Loco Motive news & patch notes

Hey, everyone!

We wanted to write up one last news blog before we take a short break over the holidays.

As you may know, Loco Motive celebrated its one year anniversary last month! We would have made a bigger deal about it, but we wanted all of our focus to be on our latest major update, which added Simplified Chinese language support to the game!

The response has been incredibly positive, with streamers and players sharing their enjoyment over on Chinese video-sharing platforms such as BiliBili. As a small team, we've had to rely on word of mouth, so we want to personally thank our players for helping spread the word over the past year. Your recommendations really mean everything to us!

Steam Winter Sale

If you're looking for a last minute gift, or have been waiting on a deal - You can pick Loco Motive up for a hearty 30% off throughout the Steam Winter Sale, from 10:00 AM PT Dec 18 - 10:00 AM PT Jan 5!

That's our deepest discount to date, so don’t miss out!

900!

We've seen a lot of new players since our last update, and that's resulted in a spike in user reviews! In fact, we've just reached 900 reviews on Steam, which is a huge milestone! This means we're one step closer to our ultimate goal of reaching 1000 reviews.

If you’ve enjoyed the game but haven’t left a review yet, we’d really appreciate it. User reviews play a large role in helping other players decide whether to try Loco Motive, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has taken the time so far to share their thoughts!

The Road Ahead

The work isn't done! we’ve been tinkering behind the scenes, exploring some exciting new ways to reach our audience. This includes looking into additional platforms and the possibility of expanding language support (We see you!), though we can't confirm any details just yet. Keep an eye out for more news in the new year!

Lastly, we're excited to continue our collaborations with our talented developer friends by bringing you more bundles - Such as Foolish Motives and the Loco Motive x Murders On The Yangtze River collection!

You can explore all of our bundles here!

That's all for now! we hope you have a wonderful break over the holidays, and see you in 2026!

-Robust Games

Hey everyone!

We’re excited to announce that Simplified Chinese language support is now available for Loco Motive!

Over the past few months we’ve been working closely with Albert Wei (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Animal Well) to deliver a high quality translation of the source material.

Loco Motive has roughly 80,000 words, which is the length of a typical novel - so this has been no small feat! A big thank you also to Yiling Tang and Denis Andriushechkin at Riotloc for providing LQA! To celebrate, Loco Motive can be picked up now at a hearty 30% off in a week-long deal. Don’t miss out!

Simplified Chinese is available now as part of our 1 year Anniversary Update (1.0.6), which also includes bug fixes and improvements to the game based on player feedback! Please enjoy!

1.0.6 - Patch Notes

Localisation

• Added Simplified Chinese localisation (Thanks, Albert Wei!)

Art

• Updated medical records sprites for improved legibility.

Misc

• Updated engine version used following a reported Unity security concern.

• Optimised shaders used on characters for improved performance.

• Added language specific date formatting on the Save and Load screens.

• Reduced the count needed for the Prologue achievement.

• Updated the credits.

Fixes

• Fixed a null reference error message that would sometimes appear when loading a save.

• Fixed an issue which caused the wrong sprite to be shown on the chapter screen.

• Fixed the autosave label on the save screen not updating in certain circumstances.

• Fixed duplicate introduction conversation when giving the Accounting Ledger to Bergmann.

• Fixed certain animations not rendering correctly in mirrors.

• Fixed softlocks due to incorrect handling of background interrupts and timeouts in the Green Room in Act Two.

• Fixed an empty text box appearing when Susanne is doing her background warm-up lines in Act Two.

• Fixed Arista talking about the twins before they've gone missing in Chapter Four

• Fixed a missing line when giving Arista the Unrepaired Hearing Horn in Chapter Four.

• Fixed issues with character swapping during dialogue in Chapter Six.

That's all for now! If you want to chat to us directly, join our community discussion on Discord! - We can also be reached via Bluesky if that's more your speed! Let us know what you think!

- Robust Games

Hey everyone! 👋

Huge news for Chinese sleuths out there - Simplified Chinese will be coming to Loco Motive on PC November 21st! This also happens to be our 1-year anniversary celebration, so tell your friends, loved ones and sworn adversaries to mark the date in their calendars. To celebrate, we’ll also be running a week-long discount at 30% off in a Steam Daily Deal, so keep your eyes peeled! The translation has been executed by the wonderfully talented Albert Wei (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Animal Well).

