The sequel to the whimsical photo adventure game Toem has arrived, and while Toem 2 retains the original's charm, it streamlines its gameplay to a degree that may diminish the satisfaction of puzzle-solving. In this installment, players are tasked by their grandmother with capturing the elusive blooming of the whirling birch tree, a journey that begins with securing a bus ticket by completing quests in various towns.
As in the first game, the core mechanic involves using a versatile camera to assist the locals. These quests range from photographing runaway garden gnomes to finding inspiration for plant pots or documenting the whereabouts of a lost dandelion sibling. The camera itself is equipped with various attachments that offer more than just photo opportunities; for instance, one attachment functions as scissors, another allows for advanced selfie-taking with an airborne tripod. These tools are employed by aiming the viewfinder and pressing a button.
While many tasks involve creative photography, Toem 2 also incorporates more traditional adventure game objectives. These include tasks such as carrying a scarecrow to a new perch without disturbing birds, assisting a knight with an injury, or solving an escape room to claim a prize.
A Streamlined Experience
The quest structure in Toem 2 is more clearly defined than in its predecessor. Each area typically presents a main objective involving a special camera attachment and a character needing assistance with it. While completing these main quests isn't mandatory for progression, they are presented as the intended path toward achieving a friendlier ending. The original Toem allowed players to advance by collecting any stamps from any quests within an area, offering more freedom in how to approach objectives. Toem 2, however, guides players more directly.
The review notes that this increased directness, while making the game more accessible, can detract from the sense of discovery and accomplishment found in traditional adventure games. The author highlights that the original Toem, and other adventure games they admire, often present quests as riddles that require genuine thought and creative problem-solving. The satisfying "aha!" moment when a puzzle clicks is less frequent in Toem 2. Instead, the game often presents straightforward problems that feel like direct instructions, leading to a feeling of simply walking around until the next obvious use for a camera ability is found. This ease of objective completion, while sweet, might cause the sequel to feel less innovative than the original.
Despite the critiques on its difficulty, Toem 2 offers a collection of charming elements. Players can find numerous collectible outfits, with the reviewer particularly enjoying a large mascot-style version of their character's own head. Additionally, a compendium of critters is available to photograph for those aiming for 100% completion. The game is set to be released on September 29, 2026, with a price point of $17 / £13.59. It is developed by Something We Made and published by popagenda. The review was conducted on a PC featuring an Intel Core Ultra 7 265, RTX 5070 Ti, and 32GB of RAM. The game is also listed as Verified on Steam Deck and does not feature multiplayer.