The team behind the long-awaited sci-fi horror title Routine is intentionally making the game harder by removing one of modern gaming's biggest crutches: the on-screen UI. In a recent developer sit-down, the Lunar Software team detailed their philosophy, explaining how the lack of a HUD, map, or waypoints is central to creating a truly immersive and terrifying experience.
Lead Artist and Designer Aaron Foster explained that the goal is to build a believable, lived-in world that feels authentic to its 80s vision of the future. By stripping away distracting UI elements, players are forced to engage directly with the environment. You won't be following a minimap; you'll be reading signs, remembering landmarks, and paying attention to your surroundings to survive the deserted lunar base.
Forced Immersion Through Hostile Design
This commitment to a pure, in-world experience presents significant design hurdles. Assistant Lead Artist Jemma Hughes noted the difficulty of guiding players without obvious markers. Level design becomes paramount, relying on environmental storytelling and subtle cues to lead players forward. This approach was refined through extensive playtesting, ensuring players could navigate the world without getting hopelessly lost, while still feeling the tension of being alone and unguided.
This design choice also extends to the game's core tools. Hughes mentioned the challenges in updating the C.A.T. (Cosmonaut Assistance Tool), which serves as the player's primary interface. Everything you do, from checking your status to accessing information, happens through physical devices within the game world.
How do you interact with the world in Routine?
Instead of a slick menu overlay, players will interact with clunky, retro-futuristic computer terminals. Programmer Pete Dissler described the system he built as a complex, operating-system-like UI that lives entirely within the game's universe. This means terminals can fail, glitch, or display corrupted data, turning a simple information lookup into a tense, unpredictable encounter. It’s a system designed for flexibility and, more importantly, for creating emergent horror moments.
Ultimately, Lunar Software's approach indicates Routine isn't just about jump scares. It’s about creating a deep, oppressive atmosphere where survival depends on your own observation and wit, not on following an icon on a map. For players tired of hand-holding, this sounds like a terrifying breath of fresh air.