Toem

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.

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"Toem is a charming single-player kids' platformer game with an interesting plot, unique atmosphere, and wholesome story. Explore a hand-drawn world, take photos to solve puzzles, help quirky characters and enjoy the phenomenal music. Join the community through the game's Discord and follow its development on Twitter."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

99%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,827 reviews

music176 positive mentions

grinding11 negative mentions

TOEM is a charming and wholesome game that offers a delightful photography adventure with cute characters and engaging puzzles.
The art style is unique and beautiful, with a black and white aesthetic that enhances the game's charm and atmosphere.
The gameplay is relaxing and enjoyable, allowing players to explore at their own pace while completing fun quests and taking pictures.

The game is relatively short, taking around 5-7 hours to complete, which some players feel does not justify the full price.
Certain puzzles can be vague or confusing, leading to moments of frustration when trying to figure out what to photograph.
There are minor control issues, particularly with keyboard and mouse setups, which can detract from the overall experience.

music
284 mentions
62 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been widely praised for its calming and charming qualities, enhancing the overall cozy atmosphere. Players appreciate the variety of tracks that complement the game's whimsical art style and engaging gameplay, with many noting that the soundtrack is a highlight of the experience. The ability to collect and replay songs adds an enjoyable layer, making it a delightful accompaniment to the game's exploration and puzzle-solving elements.
- “The music is chill and the game flow is just perfect.”
- “The soundtrack is easily one of my favorite things about this game; it has all the feel-good vibes you want and need.”
- “The charming visuals and soothing soundtrack create a serene atmosphere that's simply enchanting.”
- “Although some of the minigames (I'm looking at you, music rhythm game) are really annoying with the controls.”
- “I did wish the game would play its songs more often without me having to manually turn them on via the hikelady, the game's built-in music player, but I'm glad that the option to manually select your own background music exists in the first place, and it's something I hope more games adopt in the future.”
- “The music sorta blurred together, but I want to say it was pleasant.”
story
243 mentions
31 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally described as light and heartwarming, focusing on a charming adventure where players complete various photo-related quests while interacting with quirky characters. While some reviews note that the narrative lacks depth and can feel simplistic, many players appreciate the cozy atmosphere and the engaging, whimsical nature of the quests, which contribute to an overall enjoyable experience. The art style and music further enhance the storytelling, making it a delightful journey for those who enjoy casual exploration and collection mechanics.
- “I loved the art style for this, the 2D characters in a 3D world might remind a lot of players of Paper Mario, but overall it's genuinely such a clever idea with a heartwarming storyline to wrap it all up - that it becomes its own entity entirely.”
- “The story is simple and to the point, but as you progress in your adventure, helping people with their problems, and just taking in the environment around you, you begin to enjoy the experience just a little more.”
- “This game warmed my heart with a sweet story, a cast of adorable characters, a beautiful style, and a fantastic soundtrack.”
- “No story worth mentioning, the sound design is mostly annoying, the gameplay is okay and some solutions are just stupid.”
- “The gameplay is very basic and the story has little depth: walk around simple environments, take some photos, and do some fetch quests.”
- “On top of that, some of the big quests that stretch throughout the game end in some uninteresting semi-funny punchlines, which disappointed me.”
graphics
236 mentions
56 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their adorable and charming art style, often described as cute, whimsical, and reminiscent of hand-drawn aesthetics. Many reviewers appreciate the unique black-and-white visuals combined with a cozy soundtrack, which enhances the overall relaxing experience. While some note that the graphics may appear simplistic or low-resolution, the overall consensus is that the visuals contribute significantly to the game's delightful atmosphere and engaging gameplay.
- “The art style is charming and really cute; the whole game oozes charm and you can tell it was made with a lot of love.”
- “The game’s monochrome visuals, the hand-drawn characters, combined with the cozy soundtrack, creates a nostalgic feel that highlights the beauty of simplicity.”
- “Toem is designed well and aesthetically pleasing, with great gameplay.”
- “Graphics are fine yet weirdly low res for no apparent reason.”
- “The graphics is a bit too rudimentary, kinda losing the spirit of photography a bit to us.”
- “Everything is point and click with black and white graphics.”
gameplay
227 mentions
45 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Toem is characterized by its relaxing and engaging mechanics centered around photography, allowing players to explore charming environments, complete light puzzles, and interact with quirky characters. While the gameplay is simple and straightforward, it remains enjoyable and fresh through intuitive mechanics and a cozy atmosphere, making it a delightful experience for players seeking a casual adventure. Overall, the game successfully combines its unique photo-taking mechanic with a whimsical art style and soothing soundtrack, creating a heartwarming and immersive journey.
- “Toem is a game with satisfying gameplay and despite being labeled as cozy it will keep you fully engaged with its tight controls and ambiance.”
- “The gameplay consists of you completing tasks for people by taking photos of stuff.”
- “The camera feature pushes the mechanic well since you can see and do things in first person which you couldn’t otherwise.”
- “The gameplay is very basic and the story has little depth: walk around simple environments, take some photos, and do some fetch quests.”
- “Sure, it was a relaxing experience, but additional characters, more puzzle mechanics, or at least a little challenge would have made the experience more enjoyable.”
- “Unintuitive gameplay mechanic (and its narrative) makes me not recommend this game.”
emotional
181 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Toem" is overwhelmingly positive, with players describing it as a charming, heartwarming, and wholesome experience that evokes feelings of joy and nostalgia. Many reviewers noted the game's ability to provide comfort during difficult times, with its cute art style, engaging characters, and light-hearted story contributing to a relaxing atmosphere. The emotional impact is further highlighted by the game's conclusion, which left several players feeling moved and reflective, making it a memorable journey worth recommending.
- “I also love that they gave us the free content update which I really appreciate, and I actually got emotional at the end of the game when we finally experienced Toem.”
