- Publisher: Something We Made
- Release Date: Sep 17, 2021
- Also On: iPhone/iPad, PC, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
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Sep 13, 2021Brilliantly 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.
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Nov 30, 2021Toem is a frequent delight with a wonderful photo mechanic and excellent music. Just a shame it's not longer. It's pretty great though. Get to it.
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PLAYOct 17, 2021Each area, from a forest dwelling to the city to a seaside port, is friendly and fun to explore. Even ghosts just require a little help to move on.2 Conflict comes in the form of problems that everyone is happy to collaborate on fixing. Solutions usually involve your camera in unusual ways, such as directing a lighthouse with your zoom during a storm. It’s a journey you’ll remember, and by the end, you’ll have a camera roll full of memories to look back at. [Issue#7, p.78]
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Sep 15, 2021It may be short, but TOEM delivers heart by the truckload. This gorgeous hand-drawn adventure will have you fully invested in its quaint little world, taking photos of everything you see – whether it’s for a mission or just for the sheer joy of it. It’s the sort of game that makes the world seem like a better place – even if only for a few hours.
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Sep 13, 2021What 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.
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Sep 13, 2021Like each of the hundred or more photos you’re likely to take in one playthrough, Toem is exactly what it appears to be: an eye-catching but short adventure about exploring and puzzle-solving. Your photo targets range from loud and obvious to near-invisible, so everyone should find something fun to hunt. The textures don’t always hold up from every angle, and the trip ends far too soon, but there are definitely memories here worth keeping.
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Sep 13, 2021It'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.
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Sep 13, 2021On all levels, Toem feels like an homage of sorts to the early days of Nintendo. Through the game itself, it pays respects to Pokémon, while every facet of the presentation feels like a classic touchstone, from the hand-drawn aesthetic to the inaudible warble of the world’s creatures. It’s familiar, accessible and it sets a fun, quirky tone that’ll please anyone who gives it the time.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 40 out of 60
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Mixed: 9 out of 60
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Negative: 11 out of 60
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Oct 14, 2022
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Jul 26, 2023Whoever thought photo mode could be so fun? This hits the spot when you are in the mood for a chill little indie!
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Jun 22, 2023