It was important for us to find a localisation partner who could faithfully bring the game’s writing to life for a Chinese audience. Big thank you to Albert! 

The next update will also include bug fixes and improvements for you all to enjoy too.

That's all for now! As always, drop us your thoughts in the comment section below.

If you want to chat to us directly, join our community discussion on Discord! - We can also be reached via Bluesky if that's more your speed. Until next time, have a great day!

- Robust Games

Hey everyone!

We’re super excited to team up with our friends at Powerhoof, Clifftop Games and Raw Fury to bring you:

The Point-and-Click Mystery Bundle

For a limited time - Loco Motive features alongside The Drifter and Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer!

That's three amazing adventure games in one pack, and you can grab the whole lot for 10% off!

The Drifter

A Pulp Adventure Thriller - A murdered drifter awakens. Alive again, seconds before his death. Hunted and haunted, help him untangle a mad web of conspiracy in this fast-paced point 'n click thrill-ride.

Loco Motive

There's been a murder aboard the Reuss Express, and you're the suspects! Prove your innocence in this comedy 'point n' click' murder mystery - packed with twists, laughs, and larger-than-life characters!

Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer

In this point-and-click urban thriller, down-and-out private eye Kathy Rain will embark on her most dangerous case yet — the pursuit of the notorious serial killer known as the Soothsayer. Find clues, gather evidence, connect the dots, and confront the murderer before the hunter becomes the hunted…

In other news..

Yes! - we've been cooking up another update for Loco Motive, and we're looking forward to sharing all the details with you in the next few weeks! Stay tuned ;)

Thank you to everyone who has been enjoying Loco Motive since our 1.0.5 update!

This small hotfix addresses issues with character positioning when switching between characters during chapter six.

As always, we appreciate your continued support.

Update Overview

• Refined puzzle logic, for smoother gameplay across key chapters
• Improvements to UI, such as mouse wheel scrolling in the inventory!
• Numerous bugs squashed, enhancing overall stability and player experience
• Additional polish, to animations, environment visuals, and more!
• English (US) localisation introduced, alongside the existing English (UK) version
• Overhauled Autosave system, improving performance and reliability

MCV/Develop Awards

New Milestone Reached!

1.0.5 - Full Patch Notes

Puzzle Tweaks

• Herman now keeps the packing popcorn item after one use
• Added interaction when using popcorn on the board input slot
• Herman can now use the popcorn directly and indirectly to solve the puzzle.
• Herman now automatically collects the item after examining the waste basket

• Changed visuals for boiler flames to embers for better puzzle clarity
• Adjusted tooltip for an item in the mansion basement for puzzle clarity

• Using the correct item on Mr Masson will now automatically trigger the vote sequence
• Expanded the viable locations where Herman can locate the idol engraving clue
• Arthur now automatically reads the clue from ‘Dr Phogg’s Guide To Invis-Ability’ after obtaining it
• Changed Rosebud behaviour so Arthur drinks it automatically after obtaining it

• Expanded the viable items that work when used on Mr Liu's clenched fist
• Added fade out before Arthur learns the handshake ‘call and response’ for the first time

• Expanded the viable items that can solve the 'Knifey, Stab, Stab' puzzle.

• Diana can now use the serum directly and indirectly during the engine room encounter

UI

• Added mouse wheel scrolling functionality for the inventory
• Added Autosave disclaimer screen on start-up
• Added UI for when the player attempts an input that is blocked by the game state
• Updated the loading screen indicator to a spinning icon
• Updated inventory scrolling label text and translations
• Fixed inventory sprites and item grid being misaligned
• Enabled inventory UI arrow indicators when using a gamepad
• Improved clarity of scrolling arrow indicators on the inventory UI

