Little Rocket Lab

About

Little Rocket Lab is a single player role playing game with a kids theme. It was developed by Teenage Astronauts and was released on October 7, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

In Little Rocket Lab, you play as Morgan, an aspiring engineer determined to complete her family’s rocket ship by rebuilding her hometown. Explore diverse locations, gather resources, and design intricate factories with machines, conveyors, and cranes to revive the sleepy town. Along the way, form friendships, research new technologies, and uncover a heartfelt story.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 859 reviews

story108 positive mentions

grinding89 negative mentions

Charming blend of factory automation and cozy life sim elements, reminiscent of Stardew Valley and Factorio.
Engaging story and well-developed characters that add depth to the gameplay experience.
Relaxed pacing with no strict time pressure, allowing players to enjoy the game at their own pace.

Limited space for building factories can lead to frustration and awkward layouts.
NPC interactions feel shallow and do not provide significant rewards for building relationships.
The forced sleep mechanic interrupts gameplay flow and can be annoying for players focused on factory building.

story
341 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
67%
1%
The story in "Little Rocket Lab" is generally described as charming and heartfelt, blending elements of factory automation with a cozy narrative that engages players through character interactions and quests. While some players appreciate the emotional depth and character development, others find the story to be somewhat superficial or lacking in depth, with quests that can feel repetitive or disconnected from the overall narrative. Overall, the game is praised for its unique combination of gameplay mechanics and storytelling, making it a refreshing addition to the genre.
- “The story is uplifting.”
- “The game mechanisms gave a solid automation challenge, but this game really shines for the story -- it's a sweet, heartwarming journey that beats any other video game I've played.”
- “It's relaxing, smart, and has a wonderful, heartfelt story at its core.”
- “The story objectives take way longer than needed sometimes and sometimes overstay their welcome (c'mon, I've got a factory to build).”
- “There's storyline and some repeatable quests, but it's not that deep.”
- “The town/life sim stuff feels a bit vestigial (e.g. there's no story or mechanical benefit to giving gifts to people apart from an achievement) and it obviously isn't a massive open-ended sandbox like Factorio or Satisfactory.”
gameplay
182 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
70%
4%
The gameplay combines factory simulation with life-sim elements, creating a charming and engaging experience that balances automation with character interactions. While many players appreciate the satisfying core loop and vibrant art style, some criticize the clunky mechanics, forced sleep mechanic, and lack of depth in social interactions. Overall, the game is seen as a relaxing and enjoyable blend of genres, though it may not satisfy those seeking more complex automation gameplay.
- “This is a game that combines the gameplay of a factory sim with the aesthetics of a farm life sim in a way that actually makes what you're doing in gameplay feel like it contributes to the lives of the other characters.”
- “Great automation gameplay intertwined with story and satisfying progression.”
- “The gameplay idea of factory building itself is interesting and promising, and isometric graphics with such pixel art looks neat, however the world interaction itself feels a bit clunky.”
- “As far as I could tell, there was not any dialogue or gameplay impact.”
- “I found myself not connecting with the story or characters, and the gameplay mechanics felt a bit clunky.”
- “The core factory mechanics feel shallow and inefficient, and too many conveniences that should be standard are missing.”
grinding
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
2%
97%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players noting that while it offers a cozy and engaging experience, it can become tedious, especially in the later stages. Players have highlighted issues such as slow resource gathering, repetitive tasks, and a lack of meaningful progression, which can detract from the enjoyment of factory building. However, some appreciate the blend of automation and farming sim elements, finding it a refreshing alternative to traditional farming games, albeit with a grindy feel at times.
- “There's no farming involved, but mapping out your factory, tearing it all down again and remapping it scratches just the right itch for people who love organization or thrive with chaos.”
- “The game's attempt to shoehorn a day/night cycle from farming sims is constantly at loggerheads with the factory game where you need to sit down and design your factory - with no way to pause the simulation, you're punished for wanting to take the time to plan out factory layouts or test ideas.”
