First Look: Libritopia – Librarian Simulator for PC

The simulation genre can be a real grab bag, can’t it? Sure, you could argue that every game genre has its highs and lows, but for Sims, the contrast is even more pronounced. I’ve come across some stellar examples over the years, but I’ve also endured some turkeys that masquerade under the Simulation label for a free pass. I’ve awarded some of my harshest reviews in this genre. Today, I’m diving into LIBRITOPIA: Librarian Simulator on PC. While it has its moments of charm, there are certainly aspects that leave you wanting more. But, before you think I’m here to tear it apart, let’s remember this is an Early Access game. We’re looking at where it’s at now, not the polished final product.

In LIBRITOPIA, you step into the shoes of a librarian, tasked with building and running your own library. The mere idea warms my heart. Libraries are those tranquil havens where book lovers escape their busy lives, where knowledge-seekers can delve deeper, or where anyone can lose themselves for a little while. I approached this game hoping for a whimsical journey, something laid-back yet captivating. What I didn’t expect was to be thrust into a fast-paced dash game.

In LIBRITOPIA, your goal is to keep your patrons happy while avoiding too many complaints. If you can’t find a book someone wants, they’ll leave grumbling about your service. Too many discontented visitors in a day? Game over. If this were a Dash game, I’d probably be more forgiving. The problem is that they’ve stripped the nuance out of what makes a Sim, well, a Sim. It equates the role of a librarian with stress, which might be accurate to some degree, but don’t we want to escape that as players?

Before each day begins, you can spruce up your library by placing new items and collecting books left from previous days. You’ll start each day at your computer, which is a bit odd, and then welcome a stream of book enthusiasts eager for their fix. Up to this point, it’s what you’d expect, so it’d be harsh to fault the premise.

Let’s talk patrons. For people who should presumably be pretty literate, they aren’t the sharpest tools in the shed. When you start out, you have about a dozen books. A customer will wander over, peer at them, and then ask for a title that’s staring them right in the face. This setup would make sense in a huge library or if books weren’t shelved. However, when everything is right there on two shelves, it feels a bit silly—not to mention, the covers are facing forward. As you progress, this changes, but it adds a new wrinkle, possibly an unintended one.

As you expand your library and add more shelves, books turn spine-out, visible only by title. Customers might ask for books by author or genre, which you’ll need to remember or look up at the desk—smart, but slow. Patrons’ patience wears thin quickly, and when they go, you’re at risk of losing. You can label shelves, but it’s a time-consuming process, not something you want to dance through in a pinch.

The library is divided into zones. There’s a check-in and a check-out desk, a bit redundant since everything should really be on one computer. A designated area for customer inquiries slows things down awkwardly. It’s more steps than you need at the start of a dash game. You’ll find automation as you progress, but initial operations feel a bit cumbersome.

When you check out a book, you consult your computer, search for the item, and click to check out. Straightforward, but leaving the computer to see each patron’s request is tedious. A quick-view window would be a welcome addition. At the check-in desk, a matching mini-game awaits. It’s a little clunky due to unresponsive clicks—it shouldn’t be.

That’s LIBRITOPIA’s loop: find books, give them out, take them back. Simple enough, but it feels convoluted. To add to the fun, early on, patrons will ask for books you haven’t discovered yet. Not a deal-breaker, but with a limited number of chances, it grates.

Visually, LIBRITOPIA harks back to the 2000s—aesthetic choices notwithstanding, it misses a certain polish. Sounds are minimal, with mismatches like male voices for female patrons. Still, other controls function just fine.

Dash enthusiasts might find LIBRITOPIA’s appeal, though it’s far from winning awards. The term ‘Sim’ doesn’t quite fit here; it’s more a Dash game with enough challenge to warrant some play. Despite its flaws, it’s not a costly experiment, and there’s room for growth in Early Access.

The future might see significant improvements with developer efforts ongoing. Not a hefty purchase, LIBRITOPIA won’t break the bank, and who knows? You might enjoy shaping your own library world.

Note: This preview is based on an Early Access copy of the game provided by the publisher.