytelling deepens your emotional connection to the world. The more you explore, the more you understand what went wrong at the station. This transforms your fear into knowledge, helping you make smarter choices and feel more prepared for future threats.

How to Manage Stress and Fear While Playing



ROUTINE can be mentally exhausting. The lack of constant combat, combined with eerie silence and unpredictable robots, creates a heavy psychological atmosphere. Learning how to manage your fear is part of mastering the game. Instead of letting tension overwhelm you, break the experience into manageable steps.

Take short pauses in safe rooms. Use these moments to breathe and plan your next move. Fear makes players rush, which leads to mistakes. When you feel anxiety rising, slow down your movements and focus on listening. The sound design in ROUTINE is a tool, not just decoration.

Another way to reduce stress is to set small goals for yourself. Instead of thinking about the entire lunar base, focus on reaching the next room, grabbing a resource, or scanning a terminal. Completing these small tasks gives you confidence and helps you stay calm.

How to Approach Combat Situations When Necessary

Although ROUTINE is not a combat heavy game, there are rare moments when escaping without confrontation becomes difficult. In these situations, your goal is not to kill enemies but to disable or avoid them long enough to escape. Any tool or weapon you acquire is meant for temporary defense, not dominance.

When forced into these encounters, aim to create distance. Use the environment to block enemy paths, hide behind objects, and break their line of sight. Running in a straight line will get you caught. Instead, use zigzag movements or switch corridors to confuse robotic pursuers.

Planning helps too. Before entering a risky area, observe potential hiding places or fallback routes. Think like a survivor, not a hero. ROUTINE rewards players who treat combat as a last resort rather than a primary option.

How to Progress Through the Story and Uncover the Truth

As you explore deeper into the lunar base, you will find terminals, logs, and audio messages that reveal pieces of the narrative. The story is not delivered in a straightforward manner. You must gather fragments, analyze them, and connect them yourself. This makes the mystery more immersive and satisfying.

To progress smoothly, investigate every terminal you encounter. Some contain vital mission objectives, while others expand your understanding of what happened to the crew. Missing these clues can make your journey more confusing, so be thorough.

Story progression is tied closely to exploration and scanning. As long as you stay curious and pay attention, the narrative will naturally unfold. The more you uncover, the more motivated you will feel to continue despite the dangers.

How to Prepare for the Final Sections of the Game

The final areas of ROUTINE are more dangerous, more complex, and more emotionally intense than earlier zones. By the time you reach them, you should already be comfortable with stealth, navigation, and environmental reading. Now your focus shifts to maintaining composure and making precise decisions.

In later stages, enemy patrols become more unpredictable. This means you must listen carefully for audio cues and rely heavily on your scanner. Every mistake becomes more costly, so avoid unnecessary risks. Move slowly, observe everything, and conserve your tools for moments when you absolutely need them.

Emotionally, the final segments demand confidence. Trust what you have learned throughout the game. Use all the techniques you have practiced: taking cover, scanning environments, tracking enemy patterns, and staying calm under pressure. With patience, you will reach the end.

Conclusion

Learning how to play ROUTINE effectively is a combination of patience, observation, and understanding. The game rewards players who embrace its slower pace, treat every room like a threat, and use stealth over aggression. From mastering navigation to understanding environmental clues and psychological control, every skill builds toward one goal: survival.

ROUTINE is not just a horror game but an experience that challenges your instincts and pushes you to think carefully about every choice. When you understand its systems, its tension becomes a tool rather than a burden. You gain power not through weapons but through awareness and strategy.

By applying the methods in this guide, you also deepen your appreciation for the games unique atmosphere and mystery. Once you reach the ending, you will not only survive the lunar base but also understand the haunting world that shaped it.

Summary

A complete guide to mastering ROUTINE, covering stealth, navigation, tools, fear control, story progression, and survival strategies across the lunar base.