The game is played from a first-person perspective, with the player using a Cosmonaut Assistance Tool to fight hostile robots, interact with the environment, and perform other actions.
[1] The player controls an unnamed protagonist traversing a lunar base to unravel the mystery of its decline while encountering hostile robots.
[2][3] The player is equipped with a Cosmonaut Assistance Tool (C.A.T), a device used for both combat and environmental interaction, in addition to saving notes and tracking progress.
[4] Exploring levels with hidden areas,[5] the player finds batteries, powering the C.A.T,[6] and floppy disks which alter its specs, such as screen refresh rate and flashlight brightness.
[12]: 1 [13] After graduating in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in game design, Foster taught 3D modeling and creative thinking at the university while also working as a 3D environment artist at Eurocom.
[10] Following its re-announcement in June 2022, Lunar Software revealed that development had been previously suspended due to financial constraints and dissatisfaction with the project's direction.
[18][19] The selection of a lunar base as the setting for Routine stemmed not only from Foster's fascination with the Moon but also from its distance from Earth, its atmosphere of loneliness, and the in-game presence of enemies.
[4][10] The developers decided not to explore the protagonist's personality and backstory to heighten the immersiveness and focus the player's attention on the game's atmosphere and plot.
Foster explained that he "want[ed] to see if [... permadeath would] force people to care more about their actions rather than running around blindly thinking they can just reload the game.
"[20] This feature, combined with the first-person perspective and lack of a heads-up display, reflected the developers' aim of maximizing player immersion.
[11] Dissler designed the artificial intelligence of the game's enemies to adapt to and react unpredictably to the player's actions, cultivating a "fear of the unknown".
[22][23] Peter Bottomley, founder and head of White Paper Games, provided support to the developers, including access to more powerful computers for working with the updated engine.
[30] Lunar Software stopped providing development updates in 2017, but confirmed the project's continuation the following year, acknowledging some ongoing challenges.