Balloon Studios

Balloon Studios is an independent game studio founded by Laure De Mey, a developer who previously worked at ustwo games on titles like Assemble with Care and Alba: A Wildlife Adventure. Named a BAFTA Breakthrough UK honoree in 2020, De Mey launched Balloon Studios with a clear goal: to make games for players who want something quieter and more contemplative than the mainstream typically offers.

Balloon Studios and Laure De Mey

Before founding Balloon Studios, Laure De Mey built her experience at ustwo games, a studio known for thoughtful, design-forward titles that prioritize feel and atmosphere over spectacle. That background is evident in everything Balloon Studios has produced. The BAFTA Breakthrough recognition came before the studio had even released its first game, which says something about how the industry perceived the direction De Mey was heading.

Botany Manor

The studio’s first game, Botany Manor, captures that philosophy completely. It’s a peaceful puzzle game set in a Victorian manor where players cultivate rare and forgotten plants by figuring out the exact conditions each one needs to grow. There’s no combat, no fail states, no pressure, just exploration, observation, and the satisfaction of watching something bloom. It’s the kind of game that doesn’t get made often enough. I enjoyed my time going through the manor.

Balloon Studios is a small operation with a specific vision, and Botany Manor suggests that vision translates well into an actual game.