Florence: A Mobile Game That Turns Heartbreak Into Art

Some games are designed to grab your attention. Florence is designed to move your heart.

Created by Mountains.Studio and published by Annapurna Interactive, Florence is a short narrative mobile game that captures the emotional rhythm of falling in and out of love. It lasts around 30 minutes, but the impact lingers much longer.

You step into the life of Florence Yeoh, a 25-year-old woman caught in routine. Work. Scroll. Sleep. Repeat. Then she meets Krish, a cellist. Their connection changes everything. What unfolds is a deeply personal story told not through words but through intuitive, symbolic gameplay.

You swipe to brush your teeth. Tap to flirt. Rearrange puzzle pieces to keep conversations flowing. And later, you watch those same pieces begin to fall apart. Every mechanic is designed with emotional intention, creating a game that speaks through feeling rather than dialogue.

Why Florence Matters

Florence is more than a mobile game. It is an emotional experience, a form of digital poetry. At Rzain, we spotlight games that carry meaning and soul. Florence is a quiet act of rebellion against games built only to capture clicks and cash.

It is feminist in its lens, focusing on a woman’s inner world without reducing her to a trope. It is emotionally intelligent, showing the subtle evolution of identity, independence, and heartbreak. It respects the player’s attention and time. In a mobile market full of noise, Florence offers a moment of stillness.

A Game That Cares

• Accessible to anyone, regardless of gaming experience
• Designed with care and emotional intention
• Beautifully illustrated in soft watercolor tones
• Explores mental health, burnout, and self-discovery
• Story-first, without relying on traditional dialogue or text

Florence is gentle, but it leaves a mark. It is the kind of game that stays with you—not because it demands your time, but because it earns your attention.

Commercial Performance

While Florence won critical acclaim and several awards, its financial performance was modest. Industry estimates suggest the game generated around 1.5 million dollars in revenue on Steam alone. However, lead designer Ken Wong has stated the sales were “okay” and not enough to independently fund future projects.

This raises important questions about the sustainability of art-driven games. At Rzain, we believe it is vital to support experiences that prioritize emotion, design, and representation. Games like Florence deserve both critical and commercial success.

If You Liked Florence, Try These

• Before Your Eyes – A game controlled by blinking that tells the story of a life
• If Found… – A queer, hand-drawn journey through memory and self-erasure
• Gris – A platformer that uses color and motion to process grief
• Unpacking – A quiet exploration of identity told through objects and space
• Citizen Sleeper – A sci-fi story about survival, capitalism, and chosen family

Final Thought

Not all games are meant to be won. Some are meant to be felt. Florence is one of those rare titles that invites us to reflect on our own relationships, choices, and inner lives. It is tender, human, and politically powerful in its care.

At Rzain, we believe games can be beautiful, emotional, and deeply intentional. Florence reminds us that even a short experience can say more than hours of gameplay. It is not just a mobile game. It is art in motion.