Ahead of the Game - TOEM: A Photo Adventure is a wholesome puzzler that wields magic from behind a lens
Picture-perfect moments in black and white
- Take photos to fulfil people's requests
- Collect stamps on your community card with each photo
- Cute hand-drawn visuals and a lovely soundtrack
Hello and welcome to Ahead of the Game, a series where we tell you all about an upcoming game that, despite not being out yet, is available for you to play at the time of publishing. Through this series, you can grab a chance to play games well ahead of their release date, be that through Soft Launch, Open Beta, Demos, or more.
While my amateur photography skills (or lack thereof) could certainly use some work in real life, in TOEM: A Photo Adventure, people seem to think my photos aren't that bad. This lovely hand-drawn puzzle adventure will have you starting your journey as a wide-eyed and budding photographer, setting off from your home on a quest for the elusive Toem.
With your beloved Nana's blessing, you'll go on your first bus ride away from home in hopes of capturing as many magical photos as you can to fill up your album so you can show it to her.
This alone already warmed my heart, but unsurprisingly, the NPCs you'll meet and the creatures you'll stumble into along the way have equally heartwarming stories to tell too.
I suppose what adds a nostalgic touch to it all is the fact that you've got a vintage camera with a proper zoom - one that a tiny kid lamented during a game of hide-and-seek - and that the art style here perfectly complements that vibe.
The soundtrack, which you can cycle through on your own music player, also adds to the feel-good atmosphere, making each photo you take feel more enchanted than the last.
Basically, the core gameplay loop is just you taking photos to fulfil people's requests - whether that's looking for a tiny group of soldiers (which turned out to be ants) or proving to a bouncer that you've got enough swag to enter a club (and apparently, all you need is a pair of sunglasses to do just that).
Once you've fulfilled enough requests, you get stamps on your community card, which will help you get a free bus ride to the next location - and the cycle begins anew.
So, how do you play TOEM: A Photo Adventure?
TOEM: A Photo Adventure is currently in early access on Android, with a free demo you can play to get a feel of the experience. It took me a little over 30 minutes to finish the demo, and it honestly left me wanting more.After all, there are still so many unanswered questions I need to solve - like why does my eyewear detect ghosts, and what exactly is a Toem in the first place?
