Tailor Simulator Review (PC)

Tailor Simulator might not be the three-piece suit that you need and want, though it is one that fits the cuffs surprisingly well and feels comfortable to wear every once in a blue moon. But then, it’s a lot like a bog-standard outfit—a business simulation IP, in this case—in that you don’t ever really need it, but often feel yourself slipping into to scratch an itch for a short while to pass the time — like a onesie, maybe. It never truly satisfies any urges, but it does provide a gimmick to keep you ironing over the creases for a short period of time before you eventually reach the conclusion that, intricate stitches aside, you aren’t actually doing much to fulfill your wildest desires. Sadly, it’s the same with most job simulators; it begins with a lot of optimism and wishful thinking, but then, the more you begin to subject yourself to the same generic process, the more you slowly realize that it is, unfortunately, a rat race with only a tiny speck of cheese to line your stomach.

To state the obvious, Tailor Simulator is a lot like your traditional “insert job title” simulator, in that it presents most, if not all of the same challenges and generic progression hooks. Sure enough, it features the same rundown factory, and the same promise that, “if you build it, they will come” incentive. And yes, it also features a plethora of materials, upgrades, management options, and avenues of development to toy around with en route to that ever-elusive utopia of fine fabrics and Egyptian cottons. The only real difference here, of course, is that you aren’t establishing the foundations for a burger joint or a grocery store, but rather, you’re threading the needle for a booming outfitters — literally. But other than that, what you see is what you get: a rags-to-riches (pun intended) chore core sim that invites you, the aspiring tailor, to build and develop your own factory for lavish garments and the likes. If that doesn’t sound like your ideal cup of tea, then you might as well hang your coat on another peg.

If you’re still here, then you either have an undying love of mundane work and seemingly endless grafting, or you have a genuine desire to learn whether or not Tailor Simulator has more than enough to warrant the coin in your sewn-on pockets. Stick with us a while, and we’ll figure out if it’s up to your size or not.

One Size Fits All

Tailor Simulator threads the needle in a manner similar to your cliche-riddled sim, in that it presents you with the husk of an old storefront, and provides you with the tools, materials, and motive to build your own well-oiled machine for a business. From an old shack to frivolous cotton mills, the game tasks you with creating your own brand from the finest cloths and fabrics available in France and, with the power of a pair of scissors and a network of clients, elevating it to conquer vast markets across the Emporium—a place where competition bleeds through glamorous storefronts and high roller entrepreneurial circles.

Like a lot of A-to-B textbook sims, the game requires you to earn cash through your custom apparel and, with a passive income, funnel coin into opportunities to help the business thrive. With a little bit of pocket change, you can hire staff, expand your quarters, and explore thousands of different outfitting options, as well as befriend new customers, unlock their personal requests, and establish an ironclad relationship with the Emporium. Naturally, with all of these familiar hoops comes a rather straightforward gameplay loop—a journey that you more than likely would have taken several times before. You’ll start out with a few scraps, an old workshop, and just enough coin to create your first design. After that, it’s merely the case of towing the line until you have enough money to take your business to new heights. With greater demand comes more customization, and so on and so forth.

There’s a simple progression to Tailor Simulator that, while still leaving so much to be desired, keeps you formally entertained over the course of a milestone-oriented journey into the depths of high street apparel. To give credit where it’s due, it offers a good variety of custom synergies, managerial opportunities, as well as in-house chores and stockroom practices. It has depth, albeit limited in its ability to accommodate a formidable backbone with smooth AI capabilities and audiovisual components. But then, it’s like a lot of job sims; it doesn’t always have the frills of a big-budget IP, but rather, a gratifying experience that keeps you wanting to unravel another layer, if not for the sake of finding a new strand to pluck at, then to see how far you can take your business.

For an indie business sim that bears the brunt of a generic rags-to-riches ordeal, Tailor Simulator does have a surprisingly good customization model stitched to it. It isn’t entirely authentic and in possession of the wow factor I’ll admit, but it does feature a lot of great custom designs and, as if to further promote its purpose, a step-by-step process that serves only to make you feel like a tailor and not, for example, a fraud with a hand-me-down sewing machine.

Verdict

If you enjoy the act of towing the line and sewing the seams with the familiar fabrics that make up most, if not all job simulation games, then there’s nothing to say that you won’t enjoy managing your own outfitters in Tailor Simulator’s pompous Emporium. While it doesn’t deliver the à la grande of three-piece tuxedos, it does provide a comfortable fit with a good variety of pockets and accessories, stitched-on features and satisfying embellishments. It’s still all rather simple, and it doesn’t go out of its way to deliver anything truly extraordinary. That said, if you enjoy threading the needle and working through the casual rags-to-riches affair, then you’ll probably find a good place to hang your coat here.