TOEM 2, the sequel to the BAFTA-winning indie game TOEM, is out on PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC. It keeps the black-and-white look, but the world is now fully 3D.
In the original TOEM from 2021, players explored hand-drawn areas, helped quirky locals, and solved their problems by taking the right photo. The sequel, again made by the Swedish studio Something We Made, is set a few years later. Players set out once more to find a TOEM, the game's name for a rare and mysterious event. This time the goal is to photograph an ancient tree in bloom during a big festival.
What's new in the sequel
One big change is how players get around. While exploring, they can now run, jump, and climb. The camera has new tricks as well. Each region adds an attachment that lets players interact with the world in a different way.
Progress runs through a journal. Players earn stamps for finishing quests, documenting discoveries, and filling out a catalog of critters, and those stamps unlock the next region. There are no time limits, and the developer promises no tricky requirements for full completion.
How TOEM 2 is being received
The feedback has been mostly positive. Currently, over 90% of user reviews on Steam are positive. Polygon wrote that the sequel is even better than the first game.
Length and price
TOEM 2 is a short game. The publisher says it takes around three to four hours to finish. On Steam it costs $19.99 and a bundle with the first TOEM is available too. That makes it an easy pick for a quiet weekendl.
