‘If it ain't broke don't fix it’ can often be invoked when talking about sequels. But even in this case, I was surprised by how close TOEM 2 sticks to the ideas and vision of the original release. The team at Something We Made clearly felt like there was more to find in the world they created back in 2021. Even if the improvements are minor, TOEM 2 does exactly what it sets out to do.

Returning as the photographer in TOEM 2 you once again set out across the country to photograph and capture the blooming of an ancient tree during a big festival. However, to reach the festival you'll need to help the inhabitants of the regions with their problems and make new friends.

Much of what made TOEM so enjoyable has been retained here. Its black-and-white art style, a handcrafted mix of Paper Mario and a compact 3D platformer make for some pleasant vistas. At any time you can grab your camera and observe the world while taking photos. Your shots are often the solutions to questions and problems characters are dealing with. From finding missing animals, to spotting things hiding in the environment. Completing the request nets you a stamp and once you have enough stamps you get to move to the next destination, slightly closer to your end goal.

The new addition here is camera-abilities. Each locale introduces something that your camera can use to interact with the environment within that particular region. For example a pair of scissors that can cut down vines, but also apples from trees. It breaks up the pace of the game a bit, which still boils down to a lot of walking back and forth.

In that sense, TOEM 2 plays it safe. The soundtrack is still delightfully lo-fi, with plenty of new tracks. The vibes are chill and cozy. You don’t have to stress about timers. And the camera-mechanics are really a lot more playful than aimed to please wannabe photographers. TOEM 2 embraces its identity as a short adventure game much more. While I didn’t have to, I did complete all requests in the game and tried to capture as many critters as I could. In three hours I saw the end of the adventure which was pleasant enough.

Sequels tend to get lost in the weeds of expanding scope, but Something We Made set out to simply improve and build upon what made the original TOEM pretty engaging. TOEM 2 is not groundbreaking. You may only notice the improvements when putting it side-by-side with the original. That is not a bad thing for fans and for those looking for a short and cozy experience you get exactly what you expect.