Toem 2

In Toem 2, players once again assume the identity of the nameless young photographer. A few years after their first adventure, a new natural phenomenon known as a 'Toem' is about to occur. Armed with a camera, they embark on a bus journey through four regions: Cropten, Taletorp, Deltburg and Whirlhill.

At its core, the gameplay remains a relaxed photography-based adventure. Players can explore the game world, solve puzzles using the photo camera and interact with characters at their own pace. It is a cozy game that does away with time pressure and stressful battles entirely. They walk, jump and climb through the diorama-like environment, while the hand-drawn, monochrome aesthetic remains a visual hallmark of this second instalment. New features compared to the previous game include jumping and climbing, or light platforming, which makes the areas feel much more spatial.

Along the way, hidden paths and viewpoints wait to be discovered. The camera is the most important tool. It can be used to scan the surroundings, find messages or photograph natural phenomena. Players also encounter quirky characters in need of help all over the world, often accompanied by dry Scandinavian humour. Sometimes they have to search for missing items, sometimes they have to solve a puzzle, and sometimes they have to take the perfect photo – all of which are quite straightforward tasks, but at a relaxed pace. For every completed quest, players receive a stamp in their diary. Once they have collected enough stamps, they are awarded a ticket that takes them to the next region. Alongside completing the residents' tasks, players collect photos of various animals and creatures to fill their photo album and compendium.

The camera's capabilities can be expanded with new attachments and tools, enabling players to manipulate objects in the environment directly from the camera’s perspective. However, these new elements detract somewhat from the gameplay of the previous instalment, which focused on careful observation to discover beauty in small details, by introducing a more conventional adventure and puzzle routine. Overall, this wholesome photographic journey takes around four to five hours.

Something We Made, a small indie game studio located in Malmö, Sweden, developed Toem 2. Founded in 2018 by Niklas Mikkelsen and Lucas Gullbo, the company started working on its first major project, Toem, which was released on all major platforms in 2021. Since then, Something We Made has grown in size and now has eight employees. The game is published by popagenda, based in Montreal, with ties in San Francisco, Nebraska, Brooklyn, Toronto, and Edmonton. Founded in 2018 by Marie-Christine Bourdua, Geneviève St-Onge and Nicolas Verge, popagenda offers game marketing and publishing services to developers and publishers. Now a team of ten, they have supported titles such as Bugsnax, Toem, Cuphead, Venba, Little Kitty, Big City, and publishers such as Panic, Kitfox, and Landfall. They also co-published the climbing adventure Surmount from Jasper & Jonas and Henry Halfhead from Lululu Entertainment.

Toem 2 was released on 29 September 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, priced at €18.99.

Conclusion

Toem 2 builds on the core photography gameplay, incorporating more traditional adventure and platformer elements while staying true to its roots as a wholesome sequel.

Features

• Beautifully designed monochrome world
• More options for traversal and camera control
• Wholesome gameplay