Fixes

• Fixed inventory closing during specific item interactions
• Fixed the valve in not being connected to the wall pipe in Part Six
• Fixed visual sorting issues with Diana and Philately Stamp in the test yard
• Fixed issues with the band card game background sequence waiting and idle states
• Fixed the card game background sequence state not resetting fully when it is started
• Fixed the background sequence state not resetting fully when loading a save in the green room
• Fix for existing saves affected by Arista disappearing after repairing her item
• Fixed Arista not being visible in the lounge after repairing her item
• Fixed item not being removed after successfully winning the knife game
• Fixed various text inconsistencies and issues
• Fixed Arthur commenting that an item won't open the drawer when the drawer is already open
• Fixed Herman being able to learn the band name without stealing the corresponding item
• Fixed vote cutscene being re-triggered when reusing an item after solving the puzzle
• Fixed Hirsch facing away during a cutscene in Part Four
• Fixed waiter kitchen dialogue triggering before drinking the Rosebud
• Fixed missing animation trigger on Arthur's use item chest animations
• Fixed waiter kitchen dialogue triggering before receiving the necessary item
• Fixed Herman rendering underneath the rug during a cutscene in Part Four
• Fixed typo on Publisher Frank dialogue tree option
• Fixed sorting layer issues when April and Diana leave the test yard
• Fixed the fuel canister being incorrectly marked as empty during Part Five
• Fixed Pierre blocking the shoeshine chair prop behind him in Part Three
• Fixed sunset background tree sprite sorting order in multiple carriages
• Fixed Herman not resetting properly if you use another character to solve the puzzle during the finale
• Fixed Herman facing the wrong direction after the twins stare at him in the lobby
• Fixed Noir mode being disabled if it was active at the start of Part Four
• Fixed twins idle animations erroneously playing if you interact with Hagen
• Fixed incorrectly set flag for the drawer in Lady Unterwald's room
• Fixed being able to repeatedly use an item on the papers in the engine room
• Fixed animation markers being in the wrong place for one of Diana's ‘pick up’ animations
• Fixed Diana not walking to the button when interacting with it in the test yard
• Fixed Brother Jared not resetting properly when entering the room beyond the curtain
• Fixed rendering issues when Herman wakes up in the room beyond the curtain
• Fixed duplication of an item when leaving the test yard
• Fixed issues with selecting the outside window hotspot on a gamepad during Part Six
• Fixed player walking over the oyster bag in the kitchen carriage when it is visible
• Fixed Arthur rendering issues when using an item on the locker during Part Six
• Fixed selected inventory items remaining active when combining them and using a game-pad
• Fixed navigation prompts remaining active when look at or combining items using a game-pad
• Fixed sunset environment sprites import settings being set incorrectly
• Fixed the environment being night if you go out on to the rooftop access in Part Three
• Added timeouts to various background animations to prevent potential soft-locks

Misc

• Added English localisation
• Updated English localisation
• Added missing Mr. Masson idle animation during Part Six
• Added missing animations when picking up a certain item in the test yard
• Added missing animations when interacting with the pneumatic station in the test yard
• Updated train environment animations in Part Six
• Updated chapter four introduction cutscene timings
• Removed unnecessary off-screen line during the finale
• Imported updated version of Arthur device closeup sprites
• Increased Diana’s walk speed in the test yard, but disabled sprinting for this area.
• Added reading animation when Arthur obtains a specific item from the briefcase
• Updated localisation for STOVE platform

Save System

• The autosave system has been overhauled to enhance stability.
• Saving is improved with smaller file sizes and faster processing times.
• To prevent accidental data overwriting, a one-minute autosave grace period will now trigger after loading a save state

Join us as we celebrate excellent narrative games— with Loco Motive at 10% off from February 18–25!

Happy New Year!

Quality Of Life Update

• UI fixes
• Minor puzzle enhancements
• New Features
• Reworked Autosave for a better experience with save games.

500!

