Florence
© 2018 Annapurna Interactive
Delightful multi-touch interactive design meets a the story of Florence Yeoh -- a young adult girl who is about to have her first serious boyfriend relationship. Content includes 20 chapters theme-related narrative chunks each covering a stage of life, including Dreams, Exploration, Groceries, Routines, Driving and so on. In the first chapter, you help Florence get out of bed by turning off her alarm clock (with a tap) and brushing her teeth (by swiping the toothbrush back and forth). About midway in story, she meets a cello player named Krish and her endless routine of work, sleep, and social media comes to an end. You participate in the relationship through a series of mini-game vignettes - from flirting to fighting. The app draws inspiration from 'slice of life' graphic novels and comics. The illustrations are simple and clear, and work will to support the narrative. Especially noteworthy is the way that text bubbles are illustrated through increasingly complicated puzzle shapes. Progress is bookmarked automatically. Apple gave this app it's highest honor at WWDC 2018 (the Apple Design Awards) and we have to agree that it is an excellent selection. Despite the focus on a male/female relationship, there is no inappropriate content. The app was designed by the creators of Monument Valley.
$2.99, iPad, iPhone
Teaches: fiction, relationships, teenage years, adolescence, writing
CTR Rating: 96%