When a troll blocking a bridge demands a photo of three goats, you must find and perfectly position those goats—on three different ledges—to capture them all. TOEM 2 fills its world with these environmental puzzles, cleverly using an in-game camera and photo mode to define its gameplay. It's a hidden object game, but unlike others where you search static images, TOEM 2's world is dynamic, surprising, and delightful.
This is the follow-up to TOEM: A Photo Adventure from developer Something We Made. The core foundation remains the same: you play as a young character venturing from home to witness an awe-inspiring seasonal event called the toem. Traveling from town to town requires bus tickets, earned by helping the townsfolk, which primarily involves taking photos. You'll photograph everything from hidden garden gnomes to stinky cheese and cute critters.
Each town in TOEM 2 is a series of connected, isometric dioramas rendered in soft, black-and-white 3D. The townsfolk retain the flatter, hand-drawn aesthetic from the first game, making them stand out. Creatures skitter about, and clouds drift in the sky. Objectives often involve multi-step quests that encourage exploration. For instance, an invisible man in one area might need a potion to become visible, requiring you to find a potion maker, gather ingredients, and then return. These tasks often lead to discovering surprising or silly moments, like a cat hiding in a flower pot.
New Tools and Adventures
Beyond general photography, each town introduces a unique camera-related gimmick. In the farmland town of Cropten, spreading vines block paths. A townsfolk member, a small worm concerned about the vines, attaches scissors to your camera, turning gameplay into point-and-snip. The other two towns, Taletorp and Deltburg, feature their own tools and storylines. Charming townsfolk are introduced early in each level, serving to tutorialize new tools and becoming companions for exploration.
TOEM 2 is roughly four to five hours long, ensuring its simple premise never becomes a chore. Each world is individually delightful, discouraging players from rushing. There are more puzzles than strictly necessary for progression, and the main incentive to continue after collecting the required bus tickets is the sheer joy of discovery. A scarecrow might want to see the world, allowing you to photograph it in various locations. The quest to find three hidden gnomes encourages meticulous exploration of nooks and crannies. Joy in TOEM 2 often comes from navigating platforms and rooftops to gain new perspectives.
A Familiar Formula
TOEM 2's biggest limitation is the strength of its predecessor. The original TOEM's use of a camera and photo mode felt exceptionally novel. While TOEM 2's camera upgrades and tools are functional, they don't necessarily elevate the uniqueness beyond that initial level. TOEM's hand-drawn art style felt more intimate, whereas TOEM 2's world and items are computer-modeled. While still lovely and well-crafted, it doesn't feel like a distinct improvement or expansion.
Furthermore, TOEM's puzzles were slightly more engaging. TOEM 2 is very gentle, effortlessly guiding players through its photographic treasure hunt. While this makes for a breezy experience, the slight friction in the first game encouraged a deeper sense of curiosity. For example, TOEM 2 includes a quality-of-life update allowing the camera to lock onto objects, making it easier to photograph fast-moving items like paper planes. This change, while seemingly small, removes a touch of the challenge that was present in the original.
The Journey, Not the Destination
The end of TOEM 2 might feel anticlimactic, as the toem phenomenon itself isn't dramatically different from the first game. However, the game's true value lies not in reaching its conclusion, but in the experiences and discoveries made along the way. TOEM 2 succeeds in creating a vibrant, charming monochrome world that is worth spending hours in, encouraging players to slow down, look around, and ask "What happens if...?" The answer might be nothing, or it might be something glorious revealed later in the adventure.