Preview: Libraria – The Ultimate Librarian Simulator for PC

The simulation gaming genre is one of the most diverse out there. While you could argue this about any gaming category, it’s especially true for sims. Over the years, I’ve dived into some fantastic ones, but there have also been a fair share that left much to be desired. It seems like calling a game a Sim can sometimes give bad games an undeserved free pass. As a reviewer, some of my harshest critiques have been aimed at this genre. Now, I’m exploring LIBRITOPIA: Librarian Simulator on PC. Though it has its moments of charm, there’s still plenty that leaves something to be desired. Before you think I’m here to tear this game apart, remember it’s still in Early Access. We’re looking at its current state rather than a polished final product.

In LIBRITOPIA, you’re tasked with the delightful opportunity to design and manage your own library. The concept is rather charming. Picture this: cozy corners where avid readers escape into the tranquility of books. Libraries have always been havens for knowledge seekers and those looking for a bit of peace. Coming into this game, I was hoping for something whimsical, maybe a little laid-back yet captivating. But what I got instead was a sudden plunge into a frantic dash game that caught me off guard.

The game challenges you to meet the needs of library patrons, aiming to send them off satisfied. If too many customers leave disgruntled in a day, it’s game over. While this setup would work well in a fast-paced dash game, aligning it with the Sim genre strips away the complexity that makes simulations enjoyable. It turns the role of a librarian into a game of stress management, and while that’s partially true to life, it wasn’t quite what I anticipated as a player.

Every morning in LIBRITOPIA, you get to upgrade and arrange your library while collecting newly returned books. As the day kicks off, you’re suddenly managing a rush of visitors hungry for their next book. Up to this point, everything aligns with what one would expect – nothing to complain about, per se.

Once patrons show up, it becomes apparent how oddly clueless they can be. Imagine having just a dozen books on display, yet customers struggle to find what’s literally staring them in the face. This makes sense in a library packed with thousands of titles, but with just a few books in a tiny corner? It stretches believability. Interestingly, this dynamic changes as your library expands, creating a new layer of complexity that might not have been intended.

Eventually, as your collection grows, books are shelved spine-out, forcing you to recognize titles rather than covers. It adds a layer of memory challenge when faced with patrons who ask for specific authors or genres. You could check the catalog system, but doing so risks burning precious time and straining customer patience. Accurate and speedy service is vital; agitated patrons might leave, which inches you closer to losing the game. You can label your shelves, but that process is time-consuming and only offers so much help in a pinch.

LIBRITOPIA’s play areas are divided into zones: check-in, checkout, and customer service locations. Why separate systems for each is necessary is anyone’s guess. Managing these different points feels clunky initially, though it’s intended to scale with progress. Players can invest in automation to improve efficiency, though even early on it feels unnecessarily cumbersome.

Checking out a book involves identifying it on your computer system—a process that demands you frequently step away from tasks, leading to extra steps. Having quick on-screen reference options would smooth this out significantly.

On the flip side, there’s a matching mini-game at the check-in desk involving titles, authors, and genres. While creative, this game falters with non-responsive controls, making it feel more like a hindrance than a help. The fluidity needed for such fast-paced mechanics is missing occasionally, hampering the experience.

Players circle through these routines—acquiring and lending books in an awkward loop that should be seamless. An added frustration is patrons requesting books not yet in your collection. When each customer effectively equates to a life, losing them due to game limitations becomes frustrating.

Visually, LIBRITOPIA doesn’t break any new ground; it resembles a game from the early 2000s. While artistic choices vary, this might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Audio is sparse and sometimes mismatched, with character grunts not lining up convincingly with their appearance. Control-wise, everything works as expected, but the aesthetics could use polish.

If you’re a fan of dash-style games, LIBRITOPIA might tick some boxes. It’s not going to be the standout game of the year, but its mechanics could draw you in. However, it mislabels itself as a Sim, a term that sets different expectations than what this game delivers. As a Dash-style game, it presents sufficient challenges for replayability. Given the noted issues, LIBRITOPIA currently sits in “just okay” territory for me, but it shows potential.

Since it’s an Early Access title, there’s room for growth, and it could evolve dramatically in upcoming updates. The devs are clearly putting work into refining the game, and it’s priced reasonably for those curious to try it out.

Based on an Early Access copy provided by the publisher for this preview, there is hope for improvement and expansion, giving LIBRITOPIA a chance to develop its full potential.