Loco Motive for Windows

Stay on track with this murder mystery game

Loco Motive is a free 2D pixelated adventure video game wherein you have to solve a crime on a train. Developed by Robust Games, this murder mystery comedy game is an indie point-and-click adventure that features classic puzzles, colorful characters, and a hilarious but gripping tale. The game was made for the “AdvXJam 2020” contest. It’s a short journey and takes about an hour or so to finish with its one ending.

Got some lawyerin’ to do

Loco Motive tells the story of Arthur A. Ackerman—attorney at law and personal lawyer of Lady Unterwald, the eccentric heiress of a prestigious rail company. He’s been invited to come aboard her flagship luxury train for a family gathering, wherein she intends to announce the subject of inheritance to all her wealth. However, things go sour just like in the classic novel, Murder on the Orient Express, and now Arthur must solve a mystery.

You only need your mouse for controls: click on the ground or walls to walk and on objects and characters to interact with them. To access your inventory, move your mouse to the top of the screen. You can equip items by clicking them. Then you can use these items on other objects or people. You can either combine them or use them to progress the story. You can unequip by just right-clicking. Clicking on the object again or using it on any blank space.

This game will immediately remind you of LucasArts point-and-click games with its overall art style, intuitive puzzles, and witty dialogue. Most notably, the earlier titles of the Monkey Island series. While a wonderful homage to these nostalgic games and their developer, this indie game still holds well on its own without being too similar to them. Perhaps the only real issue here is that the audio will sometimes cut off after doing an action.

Brings back memories

All in all, Loco Motive is a beautiful love letter to classic point-and-click adventure games. Despite its lack of in-depth settings and the constant issues with the audio, it’s a lovingly-crafted indie game that really highlights all of the great gameplay elements that old-school games had with puzzles and object usage. If you’re a huge fan of LucasArts or just point-and-click mystery games in general, this is a highly recommended title.