However, the COVID-19 pandemic and the impacts it had on currency conversion caused the studio to struggle financially. The company subsequently signed with Humble Bundle, which partially financed the game's development. Independent game publisher Popagenda helped the team to market the game in order to reach a larger audience. While Gullbo and Mikkelsen were responsible for the game's development, the team collaborated with Rumsklang for the game's audio, and Jamal Green and Launchable Socks for the game's original soundtracks. They was awarded 50,000 SEK from the competition, and using this fund, they joined an incubation program and established their own company to further work on the game. The two submitted an early prototype of Toem to a local game competition named Game Concept Challenge, and won. Both studied in the same university and were enrolled in courses about video game development. The project was conceptualized in 2018 by university students Lucas Gullbo and Niklas Mikkelsen. Toem is the debut project for Swedish independent game development studio Something We Made. The player character's outfits can also be customized. Players earn stamps by helping NPCs, and they can ride on a bus and progress to the next area once they have collected a sufficient number of stamps. Players explore the game's world from a top-down perspective, though it will shift to first-person when the player is taking photos. Gameplay primarily revolves around helping the locals by solving various puzzles using the player character's camera. As the player character progresses, they will visit numerous Scandinavian towns and cities that are filled with non-playable characters (NPCs), who will ask the players for help. Like I said before, this isn’t designed to be complex or challenging it’s just a cute, charming adventure of taking photography and helping people, coupled with some lovely Scandinavian environments.In the game, the player assumes control of a young photographer who must ascend a mountain to witness a phenomenon known as 'Toem'. However, don’t go in expecting a hundred hours TOEM can be cleared in an afternoon almost 100%. But it feels like something everyone can enjoy. Hence it’s a hands-on approach you can easily play this with your kids (if they understand English enough to get through the game, obviously). It’s all about the ‘experience’ – go with the flow and walk through this Moomin valley inspired cartoonish art world. For example, you could solve 8 of a possible 16 puzzles, and you can go to the next area, it won’t comment on that, and you can always go back and get everything later. Still, it won’t force you to do everything. You generally have everything you need to solve something a few screens away, if not on the same screen, using your camera to help people solve puzzles (and sometimes your copyright-friendly Walkman). In essence, TOEM is a very gentle, ambient experience where you can go at your own pace there are no time limits or brain-busting puzzles. You get to chat with quirky characters, solve their problems by snapping neat photos, and make your way through a relaxing landscape! All accompanied by a soothing soundtrack that feels like a walk in the park. Set off on a delightful expedition and use your photographic eye to uncover the mysteries of the magical TOEM in this hand-drawn adventure game.

It’s as challenging as you make it for yourself, in a good way.

Still, I love games that challenge you to take pictures (like Pokémon Snap), and TOEM is another one of those titles. I’m more of a memory collector myself, with not that keen of an eye for photography. My wife loves to take photographs while were hiking through Dutch (or other European) nature. Photography is a great way to take your mind off the daily hassle of life.

Toem a photo adventure