When games like Dead Space and Resident Evil have come up among gaming discussions, I have heard the term “Hollywood Horror” applied to both those titles and many more mainstream titles that fall under the horror genre.
To sum it up, the term points toward the idea that a piece of horror-themed entertainment is so staged and played beat-to-beat that said piece of entertainment ends up drowning any terrifying moments it had in its tropes. While people would argue whether or not the term applies to all mainstream horror games, few have ever argued the term applies to independently produced horror games. Some would even go far as to say that independent horror games are the last true haven for video game players who want a genuine scare. If you happen to be one of those preachers, you can continue your gospel for the time being.
Amongst all of the excitement that is taking place in Cologne, Germany during Gamescon, the 3-person independent game studio Lunar Software has released a teaser for its first game, simply called Routine. Fitting the studio name, Routine is a first-person horror game based on exploring an abandoned research station on the moon. While not detailing much, the teaser does show off some stunning visuals and is able to express a great atmosphere;