Hello everyone and welcome back to another blog post. Let me paint you a picture. You’re 25 minutes into a game. No combat. No skill trees. Just a young woman named Florence who draws, sleeps, and occasionally scrolls social media like the rest of us emotional dumpster fires. And somehow, you’re crying over a cello player named Krish.
Let’s be real: most “romance” in video games involves picking the right dialogue option to unlock a pixelated hug or, if you’re playing The Witcher, a very crowded unicorn. Then there’s this game.
Released by Mountains back in 2018, Florence remains the gold standard for reminding us that being 25 is mostly just “putting things in boxes” and “forgetting how to speak.”
What Even Is Florence?
Florence is a 2018 interactive story from Mountains (published by Annapurna Interactive) that takes about 30 minutes to finish—and about three business days to emotionally recover from.
You follow Florence Yeoh. She’s 25-ish, stuck in a routine, and completely numb to her alarm clock, her mom’s voicemails, and her soul-sucking spreadsheet job.
Then she meets Krish.
There’s music. There’s a Ferris wheel. There’s a moment where you literally piece together their conversation like a jigsaw puzzle—because falling in love feels like clicking scattered thoughts into place.
It’s adorable. It’s nauseating. I’ve never been more annoyed by my own happiness.
The Gameplay Is Simple. The Gut Punch Isn’t.
Here’s where sarcasm fails me, because the mechanics are genuinely clever:
- Dialogue puzzles: You match speech bubbles to build a conversation. Early on? Easy. During the fight? The pieces don’t fit anymore. Ouch.
- The “growing apart” sequence: You literally drag their shared memories into a box while the music slows down. Then you delete a photo. Then another.
- The final level: No spoilers, but if you don’t tear up watching Florence rediscover herself, check your pulse.
Who Is This Game For?
Honestly? Anyone who has:
- Loved someone
- Lost someone
- Or stayed with someone way too long because you already built a whole IKEA furniture set together
It’s also for people who think “games as art” is pretentious nonsense. Play Florence, then try saying that with a dry eye. I’ll wait.
(You can’t. I win.)
The Verdict (With Feelings)
✅ Pros:
- Gorgeous watercolor art
- Incredible soundtrack (cello included, obviously)
- Respects your time—30 minutes and done
- Makes you feel seen without being cheesy
❌ Cons:
- Too short (you’ll want more)
- Zero replayability unless you enjoy emotional masochism
- Will absolutely make you text someone you shouldn’t
Final rating: 9/10 broken hearts.
Play it alone. At night. With tissues nearby. And don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Why You Should Play Florence in 2026
Because we’re exhausted by open worlds, battle passes, and 100-hour RPGs.
Florence is a reminder that small stories hit hardest. No explosions. No level grinding. Just a woman, her sketchbook, and the quiet courage to let go.
Also, it’s $4.99 on mobile and Steam. That’s cheaper than therapy.
Barely.
Have you played Florence? Did you cry? Lie to me in the comments.