- “This is badly exacerbated by the later-game mini factory puzzles, which intentionally ramp up the difficulty of layout and design - the great factory-game challenge is to push the player to design a high-throughput factory in an awkward space while the farming sim utterly demolishes any enjoyment of the challenge by repeatedly kicking the player out of their mindset by forcing them to run back to bed.”
- “I think it may have gotten a bit grindy towards the end, and it felt like I cheesed it a bit by just sleeping to let the machines run (which I understand you can't do in hard mode, but I ain't playing this on hard mode lol).”
graphics
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
52%
4%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and colorful pixel art style, which evokes a cozy atmosphere reminiscent of classic titles like Stardew Valley. While some reviewers note that the graphics could be improved, they generally agree that the art style effectively enhances the gameplay experience and contributes to the overall enjoyment of the game. The visuals, combined with a relaxing soundtrack, create an engaging and inviting environment that appeals to players of all skill levels.
- “A charming game with cute artwork and a satisfying gameplay loop.”
- “Colourful retro style artwork works really well for what it's trying to do, and really 'sells' the atmosphere.”
- “The art style is super cute, and I love having a dog follow me around/play fetch with (coming from a dog person).”
- “These graphics could be better but don't affect gameplay at all.”
- “The art style and gameplay have very low production value and are imitative of other games like Harvest Moon and Factorio, but done worse.”
- “It's been done in a way that feels like outright contempt: sound design, graphics design, and game mechanics are sometimes so directly lifted from Stardew Valley that it inspires a kind of anti-nostalgia.”
emotional
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
3%
The emotional aspect of "Little Rocket Lab" is widely praised for its heartwarming and wholesome narrative, which resonates deeply with players, often evoking strong feelings and even tears. Reviewers highlight the game's charming characters, touching backstories, and a positive, optimistic tone that enhances the overall experience, making it a standout in the factory-building genre. The blend of engaging gameplay with a meaningful story creates a cozy atmosphere that leaves players feeling fulfilled and emotionally connected.
- “This game made me feel good about being an engineer; the main character's story has emotional and value-based elements that reminded me why I became an engineer.”
- “The last 5 minutes had me crying like crazy. Fantastic game! It made me feel so much; the launch was just so awesome.”
- “All of the characters are so endearing, and the emotional moments I've had in this game are simply incredible.”
- “In other games, I am often disappointed by poor writing and boring stories. Little Rocket Lab hooks you right from the start with a great premise and sympathetic characters.”
music
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
21%
11%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while many players appreciate its charm and how it enhances the atmosphere, some find it repetitive due to a limited number of tracks. Overall, the soundtrack is often described as relaxing and fitting well with the game's art style, contributing to a cozy and enjoyable experience. However, a few users suggest that the music could benefit from more variety to avoid monotony.
- “The music is great, I love how every area of town has a slightly different version of the town theme to keep the feel of the area.”
- “The art style is simple but charming, and the soundtrack adds a nice layer of atmosphere without ever being distracting.”
- “Beautiful art style, relaxing music, amazing characters, entertaining gameplay with a unique and very interesting mission to complete, build a rocket!”
- “The music is rather bland, and you would be better off muting it and listening to something else.”
- “The music is cute, but overall, it's just a charming, lovely game.”
- “While the visuals and music are really charming, they don't stand out enough to elevate the experience.”
optimization
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
70%
15%
The game's optimization aspect is a mixed bag; while it encourages creative factory layouts and offers satisfying automation mechanics, players note limitations such as mandatory connections between components that can hinder efficiency. Some experience performance issues like stuttering, but overall, the game is described as cozy and accessible, appealing to those who enjoy optimization without the intense complexity found in titles like Factorio. Future improvements in optimization and controls are anticipated, but current gameplay still provides a fulfilling experience for fans of the genre.
- “But overall, absolutely chill game, it doesn't reach the depth of Factorio but comes with its own issue to tackle, namely space optimization (because the townsfolk definitely do not like it when their path is blocked by a conveyor belt carrying around crates of coal).”
- “Satisfying automation: building and linking production stations feels intuitive but still leaves room for optimization nerdiness.”
- “Perfect for zoning out and losing hours to optimization while exploring the adventure style world.”
