Bookbinding – Dark Cozy Sim Review (PC)

In any case, I wouldn’t pair the words cozy and dark in the same sentence, but I can see what Bookbinding – Dark Cozy Sim wants to accomplish with its bleak yet elegant binder of fantastically complex stories. It’s a bit like A Little to the Left (or Sticky Business), only with a darker glossary of characters and consequential elements. Though, the point of the game isn’t all that different than the aforementioned duo. See, while the game does cater to a “darker” side of bookbinding, it still solemnly works as a wholesome experience that prioritizes its coziness. It’s a game about creating book covers, after all — how malicious could it possibly be?

Bookbinding isn’t a far cry from your usual sticker-centric business sim. It’s similar, mainly due to the fact that, like Sticky Business, it encourages creativity. The customer might have their own preferences, but it doesn’t matter all that much here. As the curator of leather-bound books and blank novellas, you have the power to create and tailor your creations to your own needs. So what if the consumer has a few problems with the finished product? Surely, a game about books and wholesome touches wouldn’t slap you on the back of the knuckles for making a wrong decision, right?

I jest, in ways, because while Bookbinding does have its consequences for the novel weaver, it doesn’t slap you on the wrist for favoring one design over another. See, Bookbinding – Dark Cozy Sim isn’t a challenging game, nor is it one that forces you to thinking outside of the box. Simply put, it’s a part visual novel, part sticker-like simulation game in which you befriend the local characters, uncover their stories, and explore their minds in order to capture their identities on a leather-bound book cover. In some cases, a character might project themselves onto you and ask for certain features. As it turns out, though, it’s you who gets the final say in the matter.

If you’re familiar with design tools like A Little to the Left, then Bookbinding ought to feel like a welcome treat. Given that most of the game consists of creating book covers and experimenting with various set pieces and themes, what you essentially have is an open book that can be tailored in any manner you see fit. Does it matter if you simply ignore customers and undermine their requests? Eh, yes and no. See, beneath the cover of its sleek exterior, Bookbinding harbors another tale—a story about a murder, a deck of tarot cards, and a dimly lit romance. Depending on how you choose to create your covers, you can either learn more about the mysteries that orbit the world or keep them secret.

While creating book covers is the primary objective in Bookbinding, the game does cater to an underlying set of interests. In addition to forging your own unique anthology of book covers via an in-house design tool, you also have characters to wax poetic with, several of whom wear their heart on their sleeve, and others who  simply prefer to keep their secrets bottled. Regardless of the circumstances, you find yourself with a simple job: to listen, adapt, and publish. If, of course, you can find a soulmate along the way, then you can always consider that as a bonus.

If you’re looking for a similar level of detail as the likes of Scriptorium: Master of Manuscripts, then you might be disappointed to hear that Bookbinding doesn’t provide that same depth or scale. As you have a significantly smaller canvas to work with, you have access to fewer features. In most cases, you will find yourself adding borders, characters, and small but noticeable objects to the cover, though nothing that would be considered particularly extraordinary. Don’t get me wrong, you do have various themes and styles to work with, with each request having its own distinct feel and guideline. For the most part, though, Bookbinding – Dark Cozy Sim acts as a simple self-serving suite. You create book covers, embellish them, and learn a little bit about each customer as they stroll through your door.

On the bright side, Bookbinding does live up to its namesake as a traditionally cozy game. Gameplay aside, it accommodates a lot of small but meaningful details. The art, for example, fits the rustic Victorian-medieval aesthetic incredibly well, with the aid of a well-rounded cast of characters, plausible connections and a soothing atmosphere to sweeten an otherwise gloomy backdrop. Again, it might not offer a huge selection of set pieces for you to fool around with, though it does make an effort to keep you engaged, if not with its characters, then with its murder-mystery plot threads and romance options. And to be honest, that’s a slight cut above the average sticker sim.

It feels as if there’s an easy recommendation here. If, say, you enjoy cozy customization sims that feature light visual novel and crime drama segments, then it’s highly likely that you’ll enjoy switching off for a while to publish these particular books. Perhaps it’s best not to think too deeply into it. Bookbinding might not be akin to the all-time epics, but it does make for a great read, and frankly, that alone makes it a journey worth taking.

Verdict

Bookbinding – Dark Cozy Sim adds a creative twist to a familiar murder-mystery visual novel in an attempt to shake up the old Sticky Business and Scriptorium: Master of Manuscripts formula. With a helping of curiously written tales, romancing options, and book covers that harbor more secrets than the average ten-second pamphlet, the game finds itself atop the tallest enclave as a genuinely intriguing, creatively crafted indie.

It goes without saying at this point, but if it’s a short creative exploit that tickles your fancy, then there’s a good chance that you’ll find what you’re looking for in Bookbinding – Dark Cozy Sim. True to its word, it is dark, and sure enough, it is cozy. The books speak for themselves, as do the covers that you publish.