• fixed soft locks caused by incorrect handling of cancelled interactions
• fixed soft lock that could occur when clicking multiple times on don's broken door
• fixed rare soft lock when interacting with sister Gretchen and brother Jared in chapter two
• fixed soft lock where the band could get stuck in a loop when entering green room in chapter four
• fixed threading issue that could occur when interacting with the band members
• fixed soft lock that could occur when rapidly clicking on the casino patrons
• fixed potential threading issues when showing the perfumed note to characters
• fixed threading issue when talking to the highrollers in the casino
• fixed potential threading issues when leaving dialogue trees
• fixed soft lock due to erroneous character positioning during chapter six
• fixed threading issues when interacting with characters whilst drunk
• fixed a crash on certain windows system languages when looking at the medical records
• fixed null reference exception when an active controller is disconnected due to low battery
• fixed background sequences being stopped when an interaction is cancelled
• fixed soft lock when loading into chapter six from an autosave
• fixed a soft lock when talking to the chefs in chapter three
• fixed threading issues during unhandled fall-back interactions with characters, inventory items & props
• fixed soft lock when giving the briefcase to the twins in chapter two

• fixed german eszett character not appearing for lines displayed in all caps
• fixed dialogue text rendering off screen when using certain settings
• fixed issue where Lady Unterwald displayed incorrect dialogue options at beginning of chapter four
• fixed subtitle dialogue continuing to show after the twins escape from the vent in chapter four
• fixed accessibility text settings not being applied to background sequence dialogue

• fixed doctor Hirsch being very shy and facing the wall during handshake cutscenes in chapter four
• fixed Diana rendering underneath the motorbike in the test yard
• fixed Don remaining invisible if you leave the casino without following him
• fixed visual bug when showing Ron the detective badge at the dining table
• fixed the quartermaster from disappearing when using the hint line in the test yard
• fixed issue where Herman could show the detective badge to characters while in disguise
• fixed visual issues when giving the briefcase to the twins in chapter two
• fixed visual issues when giving the sketches to doctor Hirsch in chapter two
• fixed Philately Stamp visual issues during the mansion lobby cutscene in the finale
• fixed issue where Don appeared in the post credits cutscene

• added specific calls for combining the various knife state items with the slippery mixture
• fixed Arthur not walking towards brother Jared when interacting whilst drunk
• fixed Arthur not walking towards Belle when giving her an item
• fixed suction boots remaining active when using them on the ladder in chapter four
• fixed incendiary pencils remaining active when using them on the firebox in chapter five
• fixed hearing horn background sequence continuing when leaving the room
• fixed Don's betting sequence being triggered if you enter the casino whilst he's leaving for the dining carriage
• fixed Don and Bergmann background sequence continuing when leaving the room
• fixed publisher pigeon background sequence continuing when looking at the in-tray

• fix for save states affected by erroneous character positioning in chapter six
• fixed handshake club lights issue on initial autosave after Arthur drinks the rosebud
• fixed autosave icon not disappearing if an action was cancelled by the player

• updated credits list
• fixed the console being accessible on release builds
• fixed tutorial popups not disappearing if an action was cancelled by the player

“A true gem for point and click adventure lovers. From the art style to the story and voice acting, this game had me grinning from ear to ear and giggling at my desk. I am so happy I waited patiently for this! I highly recommend for fans of the genre - you won't be disappointed!” - André Conti “It's well written (actually funny and high quality writing) and the voice acting is top tier for the genre. The art and animations are stunning. The puzzles are good. It works great with mouse/kbd or a controller (I've played 100% with controller so far and it's a great implementation). The music is just fantastic. This has to be one of the top point and clicks in the last few years.” - GeorgeBroussard

"With its beautiful pixel art, great humor, and outstanding voice acting, Loco Motive is a captivating blend of next-gen and yesteryear, taking everything we love about classic point-and-click adventures and giving it a fresh, modern spin."

“Loco Motive is the full package. Grab a ticket, put on your thinking cap, and hop on the Reuss Express, as this is one of the finest cartoon point-and-click adventures ever created.”

"Loco Motive is a worthy successor to the classic point-and-click pixel adventures, featuring a twisty mystery and a cast of memorable, hilarious characters."

• A (roughly) 15 hour comedy adventure that hits like smooth jazz, set onboard a 1930s express train
• Beautifully detailed pixel art animations and cutscenes
• Take control of three playable characters, in an interlinking comedic adventure
• Meet a train-full of quirky and somewhat suspicious fellow passengers
• Fully voiced with a star studded cast!
• Uncover a deadly mystery, full of twists, turns and slapstick humour
• Stop at nothing to solve item-based puzzles, that won’t leave you head-scratching for hours
• Need a little nudge in the right direction? Telephone for assistance with an in-game hint call-line!
• Choose how you play - take direct interactive character control, or opt for a classic point and click experience
• With the slinky sounds of composer Paul Zimmermann (Wildfrost, Space Haven)
• No-blood ‘confetti’ mode & a suitably suspenseful Noir mode
• Font and text accessibility options
• Fully compatible with Steam Deck!

Loco Motive is fully Steam Deck Verified!🥳

What’s in Store on the Reuss Express?🚂

• 15+ hours satisfying point-and-click adventuring
• Fully voice acted with an all-star cast
• A deadly mystery to solve, full of twists, turns, and slapstick humour
• Steam Deck verified
• Beautifully detailed pixel art animations
• In-game hint support system, call the Dirk Chiselton Hotline 📲
• Choose how you play, with direct character control options
• No-blood ‘confetti’ mode & a suitably suspenseful Noir mode
• Font and text accessibility options
• Featuring the slinky sounds of composer Paul Zimmerman (Wildfrost, Space Haven)

Save the Date for November 21st!📅

Jack is a Welsh actor and Voice Actor originally from Cardiff, South Wales. Jack has established himself as a versatile and rising voice actor for video games and character voices having featured in almost 40 video game titles as of 2024, including Baldur’s Gate III and Black Myth: Wukong.

Samantha is a BAFTA and DICE nominated, GANG Award-winning actor. In the world of videogames, they are best known for their role as Karlach in Baldur’s Gate III, but you may also know them as Thomasina in the critically acclaimed adventure game “The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow”.

Sally is a voice actor living in Oxford, UK and no stranger to voicing adventure game characters, having played a wide range across 30+ video game titles. This includes The Excavation of Hob's Barrow, a leading role as Fia in the upcoming Old Skies, and a stand out performance as Weeoo in Harold Halibut.

Alasdair is an author, actor, video game writer and award-winning stand-up comedian, winner of the 2017 Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year, and Chortle's Breakthrough Comedian of the Year in 2023. Alasdair is also the creator of the Nelly Cootalot series of adventure games.

Sean has been an avid participant in videogame culture ever since his childhood, so it’s no surprise that he enjoys performing for them just as much as he enjoys playing them. In the world of videogames, Sean has featured in everything from AAA behemoths like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Genshin Impact to indie success stories such as the recent Duck Detective: The Secret Salami.

Savy is an experienced voice actor and audiobook narrator hailing from Lancashire, UK. In the world of video games, Savy has lent her talents to widely popular titles such as Viewfinder, Cassette Beasts, Fallout: London and more!

Antonio is a versatile voice actor who specialises in character, animation / cartoon, and video game character voices.

Darius is a Chicago based voice actor for video games and animations, known for their role as Felix in Cassette Beasts.

Once described as Australia's ‘most enigmatic’ game developer, Jacob Janerka is known as the creator of the surreal adventure game Paradigm and the upcoming The Dungeon Experience.

Dave has previously voiced characters in video games such as The Excavation of Hob's Barrow and Planet Zoo, but he is perhaps best known for his role as Halsin in Baldur’s Gate III. This performance earned him a spot on the BAFTA Game Awards longlist for- Best Performance in a Supporting Role.

Based in South London, Amina is co-founder of the British VO Network and a talented voice over artist who reads across Commercials, Drama, Animation and Gaming. In the field of video games, Amina is known for their roles in Baldur’s Gate III and Read Only Memories: Neurodiver.

Nickeem is a voice actor and freelance video editor based in South London, specialising in character performances for video games and animation.

James Ross "Jim" Meskimen is an accomplished actor, impressionist and voice actor who has been a fixture in film, TV, animation, games and audiobooks for decades. He has appeared in films for director Ron Howard, Paul Thomas Anderson and Garry Marshall.

Brent is a Japanese American Voice Actor, based in Los Angeles. He brings a decade of experience in film and theatre acting, improv comedy, and stand up comedy. Brent is known in games for his roles in Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, Genshin Impact, Lost Judgement and Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes

André is a dual-nationality French-British actor based in London, UK, and has provided a wide range of voices for video game projects from indies to AAAs in both English and French. André is known for their role as Aymeric Cassel in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty

Will is an award-Winning Voice Actor based in London, UK. Will has played a wide range of characters, including Hercule Poirot in Hercule Poirot: The First Cases and Milil (God of Song) in Baldur's Gate III. Other titles include Black Myth: Wukong and The Excavation of Hob's Barrow.

