? In this murder mystery you’re not the detective — you’re the suspects. Loco Motive is an homage to classic murder mystery stories, blending point-and-click gameplay with sharp humor and the beloved 8-bit style of yore.

The game puts you in control of three different protagonists: An ambitious lawyer, a bumbling detective, and an elderly female spy. When a murder occurs aboard the Reuss Express, each character becomes both suspect and investigator, leading to an intriguing web of perspectives as you work to clear their names and find the real killer.

The core gameplay loop involves switching between the protagonists, each with unique abilities that affect how they interact with the environment and other characters. The lawyer can present evidence to force confessions, the detective can examine a crime scene for clues, and the spy can use gadgets to eavesdrop on conversations.

The solutions are sometimes frustratingly obtuse. There are moments when the progress depends on trying every inventory item with every interactive element, which disrupts otherwise smooth gameplay. But its strong writing, memorable characters, and clever use of multiple protagonists make it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.

? Rating: 9/10 on Steam.

⌛ Hours of gameplay: ~15 hours.

? Replay value: 5/10.

? Platforms: Steam for PC, Nintendo Switch.

? Price: USD 9.29 on Steam, USD 17.99 on the Nintendo eStore.

Tags: