With new Steam games releasing constantly, fans of practically every genre are getting more reasons to expand their wishlists with each passing day. Dozens of soulslikes, friendslop titles, and idle games pop up on Steam each year, and the platformer genre is no different. Solateria was a perfect example of how combining great influences — Hollow Knight and Sekiro, in that game’s case, can create a solid product. And now, there’s Tootum, which takes the first of those influences and merges it with Dead Cells and Ori to create what might just be a platforming fan’s dream come true.
Given the size of Team Cherry and the remarkable success of the Hollow Knight franchise, it’s no surprise that plenty of indie developers have strived to follow in its footsteps. Some mimic the eye-catching bug creatures of the Hollow Knight universe, and others the gameplay, but Tootum is a bit different. Outside its key art, its visuals don’t really have a Hollow Knight vibe, while its metroidvania gameplay actually gives Dead Cells vibes more than anything else. Instead, it’s Tootum’s approach to storytelling that Hollow Knight fans could appreciate, while a ghostly white creature following along with the protagonist could evoke feelings of Ori (as could the generally cute vibe of the world). With so many great inspirations, and a solo developer ensuring that Tootum is a passion project with no outside influence, Steam users should consider taking a closer look.
Tootum’s Steam page gives the game a May 27 release date, so metroidvania fans won’t have to wait long to try it.
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Tootum Features at a Glance
- SOLVE a mysterious story by piecing together small details, making different choices, and experiencing three endings.
- UPGRADE your character to unlock new paths.
- BUILD your character in entirely different ways to allow for distinct play styles.
- FIGHT a range of fantastical enemies, from slimes and dragons to a giant creature made of stone.
A handcrafted pixel art Metroidvania that blends deep exploration with roguelike progression. Discover secrets, evolve your build, and face a world where every choice can lead to one of three endings.
Tootum Perfectly Combines Indie Charm With Metroidvania Depth
Slightly silly-sounding title and banger theme music aside (seriously, give that trailer a listen), Tootum clearly has a lot to offer players. Gameplay-wise, it promises a healthy amount of enemy variety, builds that genuinely change how the game is played, challenging platforming, and rewarding exploration. As with most metroidvania games, as players progress and unlock permanent upgrades for the hero, they’ll be able to traverse areas that would have previously been inaccessible. This enhances replayability and gives players a reason to explore every nook and cranny, which they’ll definitely want to do if they want to experience all of Tootum’s storytelling.
Scratch & Peek
Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as
possible.
Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as possible.
EasyMediumHardPermadeath
While Hollow Knight had a lot going for it, from its art and music to its movement system and bosses, adopting the FromSoftware method of storytelling made it a game that lived on after the credits rolled. Upon completing the story and getting one of Hollow Knight’s endings, players will likely have been inspired to search up the others, which will have inevitably led them down a rabbit hole full of dialogue analysis, item description theorizing, and more. If the game proves to be a hit, the story being intentionally mysterious could be a boon, keeping fans talking for a long time to come. Add on speedy, Dead Cells-like upgrades, a mysterious creature with Ori’s signature glow, and a handcrafted pixel art world that will surely be nostalgic to old school gamers, and it seems like Tootum has everything that it needs to be an indie darling.
If You’re Interested in Tootum, Don’t Wait to Pull the Trigger
While it’s common for Steam early access titles to raise prices over time, encouraging players to buy in to the earliest versions of a game, what’s a bit less common is for a full release to offer a launch week discount. Based on the Steam page for Tootum, though, it could follow that path, as developer Douglas Oliveira suggests that it “may” happen. Obviously, plans could change and this discount may not actually appear — the size of said discount, just like the price of the game, is also a mystery — but on the chance that it does, it’s worth wishlisting the game and keeping a close eye on its May 27 launch. Tootum’s developer clearly appreciates this kind of narrative, as the game will feature multiple endings as well as lore that’s pieced together through environmental storytelling and item descriptions.
