Developer: Something We Made
Platforms: PC (Reviewed), PS5, Switch, Switch 2
Genre: Adventure, Casual
Publisher: Something We Made, Popagenda
TOEM 2 is developed by Something We Made and co-published by Popagenda, and this review was played on PC, with the game being available on Nintendo Switch. Switch 2 and PlayStation 5.
TOEM 2 is such a cute game, and I had an absolute blast playing it! This is the second game in the series, and although I haven’t played the first one, I don’t think it’s entirely necessary to play it before jumping into this one, which I really liked. That being said, after enjoying TOEM 2 so much, I’ll definitely be checking out the first game to see what it has to offer differently.
The main story follows you as you set out on a journey to witness the harvest of the TOEM. Along the way, you’ll travel through various locations, helping people with their requests and collecting enough stamps to unlock the next bus stop. It’s a fairly simple premise, but it works perfectly for the kind of relaxing adventure this game aims to be.
The controls are fairly easy to understand. I played using a keyboard and mouse, and for the most part, the controls were pretty decent. However, I do think the game would be more accessible for most players using a controller. I sometimes struggled with the zooming and a few of the smaller keyboard controls, although that was mostly down to me getting used to the controls. The game also does a really good job of explaining each new mechanic as you unlock it, with little text pop-ups and animations showing you how everything works. Can I also just say how much I appreciate the UI in this game? It’s so clean, and the black-and-white aesthetic is just so pleasing to look at.
The gameplay and mechanics work effortlessly, with some really unique little twists that I thoroughly enjoyed. You play as a character carrying a camera that your mother gave you before leaving, and this camera is pretty much your best friend throughout the entire adventure. You’ll use it to complete requests from different characters, whether that’s taking pictures of interestingly shaped clouds or figuring out where a lost donkey has wandered off to. The requests are varied enough to keep things interesting, and I loved how you could stumble across something completely random while exploring, only to realise later that it was actually part of a quest.
Speaking of the characters, the dialogue is one of my favourite parts of the game. Whenever you interact with someone, you get little conversations that are genuinely fun to read, and some of the humour is just so goofy. The character interactions really bring the world together, and even the smallest encounters can leave you smiling. As you progress, you’ll also unlock different tools that can be used through your camera. For example, you get scissors that let you snip things from fruit trees and little buds on vines, while the hammer introduces a fun mechanic where you have to tap or hold in time with a beat that almost looks like Morse code. These little additions keep the gameplay feeling fresh without making anything overly complicated.
On top of all that, the gameplay loop is incredibly addictive while still being calm and relaxing. I especially enjoyed being able to take pictures of all the different creatures in each area, as I found myself wanting to collect as many as possible. There’s definitely an incentive to aim for 100% completion, and I loved how the game encourages you to explore every little corner rather than simply rushing through the main objectives. The camera itself is extremely handy, and I really liked how smooth and easy it was to use, from zooming and focusing to the little drone mode that lets you explore different angles. Even the platforming and traversal feel clean, with plenty of opportunities to get creative with your pictures or discover hidden presents tucked away on rooftops.
One of the things that really stood out to me was just how much detail each location had. I often found myself stopping to admire the scenery and photograph little things that had absolutely nothing to do with a quest. Sometimes, I’d take a picture of something simply because I thought it looked interesting, only to discover later that it was connected to a quest I hadn’t even found yet. I really enjoyed that sense of discovery, as it made exploring feel rewarding without the game constantly telling you where to go or what to do.
Visually, TOEM 2 is absolutely charming. The monochromatic world uses a mix of 2D and 3D elements, creating this almost paper-like look where the characters and environments feel as though they’re sitting inside little blocks of white space. It’s such a simple style, but it works incredibly well. The character designs, animations and expressive cutscenes make every interaction feel more lively, and I found myself appreciating the little details more and more as I played. I also loved that each character had their own little gibberish voice, which adds so much personality to the game without needing actual spoken dialogue.
The audio is just as lovely, with a great variety of music throughout the adventure. You can collect mixtapes as you explore, which you can then play while travelling around. Some of these are even tied to specific locations or characters, which I thought was a really cute touch. For example, the ghost you encounter in the basement of the tavern has its own little tune. It’s these small details that make the world feel so full of character. You can also collect different costumes and hats along the way, giving you even more ways to personalise your character. It’s a small feature, but it adds to the overall charm and makes exploring even more enjoyable.
I also really liked how the game lets you set your own pace. There are no time limits or unnecessary pressure to complete everything, so you can spend as long as you want wandering around, taking pictures, or just enjoying the scenery. Usually, when a game gives you fetch quests, they can start to feel repetitive after a while, but I never really felt that way here. Every new location had its own personality, with different characters to meet, creatures to photograph and little secrets to uncover. You technically only need to collect around half of the available stamps at each bus stop to move on, but I always found myself wanting to collect every stamp and discover every creature before leaving an area. The game makes completion feel rewarding rather than like a chore.
If I had one criticism, it would be that I wish there were a little more story or perhaps a few extra areas to explore. For the price, the game felt a little short, which is probably my biggest downside. I also wish some of the puzzles were a bit more challenging, as very few of them really had me scratching my head. However, I can also appreciate that this is part of the game’s charm. TOEM 2 isn’t trying to be a difficult puzzle game; it’s all about relaxing, exploring and enjoying the little things, and I think it does that incredibly well.
TOEM 2 is such a lovely little adventure that I had a genuinely great time playing. From its quirky characters and adorable world to its fun camera mechanics and satisfying collection system, there’s so much to love here. It’s the kind of game you can sit down with after a long day, switch off your brain for a while and just enjoy exploring at your own pace. Although I would have loved a little more content for the price, the charm and personality of the game more than make up for it. If you’re looking for a cosy, wholesome adventure that rewards curiosity and lets you enjoy the little things, TOEM 2 is definitely worth checking out!
Overall: 8.5/10
This is S & S. We are world game explorers. We play games. We have played over 10,000+ games! We travel, we write reviews AND we play more games!!!!
