TOEM Reviews
Playful challenges and a warm sense of place and character converge in this cheerful modern classic.
TOEM is a short but satisfying little photography adventure packed with witty writing and picturesque moments to capture.
A charming little photo adventure all about leaving home and discovering beauty.
What sets TOEM apart from the many other wholesome games that plateau at mediocrity is its excellent execution of the concepts it puts forth. There is no design here that is questionable, no idea that feels unfinished. This is simply a well-crafted jaunt through a charming world. And it’s one that beckons me to return long after I’ve done everything I can possibly do in the game just to see what other amusing pictures I can take.
Toem might be short, but with the number of challenges, and you can finish it an afternoon if you're looking for something fun and relaxing to throw yourself at, or dip in and out to complete every little side mission. With the winter evenings drawing in, Toem is the kind of game I can see myself coming back to with a hot chocolate and a blanket, as I settle in to bring a little joy to the denizens of the world of Toem.
Games like Pokemon Snap have you on a time-limited rail trying to desperately time every shot perfectly. Meanwhile, Toem has you take your time, frame things up, put the zoom on proper, and take as many tries as you’d like to get it right with good music to accompany the process. It’s a short-lived expedition and can get choppy on the switch when there’s a lot going on in an area, but it’s still a charming experience I very much enjoyed my time with. I wouldn’t mind seeing more games take this more carefree route to a photographic experience in video games.
TOEM is a light and funny story, which makes you put your hand to the camera much more often than necessary. Nothing can be done about it: the temptation to capture in an image the beauty, the light-heartedness and the joy of the creatures that inhabit this world is too much to ignore.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Toem is the absolute pinnacle of easy-going gaming, and although it's a bit brief you'll never want to leave its gorgeous black and white world.
Exploring and taking photos to solve puzzles in Toem is somehow nostalgic and modern all at the same time, and it's sweet, wholesome fun.
It's a very simple game that you can easily wrap up over a weekend, but it's a satisfying, imaginative, and endlessly pleasant adventure while it lasts.
TOEM is suitable for all audiences. Everything from its friendly nature, to the ease of control, to the cute characters and catchy tunes, TOEM hits the mark in many ways. Though I wish it were longer, a part of me thinks the short length adds to the simplicity and relaxation aspect of the experience. It was just so inviting, especially during days where you want to do something easy and not necessarily feel too challenged, making me wish there was more content and areas to explore. TOEM 2, perhaps?
Brilliantly simple and beautifully stripped back, TOEM is what an indie game should be. It's different, a palette-cleanser if you will and takes me back to where games were just fun. No grinding, no monthly online events, just find this bloke's cat and take a photo of it. There's beauty here in the pure simplicity. TOEM runs well, plays great, and most people will find joy within its black and white walls.
Like a great album you put on at the end of the day to wind down, Toem is an incredibly relaxing experience that you'll wish you could experience all over again once it's finished. It almost makes us want to start capturing photographs of the world around us, but sadly, we don’t have a duck dressed as a lighthouse keeper to show them to. If only.
TOEM is an all-round endearing photo adventure with heartwarming stories and quirky characters, but quite short and shallow.
Review in German | Read full review
In these troubled times, this is an experience that should do good to all players anxious to trade for a moment the very real turpitudes of our world for the good words and surprises of an adventure that seems to have understood what feel-good really means.
Review in French | Read full review
A casual speedrun to just get to the end will run about two hours, but if TOEM is played how it’s “intended,” then expect to get a few hours out of it, while completionists might hit five or more. If content’s your concern, there it is, but if a high-quality, easygoing experience to escape the anxiety of these pandemic times—or whatever ails you—then TOEM works wonders. The world needs more TOEM, and it’s been a pleasure to get to live in this meditative place, even if only for a short while.
Toem combines elements of both Pokémon Snap and its mainline series, letting players loose into a darling world full of weird and wonderful characters, animals, and sights to behold. Armed with nothing but a camera and a pair of itchy feet, Toem is further evidence that 'taking aim' in video games can stem from a creative and peaceful place.
TOEM is a serene and silly photographic journey with a few technical bumps
End of game issues aside TOEM is a delightful, relaxed, monochrome game on Nintendo Switch. The music is peaceful, and favourite tracks can be listened to at any point, making it an ideal break from a busy life. The interesting characters provide a lot of laughs with their bizarre requests, cataloguing all the creatures brings its own amusement like watching a snail win a race against itself, and there is so much humour that the absence of colour is not noticed or missed.