Visual Storytelling with Colours: Exploring Relationship Dynamics in the Video Game Florence

Florence was released on Valentine’s Day, the perfect date for a game about relationships (Source: Google Play)

As a writer, it could be hard to wrap our heads around the idea of visual storytelling. Yet, there is so much that can be said without words, and that is what this beautiful story managed to achieve.

Released in 2018, Florence was widely renowned for its visual storytelling, and many have covered how it uses symbolic imagery to show the story of Florence Yeoh — a young woman in her 20s navigating through life and a relationship. However, I argue that the game does much more than that, and the use of colours in its art and design truly shines through upon inspection.

In this exploration, I aim to delve into how Florence employs colours throughout its entirety, effectively painting a vivid narrative from start to finish.

Mundane, Muted Blue: Everyday’s a Routine

We start the story with Florence detailing her everyday life. Throughout the series, we recognise the colour blue as Florence’s colour. A melancholic colour, especially when muted, is prominent throughout this period of Florence’s life. Everything is gray-tinted, mundane, and boring, and Florence is just trying to get through life.