Routine: Space-Themed, Horror-Survival Game To Rival Dead Space

Okay, so if you didn't know already Dead Space has become a fairly big commercial success. Dead Space is now a series aimed at growing outside of its niche horror-survival roots. Well, another company wants to dial it back a notch on the mainstream antics and they want to focus on a truly horrifying experience with their upcoming title, Routine.

While the teaser trailer doesn't give a whole lot of info on the game, it sets the tone in a remarkable way. The art-style and atmosphere seem like a mix between Ridley Scott's Alien, Danny Boyle's Sunshine and Paul W.S. Anderson's Event Horizon. The combination seems to work wonders for setting up the stage for Routine and the focus on exploration could work wonders in re-creating a sort of System Shock meets Amnesia mash-up. Check it out in the trailer below.

I haven't heard of Lunar Software before now and after taking a quick-click trip to their website it appears this is their only game and the fact sheet makes Routine sound like a real thrill-ride.

I'm really digging the idea of a non-linear, 80s-inspired sci-fi horror-game. That's such a cool concept and duly underutilized in the gaming sector. The idea that the game doesn't rely on a lot of pre-scripted linearity and has no health-bars, HUD or lives could really work in its favor, especially with EA wanting to keep Dead Space 3 a bit more homogenized for a broader audience in 2013.

If Routine is a slow-build tension-ride that stays true to its inspirational roots in sci-fi, deep-space horror, then the game could easily become the next Amnesia or DayZ sleeper hit.

You can keep track of the progress at Lunar Software by paying a visit to the Official Website. Routine is set for release sometime in 2013.