The Town System
The primary social structure in Heartopia is the Town Instance. Every time a player logs in, they are placed into a randomly assigned town instance shared with up to 11 other players (12 total).
Players can see each other moving, working, and engaging in Hobbies like Fishing or Gardening in real-time. Because towns are instance-based, your "neighbors" change every time you log in, allowing you to meet new people constantly. However, you can also group up with friends to ensure you play in the same instance!
12-Player Capacity
Each town instance supports up to 12 players interacting in real-time.
Random Neighbors
Meet new people every time you log in, or party up with friends to stay together.
Seamless Interaction
See other players fishing, gardening, and exploring in real-time.
💫 Social Features
Friends & Relationships
Add other players as Friends to stay connected across different play sessions. Building rapport with other players unlocks exclusive social interactions and emotes!
- Send friend requests (costs 1 Star from quests)
- Track friends across play sessions
- Increase Friendship Level through interactions
- Unlock special duo-interactions at higher levels
Visiting Friends
Visit a friend's home at any time to tour their decorated house, help with gardening, or interact with their placed furniture and musical instruments!
- Open Friendship Journal to find online friends
- Tap "Visit" to instantly load into their world
- No Stars or resources required to visit
- Help water crops and flowers
- Get decoration inspiration from friends
Multiplayer Activities
While there are no competitive modes, players can engage in cooperative "parallel play." Form parties of up to 4 players to travel and explore together!
- Co-op Hobbies: Fish or catch bugs together
- Form parties (up to 4 players)
- Travel between map areas as a group
- Resource gathering is shared/instanced fairly
- Play games, chat at tea parties, party at concerts
Communication
Multiple ways to communicate with other players, from text chat to expressive emotes and physical interactions that unlock as friendship grows!
- Chat: Public (Town), party, and private messaging
- Emotes: Wide variety of expressive animations
- Gestures: Hugs, high-fives unlock with friendship
- Take photos together with unique poses
Friendship Level Unlocks
Interacting with friends increases your Friendship Level with them. Higher levels unlock special duo-interactions and emotes!
Cross-Platform Play
Heartopia supports full cross-play between PC, iOS, and Android. Players on mobile devices can play seamlessly with those on PC. Account progress is shared across platforms when bound to the same account!
Social Tips
Friend requests cost 1 Star, which you earn from completing quests. Spend them wisely on players you enjoy!
Form a party before logging in with friends to ensure you're placed in the same town instance together.
Visiting friends' homes costs nothing - it's a great way to get decoration inspiration for your own house!
Social interaction level is fully customizable - enjoy at your own pace, whether chatty or solo!
Random town neighbors change each session - a great way to meet new friends from around the world!
Take photos with friends using unique poses and emotes - great memories to share!
Privacy & Social Boundaries
Many players enjoy Heartopia's cozy, low-pressure atmosphere and want control over social interactions. Here's what you need to know about privacy options:
Heartopia currently offers limited privacy controls. Your main options are:
- Private Server: Create a private town (costs 5 Moonlight Crystals/hour for first 24 hours, then Heart Diamonds). This keeps your gameplay session completely private.
- Door Locks: You can lock doors to prevent entry, but note that Building Mode may automatically open them.
- Server Selection: Playing on different servers naturally separates player groups.
Many players have requested more detailed privacy controls, similar to features in other cozy games:
- Animal Crossing's "Best Friends" permission system
- Stardew Valley's cabin access controls
- House visitor permission toggles found in many MMOs
If this feature is important to you, consider sharing feedback with the official team through Discord (#suggestions channel) or in-game feedback!
Until more granular privacy controls are added, here are some strategies:
- Use private servers when you want solo time for crafting, cooking, or decorating
- Communicate boundaries with friends through chat
- Focus activities in outdoor areas when you want privacy from unexpected visitors
- Keep Building Mode locked when not actively decorating