TOEM is a game that defies the genre tags you'd usually see on steam, id describe it as Pokemon Snap if you had more agency and the puzzles were more engaging. You go from area to area "solving problems" and taking cute pictures and its short and sweet but with secrets for replayability. I did it all in my short time and did not regret a moment.

is TOEM deep? not very, if some dark souls gamer came up to me and asked if he'd be into it, id say sure because clearly if they're even asking they have some nuance to their gaming tastes. but i certainly wouldn't just recommend it to someone whose library was mostly rockstar Triple A games.

what I'm getting at is if you like simple puzzley adventure games and photo modes, this game will please both those lobes of ya brainbox

TOEM - 10/10 (Review will avoid spoilers)

Found through PS Plus Essential, TOEM is a photographic adventure in a unique 2D-3D cartoon style.

(Story) The story is very simple, which makes sense as it takes a backseat to your gameplay. You play as yourself, tasked by your grandmother to go on a personal adventure to photograph the legendary event known as TOEM. Through your good deeds you can earn your bus pass in order to advance your adventure further to discover the titular TOEM.

(Gameplay) The game is a photography puzzle game, but don't let that discourage you in any way. In order to progress through the game you have to accomplish tasks and good deeds, and you do this mainly through your camera. Most of your deeds involve you taking photos and presenting them to people. The game progressively adds new twists, such as using a horn add-on or taking a tripod shot, or taking a selfie. For the most part this doesn't change at all during your time playing.

(Characters) The characters aren't really anything too important, and that's alright, since they aren't meant to have any great arcs or dynamics, more so that everyone is interesting in design and characteristic, most likely meant to reflect how in your journey through life you'll come across the most interesting and unique individuals.

(Music) The music is really pleasant. There's no rock, or remixed beats, but rather peaceful tunes meant to remind you that there is no rush in your journey, and instead you can take it easy, as life is not a rush, and is meant to be enjoyed.

(Difficulty) For a base game, as in only completing the necessary amount of good deeds, the difficulty won't be bad, and realistically you can accomplish this in a relatively quick amount of time. But trying to completely fill out your card in each area can be a bit of a hassle. Some deeds have no clear clues, and others require locating things that can be hard to find. The difficulty can spike, if you choose to tackle them.
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In conclusion I think TOEM is a quaint little journey. If you want a peaceful break from high octane action, or like puzzle games this one is for you! I am interested in future games from this indie group, and even though It might not be for everyone but it deserves to be checked out.

This game puts me to sleep. And I mean that in the best way possible. It's a very relaxing adventure that inevitably causes me to drift into the world of dreams.

All you do is take pictures and talk to wacky characters. All this game asks from you is to be curious and present, which is a nice break from the adrenaline-fueled action games I'm used to that require you to be fast, precise, and brave.

I wouldn't brand myself as the "cozy gamer," but I was genuinely disappointed when I finished it. Now I need to find another game to act as my sleep aid.