While there’s always a worry that failing to innovate significantly with each new entry in a series will lead to stagnant gameplay, there’s also something to be said for consistency, especially when the franchise in question is so unique. As a huge fan of the mellow and almost disgustingly-pleasant vibes of the original TOEM, I was ecstatic when I heard there would be a follow-up. Now, having spent some time with it, I actually couldn’t be happier to say that it manages to hit all of the same notes, a charming photographic adventure where you’ll meet all sorts of odd characters, do almost all of your significant work with your camera, and simply enjoy the ride at whatever pace you set for yourself.

For those of you unfamiliar with the original, it’s essentially a photo adventure where you’ll go from town to town, tasked with helping people out in order to accumulate good will as your currency to move onto the next one. Whether that involves finding a specific item, a new place for someone to stay, or searching for people or things that are well-hidden, it’s all handled with a fair amount of very pleasant charm. That isn’t to say it’s easy, in fact in order to complete every quest in any given town you’ll really need to put on your thinking cap and spend some time scouring each area for whatever it is you may have missed. Thankfully, you’ll be able to move on safely without needing to go to that level of effort, so the game’s only as hard as you choose to make it.

In general it does at least feel a bit more robust and refined than the original, taking the same core gameplay and polishing it up in a few ways. Your tasks are a little more varied, and some of the people you’ll encounter are perhaps just a bit more odd, but the same satisfying and relaxing play is still at the heart of the experience. If you’ve been looking for a new cozy fix, this is an excellent option to enjoy for a handful of hours.