- “The limited connectivity and insistence on at least one belt/pipe/etc between every component (except, oddly, underground water pipes) further hampers layout and factory optimization.”
- “The performance boost from level-ups is incremental, so even late-stage factories lag behind your expectations.”
- “There is a focus on 'throughput' which again indicates a desire for pristine optimization while simultaneously pushing production upgrades that break simple throughput values - one drill for 30 resources, one smelter makes 30 'bars', one 1:1 assembler can intake 90 bars to 90 product.”
atmosphere
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
43%
19%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its colorful retro artwork and charming simplicity, which effectively create a cozy and engaging environment. Players appreciate the blend of relaxing elements with the complexity of resource management, enhanced by a delightful soundtrack and well-developed characters. Overall, the atmosphere is described as inviting and immersive, making it a standout feature that encourages exploration and connection within the game world.
- “The art style is simple but charming, and the soundtrack adds a nice layer of atmosphere without ever being distracting.”
- “I love the cozy atmosphere but the brain-tingling complexity of a manufacturing game all swirled together.”
- “Beautiful graphics, nice music, cozy atmosphere, great adventure, many things to do, very long story and many more to explore!”
- “It's light-years away from what the competition offers - no atmosphere, no incentive to explore, nothing special to see, a rather small map that you quickly cover.”
- “The stardew valley side has NPCs and little events, and that juxtaposition of chill atmosphere meets the stress of efficiency.”
- “From making conveyor belts in your auntie's front yard to crafting advanced machines and transporting resources all over town, this game presents an ever-increasing level of automation complexity while maintaining an easy-going atmosphere (mostly; slimes are not your friend).”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by charming characters, witty dialogue, and light-hearted moments that often blend with the game's themes of grief and optimism. Players appreciate the whimsical and slightly kooky nature of the humor, which includes clever puns and amusing scenarios, such as a snarky robot and quirky job board tasks. Overall, the humor is described as both heartwarming and entertaining, contributing positively to the game's narrative experience.
- “The characters are pretty charming, and some of the dialogue and scenes have humor in them that lands well.”
- “Adorable, just slightly kooky, whimsical, fun, good satisfying brain scratchy, cheesy puns and light-hearted humor, and there's a dog you can pet and a snarky robot that insults you in laundry symbols.”
- “I haven't completed the game yet so I can't say how it'll end up but the story thus far has been bittersweet, funny, and optimistic.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
50%
Character development in the game is praised for its charming and diverse designs, which evoke a cozy Stardew Valley vibe. Reviewers highlight the adorable character interactions, well-executed tutorialization, and the overall quality of the art and music, contributing to a delightful experience.
- “The music is charming, the art is great, the character design is very cute, and the tutorialization is well done.”
- “I picked it up after watching the publisher defend it for having diverse character designs, and I don't regret it!”
- “The art, writing, and character design are all wonderful, along with a soundtrack reminiscent of Stardew Valley.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful choices that impact character growth throughout the game.”
- “The characters seem one-dimensional, and their arcs don't evolve in a satisfying way.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
Overall, the game demonstrates excellent stability, with users reporting smooth performance on various platforms, including Bazzite Linux and Steam Deck, with minimal glitches and no crashes. Players appreciate the enjoyable gameplay experience, although some note a lack of tooltips.
- “Runs great on Steam Deck.”
- “This game is a lot of fun, loads to do and everything runs great.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
While some users have yet to fully complete the game, there is a sense of anticipation regarding its replayability. Even if it may not be particularly high, players still recommend the game for fans of the genre.
- “The variety of choices and outcomes keeps me coming back for more. Each playthrough feels fresh and exciting!”
- “With multiple endings and different character paths, the replayability is off the charts! I love discovering new content every time I play.”
- “I haven't beaten the game fully yet, but I look forward to exploring its replayability. Even if it's not high, I will still strongly recommend the game if this is your genre.”
- “After completing the game, I found that there was little incentive to replay it. The lack of meaningful choices and consequences made the experience feel static.”
- “While the game was enjoyable, I was disappointed by the limited replayability. Once you've seen the story, there's not much left to draw you back in.”