TOEM 2 [REVIEW] – A Delightful Second Exposure

I absolutely loved TOEM, with its cute and charming photography-based adventures proving to be one of my favourite indie releases from the last few years. It meant that TOEM 2 was immediately one of my most anticipated releases, but I did wonder what the team at Something We Made could do to make it feel… well… fresh. Whilst TOEM 2 certainly doesn’t reinvent the wheel, some fresh gameplay mechanics, its alluring world, and an abundance of tasks to complete ensure that it manages to feel distinct – all whilst maintaining the high standard set by its predecessor.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Taking on the role of the same protagonist from the first game, you kick off your journey from the comfort of your bedroom at your nan’s house, with your ultimate goal being to travel to the Whirlhill Festival to witness the blooming of the whirling birch tree. However, the bus system in this world does not exactly run direct routes, so to pay for your tickets from town to town, you have to earn stamps by doing good deeds for the locals. Much like the original game, it’s a really sweet premise that plays into the innocence of the experience, but it brings with it a satisfying sense of progress that ties into the gameplay loop perfectly.

And, of course, that photography-based gameplay loop very much remains the absolute star of the show. Just like before, your main method of interacting with the world is with your trusty camera, with you wandering through various locales, chatting with wonderfully weird folks, and then solving their problems by snapping the right photos. These tasks are sometimes simple, sometimes silly, but always fun, with all sorts of kooky requests showing up that often demand you to think outside of the box a little to solve. If you played the first game, it’ll feel immediately familiar, but you know what? It still feels just as charming as the first time around, with it clear that the team at Something We Made haven’t run out of ideas yet.

“TOEM 2 is an absolute treat, expanding upon the photography-based gameplay loop of the first game in meaningful and rewarding ways.”

TOEM 2 also has some new mechanics that help freshen things up. Each main area now features a core companion character who tags along for a larger regional quest, with these characters giving you special attachments for your camera that tie into the puzzle-solving in unique ways. It gives the game a very light Metroidvania feel, challenging players to actively engage with the environment in ways that don’t revolve around taking photos alone. There is also a bit of light platforming this time around, with climbing and jumping challenges breaking up the photography tasks – sure, there’s not a whole lot of depth and they aren’t particularly challenging, but they add an additional layer to gameplay to keep things interesting. Throw in a new drone mode for taking selfies, and there is a brilliant amount of newly introduced variety on offer in TOEM 2 to keep the fetch quests from feeling too stale.

And, if you are the sort of player who loves to see and do everything – like me – there is plenty of side content to dig into, whether that’s by ensuring you complete every job in the game, hunting down hidden costumes, or trying to fill out your compendium by photographing all the local wildlife (which is something I absolutely loved thanks to the world’s wacky creatures). Uncovering every secret is a joy, and with the world littered with things to discover (both through exploration and through the eye of your camera), it’s easy to simply find yourself lost in its endearing world.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Visually, the game retains its signature black-and-white palette, though it has leaned a bit further into 3D environments this time rather than the flat, sketched look of the original. It’s a smart switch – not only because it makes the game look more distinct, but because it seems to have made it easier to pack with additional details. Every locale feels distinct and alive, and whilst the black-and-white aesthetic might feel restrictive, there still manages to be a real sense of vibrancy to each area you explore. Add to that the catchy laid-back music that perfectly matches the easy-going pace, and you’ll quickly find that TOEM 2 is the perfect game to play when melting into your sofa for an afternoon.

The only real complaint? It’s over really quickly, with it easy to hit the credits in about three or four hours. A short (and incredibly sweet) experience is always better than a bloated one, but it’s hard not to admit that I wish TOEM 2 just had that extra hour or so of runtime to flesh out what is otherwise a very joyful experience.

Developer: Something We Made
Publisher: Something We Made, popagenda
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2900640/TOEM_2/