There's something inherently cozy about management sims. I don't know whether it's the micromanagement of it all, the meticulous layout design process, or just the simple pleasure of watching numbers go up. Either way, factory simulation doesn't get much cozier than in Little Rocket Lab.
In No More Robots and Teenage Astronauts' simulation game, you play as the young engineer, Morgan. She returns home to stay with her aunt, dreaming of working on her rocket project together, but finds the warehouse locked and shuttered, and her hometown in dire need of some TLC. So, in Little Rocket Lab, you rebuild the factory from scratch, all while getting to know the neighbors and helping out around St. Ambroise.
Factory building starts off relatively simple, with items that Morgan can craft by hand to get things up and running, but it quickly gets more complex. I've dabbled in these styles of games before - mostly Oxygen Not Included and watching my partner play Cities: Skylines - but this is the most in-depth I've ever gone with automation. I'm also not a Minecraft fan, so these systems took some getting used to. However, despite the initial challenge, each time I successfully complete a process, I'm filled with pride and happiness. It really is the little things in life, isn't it?
Planning out my factory in Little Rocket Lab and getting the parts I need for quests really appeals to the part of my brain that likes to tinker, but is too afraid to take apart real electronics in case I mess up. I'll admit that my factory is currently a bit of a mess, but it's functioning, and that's all that really matters. I'm still relatively early in the story, and my only current gripe is the lack of on/off switches for the machines. I have to destroy one each time I want to turn it off, but this could just be due to my lack of progression.
What sets Little Rocket Lab apart from other factory sims is its cozy game elements. At the very beginning of the game, you get a quest that is reminiscent of games like Stardew Valley and Fields of Mistria, asking you to say hello to everyone in town. Some are people who knew Morgan in childhood, and others are new friendships waiting to blossom. Honestly, Morgan's desire to build a giant rocket doesn't really grab me as a motivation for playing the game, but using my factory to help the people of St. Ambroise is the real joy.
I'm playing Little Rocket Lab on the Nintendo Switch 2, and I must say it runs like a dream. Sure, it's not the most graphically intense game, but simulations with hundreds of moving parts can slam the brakes on processing, and the Switch 2 handles it all with ease. The pixel art looks stunning, and I've not experienced any lag or other glitches. The controls take a little getting used to, in my opinion, but luckily, the game features full button remapping, so if you're really struggling, you can simply change the inputs. Plus, in handheld mode, you can use the touchscreen in tandem with the Joy-Con 2s to make selecting items in your hotbar even more intuitive.
Little Rocket Lab is a cute, cozy addition to the factory games genre that's perfect for automation fans and those who like a challenge. It's the smoothest management sim experience that I've had on a Nintendo Switch console, and it's a great entry point for those looking to explore the space.
If you're looking for more cozy games to cuddle up with, check out our full list of recommendations. We've also got lists of all the new Switch games and new mobile games that we're looking forward to in 2026 and beyond.