Locomoto review

Drawing clear inspiration from the anthropomorphic charms of Animal Crossing, Locomoto is a genre-blending adventure with a compassionate heart. After creating your custom character from a mix of animal features and outfits, you’re dropped into the town of Barrenpyre. As the name suggests, the settlement is a bleak wasteland where the populace and environment are ailing.

Despite the dystopian setting, Locomoto shirks being a gloom-fest. After your arrival, a friend nonchalantly reveals that a local train is yours for the taking, sparking a much-needed escape. Yet, instead of chasing high-stakes drama, the game focuses on the quiet joys found in community and restoration. Watching Barrenpyre bloom back to life, one piece at a time proves to be unexpectedly tender. Much like in Spilled!, every action feels like a small step toward healing a sickly world.

Steam-Powered, Even on eShop

At its core, the game is about managing and customizing your liberated locomotive. You’ll transport a rotating cast of quirky animal passengers between stations, striving to make them happy. Cozy sim enthusiasts will find plenty to like here, from redecorating train cars with plush furniture to installing comforts like snack bars and music systems. You can even deck out your character in all sorts of charming conductor apparel.

Locomoto’s crafting system doesn’t reinvent the (train) wheel, but it is accessible and keeps the game’s momentum rolling along. You’ll gather resources at each stop and transform them into luxuries like comfy seats or drink stations. However, these items aren’t just aesthetic. Some will unlock new dialogue or story events, giving your train a surprising amount of personality. Undoubtedly, there’s joy found in turning a rusty, old train into a cozy, little sanctuary.

Next Stop: Poignancy

Narratively, Locomoto shuns heavy conflict, opting for gentle, sometimes bittersweet storytelling. Many passengers that you pick up will have their own story arcs. Some seek lost family members, others are quietly harboring regrets. Thankfully, Green Tile Digital’s writing team handles these stories with elegance. Largely, the emotional beats aren’t forced or are too sappy. And some narratives might even linger with you long after their teller have deboarded.

Smooth Riding on Switch

On the Switch, Locomoto performs well boasting qualities like quick load times.  Pleasantly, the port maintains the PC game’s painterly style and provides a solid framerate in both docked and handheld mode. But some might appreciate the game’s lo-fi beats a bit more than me, which I found droning and repetitive. When it comes to controls, inventory and item placement can feel a bit finicky, making it difficult to place a crafted item.

But otherwise, the controls are responsive whether you’re recycling junk or managing passenger needs. Given the themes of transportation and tranquility, Locomoto makes a strong case for playing on the go. I know I’ll be returning the next time I’ll take a lengthier rail trip.

Locomoto was played on Switch with review code provided by the publisher.