A Touch of Heart: Humanity’s Valentine’s Day Playlist for a Sterile World

Who would have thought faceless crowds in antiseptic settings could feel romantic? Well, it seems they can, as the team behind the 2023 puzzle game Humanity has just rolled out a Valentine’s Day-themed playlist featuring 10 aptly themed user-generated levels. It’s easily one of the most delightful holiday game tie-ins I’ve experienced, much like slapping a heart on a Companion Cube and marveling at the difference it makes with just a few thoughtful touches.

You’ll find this playlist under the Library tab in the game, offering a range of levels. Take “Lovers,” for example, where you only need to hop across four panels, sit back, and watch your unit take down a lineup of turrets. Then there’s the more challenging “Heart to Heart,” where you need to carefully plan a route to escort your “Goldy” buddy—a figure reminiscent of an Oscar statue—up a hill made of hearts, all while a horde of foes aims to dismantle your teddy bear army.

The developer, Enhance, gave a special mention to the level “Let There Be Love” on Bluesky, describing it as potentially the most romantic (and demanding) stage so far. While I’m not entirely convinced it tops the difficulty charts—especially since the game itself labels it “hard” rather than “expert,” with a completion rate of 8.31%—it’s undeniable that the sight of floating stone hearts delivers a certain romance. Even if those hearts need to be shattered to progress, the level innovatively conceals elements from the player’s view, prompting you to rely on context clues to determine the best strategy.

Another standout is “Lovers Quarrel,” where you navigate your troops through a woodland area beneath two enormous statues depicting a quarrelling duo. While it may not be the most hopeful scene, it compensates with an intriguing blend of stealth and strategy requirements.

Overall, this playlist provides a thoughtfully curated selection of levels that served as the perfect reason for me to revisit a game I adored when it first launched but hadn’t revisited in a while.