Locomoto

Locomoto is clearly a game that puts the 'vibes' first. For a slice of its runtime, it was perfectly pleasant, but by the end, I was running on fumes. Yet, if it's a sedate and steady adventure with solid characters and a cosy atmosphere you're after, you'll love this. Just don't expect a lot of variety.

Locomoto is a game that puts the cozy out front. For a good stretch of its runtime, that approach really works, the atmosphere is warm, the characters are endearing, and the whole experience wraps you in a gentle, cozy embrace. But by the end, I found myself running low on coal. That said, if you’re looking for a slow and steady adventure, Locomoto delivers. It’s a laid-back ride with a soothing tone and some genuinely sweet moments. For better or worse, this train sticks to a familiar track.

I love when games provide freedom while also ensuring that each step of progress is satisfying and Locomoto does just that in all its cuteness. 🚂

Locomoto is one of the best games I’ve played in the cosy genre, and I was surprised at how involved I got, you always feel like you are making progress toward a fun goal as opposed to pottering around, passing time – and the whole premise of being a train driver, conductor, waiter, private eye, cleaner, postal worker, and all-round problem solver is as appealing as it sounds, making the moment-to-moment gameplay pure charm. This is one that will be installed on our family Switch for a long time to come!

Locomoto was an extremely interesting experience, and in terms of its mechanics and gameplay loop, it exceeded my expectations. However, the way the game was ported to the Switch is incredibly poorly done — it's hard to believe that this is the most buggy title I've played since I got the console. While it's a good game at its core, the state in which it was released makes it very difficult to recommend. And honestly, it might not even be worth trying to relax, enjoy the scenery and manage your train, if the game is going to keep crashing or freezing, causing all your progress to be lost.

Locomoto brings your dreams of train ownership to life in a cozy environment. You visit destinations around the land while completing tasks. Expanding the train by finding collectibles and personalizing it is enjoyable. There are a lot of simple fetch quests and some visual mistakes are noticeable. For a cozy train experience that lets you manage your own train, Locomoto is fantastic.

Locomoto is a delightful and gentle ride that provides the perfect balance of interaction and relaxation. Even as someone who doesn’t typically click with games like Animal Crossing, I found myself charmed by its heart and simplicity. There’s always something to do, but never any pressure to do it quickly. It’s a game that welcomes you warmly, lets you set the pace, and quietly celebrates every small accomplishment. And the best part? My little boy adores it. Of all the train-themed games I reviewed this month, this was the one that completely won him over, and that dual thumbs up means more than any score I could give.

A mix of cozy characters, story beats, and operating a train offers a relaxed simmy experience, just don’t expect much more than that

The gameplay is actually quite simple: You transport mail and passengers with their luggage to the desired destination, take good care of them, and collect tokens to obtain new resources.

Running your own train doesn’t sound all that engrossing, but Locomoto makes it an absolute dream. Improving your train over time, all while visiting quaint little towns and helping out the townsfolk, is a wonderful way to spend time, so consider this a must-play if you’re a cosy game fan.