- “Thank you for making this game, a game that has almost made me cry, tears of joy or sadness, I have no clue.”
- “The last part of the game did give me some feels of the rewarding feeling one gets when completing an adventure and it made me feel really nice on the inside :) 10/10, a photo adventure worth embarking on.”
humor
83 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its wholesome and charming nature, featuring funny characters, clever dialogue, and light-hearted interactions that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the cute art style and the delightful mix of humor with relaxing gameplay, making it a perfect palate cleanser from more intense games. Overall, the game is described as a fun, cozy adventure filled with engaging quests and amusing moments that leave players smiling.
- “It's clear how much love the development team has put into this game; Toem is a labor of love and it highlights the best parts of living, from the joys of finding details of the little things and laughing at clever one-off remarks from a stranger.”
- “A lovely game that incorporates both puzzle quests and just taking random funny pictures everywhere you go.”
- “Toem's storyline is purely about adventure and exploring the different regions, all the while helping civilians and carrying out little tasks here and there, and I truly enjoyed running around snapping pictures for these tasks or snapping anything I think is cute or funny.”
atmosphere
33 mentions
61 % positive mentions
30 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its charming visuals, soothing soundtrack, and cozy, inviting environment, making it a delightful experience for players seeking relaxation and exploration. Many reviewers highlight the game's cute art style and quirky characters, which contribute to a feel-good ambiance that enhances the overall enjoyment. While some note the game's brevity, the enchanting atmosphere remains a standout feature that resonates with players.
- “The charming visuals and soothing soundtrack create a serene atmosphere that's simply enchanting.”
- “The atmosphere was truly awe-inspiring, amplified by the serene soundtrack.”
- “From art style to music, the entire atmosphere is charming and inviting from start to finish.”
- “Even though I liked the art style, the music, and generally the characters and atmosphere, there is by far not enough content in this game to warrant a $20 price tag.”
- “It can’t beat the ultimate relaxing atmosphere of a short hike, though.”
- “The soundtrack is relaxing and soothing, which fits the atmosphere the game is aiming for.”
grinding
16 mentions
13 % positive mentions
19 % neutral mentions
69 % negative mentions
Overall, reviews indicate a mixed experience with grinding in the game. While some players found certain quests and tasks to be tedious and time-consuming, particularly towards the end, many appreciated the game's ability to remain engaging and relaxing without excessive grind. The balance between exploration and task completion is generally well-received, with several players noting that the game avoids overly grindy mechanics, making it enjoyable to achieve 100% completion.
- “Perfect length, simple mechanics, no grindy/missable achievements, beautiful visuals and soundtrack.”
- “First game I finished 100% because there are no grindy achievements / impossible achievements.”
- “Although the quests in Basto are quite tedious, I got tired of it after a while.”
- “Towards the end, I felt it became a bit grindy, with long 'walk' sessions back and forth through a scenario to find stuff to complete tasks.”
- “It's the very first NPC that gives you a pair of shoes that, if you wear them, will make you run a lot slower, making exploration super slow and tedious.”
replayability
11 mentions
27 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the secrets and exploration opportunities, many feel that it lacks substantial replay value due to its short length and limited content. Several reviews highlight that once the game is completed, there is little incentive to return, with some players finishing it in under an hour. In contrast, other titles like Umurangi Generation demonstrate how a similar mechanic can offer greater replayability through dense levels and expanded creative options.
- “You go from area to area solving problems and taking cute pictures. It's short and sweet but with secrets for replayability.”
- “Replayability is good too as you explore the world.”
- “Umurangi Generation, which also has photography as its primary mechanic, packs a lot of replay value (despite its rather short play time) thanks to the dense levels and a decent creative suite in its photo mode, which was later expanded with creative mode, further stretching the replay value.”
- “The only downside in my opinion is the replayability.”
- “I guess the game has no replayability, if that's something you care about.”
- “This game offers little to no replayability, has no long lasting impression and its core content can be finished in well under an hour, with speedruns already doing sub 20 minutes on the first day.”
character development
8 mentions
75 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is praised for its unique and appealing designs, which contribute to a charming and cozy atmosphere. Players appreciate the quirky character voices and the integration of artwork and sound design, enhancing the overall experience. The combination of interesting quests and engaging character interactions adds depth to the gameplay, making it feel inviting and immersive.
- “Very charming and cozy game, with interesting quests and unique character design.”
- “The character designs were all unique to their specific areas, but all were very appealing.”
- “This game feels like home, in everything from the characters' voices to the charming writing and amazing character design.”
optimization
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
40 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is well-optimized, running smoothly even on low-performance graphics cards, with no significant bugs reported. However, players noted that performance can vary in certain DLC areas, and using a controller may provide a better experience compared to mouse and keyboard.
- “It runs smoothly and there were no bugs that I came across when I played.”
- “Works well on low-performance graphics cards.”
- “My only real complaint was the performance in the DLC in certain parts of the map.”
- “The game seems to be optimized better for controller use, and using a mouse and keyboard might lead you to have some issues.”
stability
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game's stability is inconsistent, with some challenges experiencing bugs that hinder gameplay, particularly in photo-related tasks. While the game runs well on the Steam Deck, there are notable issues with keyboard functionality and a general lack of polish that can frustrate completionists.
- “I had 2 or 3 challenges where I had the right idea, but getting the right photo was kind of buggy (here's looking at you, [spoiler] '5 living things' [/spoiler]).”
- “For the completionists, the current game can be frustrating because of the lack of polish and glitches.”
- “4-5 hours to 100%, worked perfectly on the Steam Deck apart from the keyboard being a bit buggy.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users initially dismissing it due to its advertising style but ultimately finding value in their purchase.