Toem

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,676 reviews
  • music
  • story
  • graphics
Toem Game Cover
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."

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
  • x_box_cloud_gaming
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,676 reviews
music356 positive mentions
grinding22 negative mentions
  • TOEM is a charming and relaxing game that encourages exploration and creativity through photography.
  • The art style is adorable, and the soundtrack is soothing, creating a delightful atmosphere throughout the game.
  • The game features a variety of quirky characters and fun quests, making it a wholesome experience that players enjoy from start to finish.
  • The game is relatively short, taking around 5-8 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 for players trying to figure out what to photograph.
  • The controls can be unintuitive at times, especially for keyboard and mouse users, which may detract from the overall experience.
  • music574 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, which can be unlocked and replayed at will, allowing for a personalized experience. The soundtrack complements the game's whimsical art style and engaging gameplay, making it a standout feature that many find memorable and enjoyable.

    • “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.”
    • “The music is great and relaxing and combines perfectly with the art style.”
    • “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.”
  • story486 mentions

    The game's story is generally described as light and heartwarming, focusing on a young photographer's journey to capture beautiful moments while completing various quirky quests. Players appreciate the charming characters and the cozy atmosphere, although some find the narrative depth lacking, with many quests feeling like simple fetch tasks. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a delightful backdrop to the engaging gameplay, making it a relaxing experience for those who enjoy exploration and collection.

    • “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.”
    • “Quest givers and quest objectives are far apart to the point that I think the developers just try to pad playing time by making quest detail cryptic and also scatter them around the map.”
  • graphics476 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and adorable art style, characterized by a unique hand-drawn aesthetic and a nostalgic black-and-white color palette. Players appreciate the attention to detail and the cozy atmosphere created by the visuals, which complement the engaging gameplay and whimsical narrative. While some mention minor technical issues, the overall consensus is that the graphics significantly enhance the game's appeal, making it a delightful experience.

    • “The art style is absolutely adorable and the game makes it super fun to go around completing quests!”
    • “The game’s monochrome visuals, the hand-drawn characters, combined with the cozy soundtrack, creates a nostalgic feel that highlights the beauty of simplicity.”
    • “Possessing incredible visuals, wonderful music, and a cozy narrative, toem easily settles into being one of my favourite games that arrived in my life at the perfect time.”
    • “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.”
    • “Toem is a serene and silly photographic journey with a few technical bumps.”
  • gameplay456 mentions

    The gameplay of *Toem* is characterized by its relaxing and engaging mechanics centered around photography, allowing players to explore charming environments and complete light puzzles. While the core gameplay loop involves taking pictures to fulfill quests, the game maintains interest through intuitive mechanics and a whimsical atmosphere, making it accessible and enjoyable for all ages. Although some players noted a lack of depth in storytelling and challenge, the overall experience is described as cozy, heartwarming, and visually delightful.

    • “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 game is an obvious labor of love that offers a charming, stylized aesthetic, an upbeat and relaxing interactive soundtrack, fun and engaging gameplay, and a whimsical and uplifting narrative full of quirky characters.”
    • “The gameplay itself is a treasure hunt in a sense.”
    • “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.”
    • “Unintuitive gameplay mechanic (and its narrative) makes me not recommend this game.”
  • emotional364 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Toem" is overwhelmingly positive, with players describing it as a heartwarming and wholesome experience that evokes feelings of joy and nostalgia. Many reviewers noted that the game's charming art style, engaging story, and light-hearted interactions made them feel relaxed and fulfilled, often leading to emotional moments, especially towards the end. Overall, it is celebrated as a comforting game that resonates deeply with players, providing a sense of warmth and happiness.

    • “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.”
    • “Made me cry and changed the trajectory of my life; how could you tell me 'I'm so proud of you' at the end of the game and not expect me to cry?”
  • humor168 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and lightheartedness, featuring funny dialogue, quirky characters, and whimsical scenarios that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the blend of humor with relaxing gameplay, making it a delightful adventure filled with heartwarming moments and clever interactions. The game's cute art style and engaging sound design further contribute to its enjoyable and humorous atmosphere, making it a recommended choice for those seeking a fun and cozy gaming experience.

    • “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.”
    • “Toem is ultra chill with a fun sense of humor and an impressive visual style.”
    • “If you want to relax, laugh with funny jokes, situations and visuals, experience a cozy atmosphere and explore a new world, this is the game for you!”
  • atmosphere67 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 is perfect for casual play. Overall, the atmosphere is described as serene and enchanting, ideal for those who enjoy light-hearted, non-competitive gaming experiences.

    • “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.”
    • “It's really not all that odd for a game to not possess any sort of combat, but among those games few of them can claim to produce the same gentle atmosphere that Toem does.”
  • grinding33 mentions

    Overall, players have mixed feelings about the grinding aspect of the game. While some found certain quests and tasks to be tedious and time-consuming, particularly towards the end, many appreciated the game's relaxing nature and lack of excessive grinding, making it enjoyable to complete without feeling overwhelmed. The balance between exploration and task completion is generally seen as well-executed, with a few noting that certain mechanics could slow down the experience.

    • “Perfect length, simple mechanics, no grindy/missable achievements, beautiful visuals and soundtrack.”
    • “First game I finished 100% because there are no grindy achievements or impossible achievements.”
    • “No grinding, no monthly online events, just find this bloke's cat and take a photo of it.”
    • “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.”
    • “Getting 100% might be somewhat tedious, as quests won't tell you if you need to look harder or if they're just blocked until you do something else.”
  • replayability22 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is considered low, with many players noting that they can complete it in under four hours and find little incentive to return after 100% completion. While some mention secrets and exploration as potential for replay, the consensus is that the core content lacks depth for multiple playthroughs. In contrast, other games with similar mechanics, like Umurangi Generation, are praised for their higher replay value due to more complex levels and creative options.

    • “You go from area to area 'solving problems' and taking cute pictures, and 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.”
    • “Game is a little short, I 100%-ed it in a little under 4 hours and there isn’t really any replay value.”
    • “This game offers little to no replayability, has no lasting impression, and its core content can be finished in well under an hour; speedruns on the first day are already doing sub 20 minutes.”
  • character development16 mentions

    The character development in the game is praised for its unique and appealing designs that reflect the distinct areas within the game world. Players appreciate the charming and cozy atmosphere created by the characters' voices, artwork, and sound design, which contribute to an immersive experience. Overall, the character design is highlighted as a standout feature, enhancing the game's engaging quests and puzzles.

    • “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.”
  • optimization10 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 issues in certain DLC areas may arise when using a mouse and keyboard, suggesting that the game is better optimized for controller use.

    • “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.”
    • “I ended up switching to a controller in the second half of the game and things went much, much smoother, so just keep in mind that the game seems to be optimized better for controller use, and using a mouse and keyboard might lead you to have some issues.”
    • “Overall impressions and performance.”
  • stability6 mentions

    The game's stability has been criticized for its bugs and glitches, particularly during specific challenges that hinder gameplay. While it runs well on the Steam Deck, users have reported issues with keyboard functionality and a general lack of polish, which can be frustrating for completionists.

    • “For the completionists, the current game can be frustrating because of the lack of polish and glitches.”
    • “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]).”
    • “4-5 hours to 100%, worked perfectly on the Steam Deck apart from the keyboard being a bit buggy.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is generally viewed positively, with players expressing satisfaction after purchasing it despite initial hesitations due to its advertisement style.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

79% average critic score

Buy Toem

Play time

7hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
6-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 28 analyzed playthroughs

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