Locomoto is a near textbook example of a cozy game, only this time, you’re living that laid-back life on your very own train. You chug along scenic rails and stop at charming little towns filled with quirky, anthropomorphic, characters that feel straight out of Animal Crossing. And yes, you’re an animal too, none of these weird humans in a world of animals lore; lore fit for creepypasta stories. You get to create your character and the customization is quite impressive. I made myself a black and white bird that looked similar to a penguin, and a penguin conductor! So it’s all aboard as I describe my time with Locomoto.
One of my unexpected joys of Locomoto was hunting down new clothes. Every time I discovered a new outfit, I couldn’t wait to hop onto the train and dive into my wardrobe, eager to see what kind of look I could put together next. It’s a small detail, but one that adds so much charm. The whole experience feels delightful, warm, whimsical, that kind of cozy.
Speaking of Animal Crossing, Locomoto channels that same heartwarming vibe when it comes to the townsfolk interactions. You can build relationships, learn their quirks, and feel like part of this little world. But where Locomoto really shines is in how it respects your time, outside of one key part of the game, there isn’t any waiting around for real-world hours to pass. You can play entirely at your own pace, with something new always waiting just around the bend. Every town offers a quest to dive into or a passenger in need of a lift, so the ride never feels slow or empty.
You can even take on the role of a postperson, delivering packages straight to the mailboxes at each train station. It’s a small but satisfying task that adds to the cozy charm. For a game centered around leisurely rides between towns, Locomoto actually offers a surprising amount of variety. Whether you’re chasing down main quests or getting lost in side missions, the game lets you set your own pace. You can just hop aboard, cruise to the next town, and see what surprises await. The freedom to move around at your own speed makes it all the more rewarding.
Your coal-powered train in Locomoto starts off a bit worse for wear. It’s rusty, worn down, and definitely in need of some love. But that’s part of the journey. As you play, you’ll unlock blueprints to craft new furniture and decorations, along with wallpaper and paint to breathe life into your train cars and make them truly your own. Driving the train is simple and satisfying. You’ll shovel coal into the engine, just enough to keep things moving. The power gauge gradually dips as you travel, and your job is to keep it in the green with the occasional chunk of coal. Overdo it, though, and the engine will overheat, sending puddles splashing onto the floor. It’s up to you to mop them up. Like the rest of Locomoto, the task of keeping the engine running in return turns a small task into a cozy little ritual.
Speaking of keeping things tidy, Locomoto even lets you earn handy tokens by picking up litter and recycling it properly. It’s a simple task, sorting the glass into the glass bin, tossing newspapers into the paper bin, etc… but doing it right rewards you with tokens you can spend at special vendor carts in town. These tokens unlock new decorative items for your train, giving you even more ways to personalize your ride. It’s a charming little loop: clean up the world, earn some rewards, and make your train feel a bit more like home.
As I mentioned, Locomoto is the epitome of a cozy game; there’s absolutely no stress or pressure. Even when you’ve got passengers onboard, there’s no rush to get them to their destination. Want to make a few stops, run some errands, or just cruise around for a bit? Go for it. Your passengers are more than happy to ride along, quietly enjoying the journey. And when you finally pull into their stop, they’ll hop off with a smile and even leave you a little tip for your trouble. It’s all part of the game’s relaxed, gentle, kind-hearted, and wonderfully unhurried charm.
But here comes the derailment. For all its charm, the grind can start to wear on you. There were moments when I’d mark my destination on the map, set my Switch down, and just let the train chug along on its own. That’s because there’s no “skip travel” option. There’s no fast-forward or way to bypass the ride. While driving the train has its cozy rhythm, there’s not much to do during the journey aside from keeping the engine fueled. You might want to try to multitask and sort your train cars, but once you reach your stop, the game kicks you into a loading screen, cutting off whatever you were doing. In its defense, the game does give you a small warning that it’s pulling into the station, but the rides aren’t typically long enough between towns. It’s a small frustration that, over time, makes the in-between moments feel more like downtime.
Visually, Locomoto has a soft, pastel aesthetic that looks nice on the Switch. It’s gentle on the eyes and fits the cozy vibe well. But I couldn’t help wishing for a bit more sharpness and polish, something closer to Animal Crossing’s visual clarity. The movement speed, too, feels slower than it should, and it gives the impression that performance is the reason behind the sluggish pacing. Most of the time, the game feels to be hovering around 30fps, and while that’s playable, it’s not always smooth. If it could hit a steady 60fps, or at least maintain a solid 30fps with snappier character movement, it would feel much more comfortable and responsive in my hand. As you progress and your train gets busier and late-game stations can cause the performance to take some dips.
There are also some rough edges in the visuals: missing textures, characters popping in or standing in the wrong place, and the occasional clipping issue. At one point, I even spotted suitcases sitting on the train tracks; likely a quirk of how the game tracks your character’s position. It’s the kind of thing you shrug off in a cozy game, but it does break the immersion now and then.
If you’re playing on a Switch 2 or possibly on PC, these issues might be left at the station. But on the original Switch? Locomoto runs, not as smoothly as it should.
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.
A Switch code was provided in advance by the publisher for review purposes
