Loco Motive
Three suspects recount a murder aboard a luxury train.
Loco Motive is a 2024 point-and-click adventure game from the London-based studio Robust Games, published by Chucklefish. The story puts players in the shoes of three different characters, each trying to solve the murder of an elderly wealthy heiress aboard her luxury train service, the Reuss Express. The game launched on Nintendo Switch and Windows.
In this 2D adventure, players advance the plot by solving puzzles. This involves exploring locations, talking to non-player characters for information, collecting items, and using them at the right moment. Each of the three protagonists offers a unique perspective on the events.
The plot begins when Lady Unterwald, the heiress who owns the railroad company behind the Reuss Express, is killed before she can announce who will inherit her estate. Police detectives question three suspects: Arthur Ackerman, her estate lawyer; Herman Merman, a novelist-turned-detective; and Diana Osterhagen, a rookie Inland Revenue agent. Each gives their own account.
Arthur’s story involves losing a new amendment to Unterwald’s will just before her murder. While searching for it, he meets several people connected to her: Kasper Bergmann, the embezzling treasurer; Arista Gudrun, her scheming sister; Arista’s twin sons Gunter and Hagen, who are ruining the company; and Doctor Hirsch, a physician in a secret society called the Order of Idle Hands. Arthur eventually finds the will and reads it aloud, only to discover he is the sole beneficiary, prompting Arista to accuse him of murder.
Herman’s account reveals he was invited aboard to investigate oil baron Jian Liu’s sudden affection for Unterwald. Herman learns Jian wants to buy out her company by any means. After Jian is accidentally knocked out, Unterwald is shocked to find he planned to inform on her to the Inland Revenue. Herman hides Jian’s body and gives his suit to Arthur to disrupt Diana’s investigation. After the murder, Herman panics, hides, and is forced onto the train’s roof in disguise, where he sees Arthur captured before being captured himself on Jian’s orders.
Diana’s story begins as she boards the moving train to carry out her mission with little success. After Arthur and Herman are captured, Diana witnesses Jian destroy the new will to continue his plans, benefiting Arista, who wants to sell the company.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Loco Motive
- Developer
- Robust Games
- Publisher
- Chucklefish
- Designer
- Adam Riches · Joseph Riches
- Writer
- Adam Riches · Joseph Riches · Elliot Herriman
- Composer
- Paul Zimmermann
- Engine
- Unity
- Platforms
- Windows / Nintendo Switch
- Released
- November 21, 2024
- Genre
- Point-and-click adventure
- Modes
- Single-player
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Loco Motive is a 2D point-and-click adventure game where players progress by solving puzzles through exploration, conversation, item collection, and timely item use. The narrative is told from the perspectives of three characters: Arthur Ackerman, the estate lawyer; Herman Merman, a novelist-turned-detective; and Diana Osterhagen, a rookie Inland Revenue agent. Each provides their own account of the events surrounding Lady Unterwald's murder on the Reuss Express.
The plot begins when Lady Unterwald is killed before she can reveal her heir. Arthur's story involves losing a new amendment to her will and discovering he is the sole beneficiary. Herman's account reveals he was hired to investigate oil baron Jian Liu, who sought to buy Unterwald's company. Diana's story shows her boarding the moving train and later witnessing Jian destroy the will. The three eventually escape custody, head to Unterwald's estate, and uncover evidence that Arista Gudrun, Unterwald's sister, is the killer. They use truth serum during a will-reading to expose her, leading to her arrest.
The game was developed by London-based studio Robust Games, founded by brothers Adam and Joseph Riches. It began as a smaller project for a game jam in November 2020, then expanded into a full release after positive feedback. The brothers handled development and pixel art, while Chucklefish signed the game in May 2021. The game was translated into German by Marcel Weyers.
Reader's Guide
Loco Motive received generally favorable reviews from critics according to Metacritic, and strong approval on OpenCritic, recommended by 78% of critics. It won the Adventure Game of the Year award in 2024 from Adventure Game Hotspot. Additionally, it was nominated in six categories at the AGOTY Awards, winning Best Adventure Game, Best Adventure according to the International Jury, and Best Puzzles. The game's significance lies in its successful transition from a game jam project to a full release, showcasing the work of a small independent studio. Its narrative structure, featuring three distinct perspectives on the same murder, and its classic point-and-click gameplay contributed to its critical recognition. The game's legacy is marked by its award wins and nominations, particularly in the adventure game genre, and its positive reception among critics and players alike.
Did You Know?
- The game was developed by brothers Adam and Joseph Riches of Robust Games.
- The story involves three protagonists: a lawyer, a novelist-detective, and an Inland Revenue agent.
- The killer is revealed to be Arista Gudrun, Unterwald's sister.
More in Adventure Games of the 2020s, Part 2 1-24
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