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TOEM vs. TOEM 2: What’s Different, and Which Should You Play First?

TOEM 2 keeps the original’s photography-and-helping-people premise while adding jumping, climbing, region progression, and story-shaping friendships. The developer welcomes newcomers, so playing TOEM first is optional.
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TOEM 2 is an expanded follow-up, not a departure from the original: both games center on photographing discoveries and helping characters, while the sequel adds jumping, climbing, region-based progression, and friendships that can affect the story and ending. You do not need to play TOEM first; developer Something We Made says TOEM 2 welcomes newcomers. Start with the original if you want to experience the series’ premise in order, or go straight to TOEM 2 if its broader movement and character systems appeal more.

What’s different between TOEM and TOEM 2?

TOEM, released for PlayStation 5 on September 17, 2021, establishes the series’ hand-drawn photography-adventure formula. TOEM 2, released September 29, 2026, keeps that foundation and adds more ways to move through its environments and a more connected layer of character progression.

What to compare TOEM TOEM 2
Core activity Take photographs to solve puzzles and help people. PlayStation’s TOEM description Photograph discoveries, take quests, document finds, and fill a critter compendium. Steam’s TOEM 2 listing
Movement The cited official description foregrounds exploration and photography; it does not list jumping or climbing. Running, jumping, and climbing are explicit features. Something We Made’s official TOEM 2 page
Progression The cited official description focuses on photo-based puzzles and helping characters. Quests and documented discoveries fill a stamp journal; stamps help unlock the next region. Steam’s TOEM 2 listing
Characters and story Meet quirky characters and help them with their problems. PlayStation’s TOEM description Friends can join you and affect the story and ending. A GamesRadar+ review also notes multi-part, area-specific character quests. Developer page; GamesRadar+ review
Need to know the first game? This is the series’ original entry. No. The developer says it was designed to welcome both returning fans and people playing for the first time. Steam’s TOEM 2 listing

The main change is therefore one of scale and texture: TOEM 2 adds traversal and longer-running character threads around the photo-led discovery loop, rather than replacing that loop with a different kind of game. The multi-part quest description is a reviewer observation; the movement, story-affecting friends, and progression features are described by the developer and store listing.

Which should you play first?

Choose TOEM first if you want the original experience

Playing the 2021 game first is the clearest way to see how the series’ camera-based puzzles and helpful encounters began before TOEM 2 expands the formula. That order is a preference, not a prerequisite: the developer explicitly welcomes newcomers to the sequel.

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Choose TOEM 2 first if its additions are what you want

If jumping and climbing, region-unlocking progression, or friendships that influence the story sound like the stronger draw, starting with TOEM 2 is reasonable. Its official description presents the core premise clearly enough for first-time players to join in.

These are recommendations based on the games’ described features, not a developer-mandated order. Either game can be a starting point; choose the original for the series’ baseline or the sequel for its expanded systems.

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Where can you play TOEM 2?

As of the developer’s current page, TOEM 2 is available on Steam, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. The listed release date is September 29, 2026. Check the relevant storefront for current availability and terms.

Nintendo’s US listing says owners of one Switch version are eligible for a 100% owner discount on the corresponding version for the other system. It also says save data does not transfer between the Switch and Switch 2 editions, so check which version you intend to use before buying or continuing a save. Nintendo’s TOEM 2 listing

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How long is TOEM 2?

GamesRadar+ reviewer Sam Loveridge estimated roughly four hours for TOEM 2. That is one reviewer’s estimate, not a guaranteed completion time; how long you spend taking photos, following quests, and exploring can vary.

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How has TOEM 2 been received on Steam?

On October 7, 2026, Steam showed 91% positive from 526 user reviews. That is a dated, changing snapshot of Steam user reviews, not an independent survey or a lasting measure of quality. Steam’s TOEM 2 listing

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