The Sim genre certainly brings a diverse array of experiences to the table. You’ll find gems and duds in any gaming category, but there’s something particularly unpredictable about Sims. Over the years, I’ve stumbled across some exceptional Sim games. However, I’ve also encountered a fair share of truly dreadful ones—games that somehow get away with mediocrity just because they slap “Sim” on the title. Today, we’re diving into LIBRITOPIA: Librarian Simulator on PC. While this game has its moments of charm, there’s still plenty of room for improvement. It’s critical to mention that this game is in Early Access, so consider this a snapshot of its current state rather than a review of the final product.
In LIBRITOPIA, you step into the shoes of a librarian, tasked with building and managing your own library. The concept seems quaint and captivating. After all, libraries are wonderful sanctuaries where book enthusiasts escape the chaos of everyday life. They’re havens of knowledge and a cozy refuge for curious minds. Naturally, I embarked on this game expecting a whimsical, relaxing experience—something calming yet engaging. I wasn’t prepared for the fast-paced challenge it turned out to be.
In this librarian simulator, you cater to your patrons’ needs, striving to keep their complaints to a minimum. If a customer departs feeling unsatisfied with your service, it reflects poorly, and too many unhappy visitors spell game over. I would have been more forgiving had this been marketed as a Dash game, given the emphasis on speed and efficiency. However, as a Sim, it misses some of the depth and nuances that typify the genre. While librarians undoubtedly face a fair amount of stress, I’m not sure this is what players seek in a simulation game.
Before each day kicks off in LIBRITOPIA, you have the chance to enhance your library with new items, as well as collect books returned from the day before. Strangely enough, it all starts from a computer. Then a wave of eager readers arrives, ready to devour some literature. Up to this point, everything seems standard fare for this type of game, making it hard to criticize the entire premise.
However, for a group of supposedly well-read individuals, your patrons in LIBRITOPIA don’t seem all that bright. With a modest twelve books lining your shelves, their need for assistance in finding a title right in front of them is baffling. This might make sense in an extensive repository with hundreds of books, but not when every volume is plainly visible on two shelves. Initially, the covers face outward, leaving patrons with little excuse for needing help. As the game progresses, this changes, introducing new challenges that I suspect weren’t entirely intentional.
As your collection grows and more shelves are required, books appear spine-out, displaying only their titles. When customers request a specific genre or author, you’ll need to either keep a mental catalogue of your stock or check the title at the desk, which can be a time burner and tests customer patience. An impatient patron could leave, potentially ending your game. While you can label your shelves to streamline the process, doing so only covers so much, forcing you into tough spots during busier times.
LIBRITOPIA’s library is divided into zones—the check-in desk, check-out desk, and an area where customers wait for assistance. These separate systems feel clunky and slow things down unnecessarily. In truth, it should all be manageable on a single computer. Although you can invest in automated desks, which become essential, the setup feels cumbersome at the start.
When checking books out for patrons, you need to navigate to your computer, search for the necessary item, and proceed from there. The real inconvenience is having to leave the computer to confirm the book in question each time. With a queue building up, these steps become even more awkward. A simple pop-up on screen showing the book you’re looking for could streamline the process significantly.
The check-in desk mechanic involves a matching game with the book’s title, author, and genre. Despite the seemingly simple premise, I found responses to be sluggish, leading to delays. For a game employing dash mechanics, a lack of fluidity can be frustrating.
That’s the fundamental gameplay loop of LIBRITOPIA. Acquiring books, serving them to patrons, and retrieving them back again, should be straightforward. Yet, they’ve managed to complicate this basic process. Adding to the frustration, customers occasionally request titles you’ve yet to encounter. Though not game-breaking, it becomes an issue given that your patrons effectively represent your lives in the game.
Visually, LIBRITOPIA has a basic style reminiscent of the early 2000s. While I appreciate that not every game can boast high-quality graphics, this one feels a bit dated. The audio experience is sparse, and certain sound effects miss the mark, with some mismatched male voices for female characters. Controls function adequately, which is a relief considering the other drawbacks.
If Dash games are your thing, LIBRITOPIA does present some engaging mechanics. Don’t expect this one to land in the game-of-the-year category, though. The term “Sim” might be misleading here—what it delivers feels distinctly different from what you’d expect from a true simulator. As a Dash game, there’s enough substance to make it entertaining for a while, despite the issues that place it squarely in “just okay” territory for now.
It’s important to understand this is only an Early Access iteration. There’s significant potential for updates and improvements. The developers are actively working on the game, so we can anticipate better things ahead. Fortunately, if you’re curious, you won’t have to spend much to explore what LIBRITOPIA offers.
This preview is based on an Early Access version provided by the publisher.
