Roia: Emoak's Soothing New Mobile Game

Mobile gaming's appeal lies in how it fuels innovation in game design.

The smartphone's unique, button-free design and its vast, diverse audience have spurred video games in thrilling new directions, with Roia being a prime example.

This clever puzzle-adventure is the newest release from Emoak, the ambitious indie studio responsible for Paper Climb, Machinaero, and the award-winning light-based puzzle game Lyxo.

Believe it or not, Roia is a game about creating a river. A stream starts at a mountain's peak, and your task is to guide this flowing water to the ocean by shaping the landscape with your finger.

As Emoak shares in the press release for Roia, the game holds deep personal meaning for one of its lead designers, Tobias Sturn.

In his youth, Sturn spent time playing in the creek behind his grandparents' house. He would use handmade waterwheels, bridges, and other devices crafted with his grandfather to learn how water moves and collects.

Sturn's grandfather passed away during Roia's development, yet the impact of those joyful creek-side days is clear. The game is a tribute to him.

In terms of gameplay, Roia is hard to pigeonhole. While you face puzzles and challenges to guide the river to the sea, the primary objective is relaxation.

Your adventure unfolds across several handcrafted settings, including forests, meadows, and charming villages. A helpful white bird soars above, offering subtle hints to assist your progress.

As the screenshots reveal, Roia embraces the elegant, minimalist aesthetic popularized by games like Monument Valley.

What the images can't convey is its beautiful audio, featuring a simple yet moving score by Johannes Johannson, who previously composed for the studio's own Lyxo.

Roia is available now on the Google Play Store and the App Store for $2.99.