Maxim is an experienced multilingual British voice artist and actor based in London, UK. They have featured in a number of video games such as Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden and Jagged Alliance 3.

Kaitlyn is an American voice actress, best known for her role as the current voice of Disney’s Minnie Mouse. She is also known for her role as Felicia Sundew on Disney’s Amphibia and Tommy Goodman on Adult Swim’s Mr. Pickles.

Leonie is a multilingual, award winning Voice Actor. Their videogame roles include Aurore Cassel in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty and Toka in Assassins’ Creed: Valhalla.

Edwyn is a Voice Actor and writer based in Adelaide, Australia. They have featured in a wide range of video games, including Cassette Beasts, Harold Halibut, Unavowed and Freedom Planet 2. They are also known for their role as Detective Grimoire in Tangle Tower and its upcoming sequel, The Mermaid Mask.

Inel is an actor, TV personality and stand-up comedian from London, UK. Inel is a main cast member in the smash hit show Horrible Histories, he also hosts for Comic Con, BAFTA, Netflix and is the voice of Comedy Central UK. Inel has also voiced for a number of video games, including Final Fantasy XVI and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II.

Adrian is a voice actor based in Melbourne, Australia. Their voice features in a wide range of video games, including Wargroove, Harold Halibut, Budget Cuts and upcoming adventure game, The Drifter.

Natalie is a UK based Voice Actor and Director, with credits spanning stage, screen, games, and radio. She has voiced a number of video games, including Assassins’ Creed: Valhalla, Skull and Bones, and The Excavation Of Hobbs Barrow.

• "If you're a LucasArts nut or just like a witty murder mystery, Loco Motive is a must play.... The set-up, characters, pixel art, slapstick humor, voice acting, animation – everything is fantastic." - GamesRadar+
• "I really recommend checking out Loco Motive. When people say "LucasArts-style adventure" they normally wildly exaggerate. From this ENORMOUS demo, it might finally be time to bring out the accolade." - John Walker, Co-Creator of Rock Paper Shotgun
• "Loco Motive throws you headlong into a murder mystery worthy of an Agatha Christie novel but with the wit and slapstick of a classic cartoon...The exquisite animation, snappy soundtrack and soundscapes will have you engrossed." - Thumb Culture
• Loco Motive is a throwback adventure game featuring rich characters, lovely sprite art, and plenty of comedy. - PC Mag

Demo Feedback

What will be in the full game?

• A comedy adventure that hits like smooth jazz, set onboard a 1930s express train
• Take control of three playable characters, in an interlinking comedic adventure
• Uncover a deadly mystery, full of twists, turns and slapstick humour
• Meet a train-full of quirky and somewhat suspicious fellow passengers
• Stop at nothing to solve item-based puzzles, that won’t leave you head-scratching for hours
• Choose how you play - take direct interactive character control, or opt for a classic point and click experience
• Beautifully detailed pixel art animations
• Need a little nudge in the right direction? Telephone for assistance with an in-game hint call-line!
• With the slinky sounds of composer Paul Zimmermann (Wildfrost, Space Haven)
• Fully voice acted!

• We demoed at PAX East and EGX 2023 - the UK's biggest gaming exhibition!
• The game became ‘fully playable’ from start to finish
• Loco Motive was nominated for a Critics’ Choice Award
• We were officially selected to be part of LudoNarracon 2023
• We debuted our first playable demo on Steam as part of Steam Mystery Fest
• Full controller support was added to the game!
• We reached over 70,000+ Wishlists!

• ⏪ Subtitle Speed Settings
• 🗨️ Subtitle Backing Settings
• 🗚 Bigger Text Size Settings
• 📛 Display Speaker Name Option
• 📑 Dyslexic Friendly Font Option
• 🎉 Confetti Mode! (Removes Blood!)
• 🎮 Playstation Controller Support!

• 3 Playable Characters - Diana, Arthur & Herman
• A feature-length story
• Full voice acting
• Puzzle hint system
• Full controller support
• Even more jokes & puzzles