PREVIEW / LIBRITOPIA: PC’s Ultimate Librarian Experience

The simulation genre, with its diverse array of titles, has always been a bit of a gamble. Sure, you could argue that’s true for most game genres, but there’s something about sim games that makes the hits really shine while the misses, well, miss hard. As a seasoned reviewer, I’ve come across some outstanding sims over the years, thrilling in their execution. Yet, it’s also a genre with more than its fair share of duds — some of which have earned my lowest scores. Today, I dove into LIBRITOPIA: Librarian Simulator on PC. While it presents a unique charm, it leaves quite a bit on the table. It’s crucial to note, though, that this is an Early Access title, so what you’re about to read concerns the current iteration, not the final product.

LIBRITOPIA: Librarian Simulator invites you to craft and manage your own library. The concept initially enchanted me because libraries embody coziness and sanctuary for book lovers escaping the chaos of everyday life. They are treasure troves of knowledge and peaceful retreats. Heading into the game, I was hoping for whimsical escapism — something leisurely but engaging. Little did I expect to be thrust, unprepared, into a fast-paced gameplay experience.

In this game, your goal is simple: cater to your patrons’ needs while minimizing complaints. If you don’t have what a customer seeks, they’re bound to leave dissatisfied. A few such instances, and it’s game over. If I knew it was a dash-style game going in, I might have been more accepting. But since it’s labeled a sim, the expected complexity and depth are absent. The game equates being a librarian with stress, which perhaps rings true in some worlds, yet doesn’t align with the appeal many players seek.

Before the virtual day kicks off, you’ll be assembling new library features and collecting books returned overnight. Oddly enough, you start each day at your computer, and then a parade of book lovers arrives. Up to here, it’s all fairly straightforward, though more quirks quickly appear.

You see, the customers—which you’d think would boast a certain level of literary acumen—seem surprisingly clueless. Initially, your shelves feature merely a dozen books. Yet, patrons will stand in front of them, gaze blankly, and request books sitting right under their noses. This might make sense amidst hundreds of volumes, but with just two tidy shelves, it’s absurd. Early on, the covers of these books are fully displayed, removing any excuse for confusion. This does evolve with progress, but it brings new challenges, intentional or not.

As the shelves multiply, books line up spine-first, showing only titles, not authors or genres. Customers might seek an author, and you must recall or look up the item, costing precious time. Labeling shelves helps, but it’s a gradual process and adds complexity.

Zones in the library extend to check-in and check-out desks; each oddly demands its own system. Customer query spots are another drag, slowing game pace needlessly. Ditching excess steps seems wise in a dash game setup, and while buying automated desks helps, the initial setup remains cumbersome.

Checking out books involves finding them on your computer, but every interaction requires leaving the digital terminal to confirm titles. Balancing multiple patrons becomes awkward with this design choice. A streamlined system would enhance the experience.

Likewise, book check-ins become a game of matching titles, authors, and genres. Yet, the interface proves clunky, adding unnecessary friction when speed should be paramount, detracting from what should be quick and fluid gameplay.

The loop in LIBRITOPIA involves acquiring books, lending them, and retrieving returns. It embodies simplicity, yet feels convoluted. Seeking books unseen adds to the frustration, as losing patrons means risking in-game “lives.”

Visually, LIBRITOPIA is basic, reminiscent of an early 2000s aesthetic. While artistic simplicity isn’t inherently bad, coupled with sparse sound effects and jarring mismatches in audio, it falls short. On the bright side, controls function as expected.

Fans of dash games might find some merit in LIBRITOPIA: Librarian Simulator. It won’t be snagging a game-of-the-year accolade anytime soon, but the mechanics do offer some entertainment. However, the sim label feels somewhat misleading. As a dash game, there’s replay value, but as it stands, LIBRITOPIA lands in the “just okay” category for me.

That said, with the game still in Early Access, improvements are on the horizon. The developers are actively enhancing the title, so the landscape might well change in the not-too-distant future. At its current price, it won’t break the bank if curiosity beckons you to try it.

The thoughts here derive from an Early Access version of the game provided by the publisher.