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

What could be more romantic than faceless crowds marching through pristine settings? Surprisingly, not much! The creators of the 2023 puzzle game Humanity have rolled out a Valentine’s Day-themed playlist featuring ten user-crafted levels that capture the holiday spirit beautifully. It’s one of the most delightful game holiday tie-ins I’ve experienced. Just like putting a heart on a Companion Cube, these small touches work wonders.

You can discover this playlist in the Library tab of the game. It ranges from straightforward levels like “Lovers,” where you navigate your characters over four panels and then watch them conquer a series of turrets, to the more challenging “Heart to Heart.” In this expert-level puzzle, you’ll need to map out a flawless route to guide your golden “Goldy” companion to the top of a heart-formed hill while fending off a wave of enemy forces made up of teddy bears.

On Bluesky, the developer Enhance highlighted a particular level, “Let There Be Love,” remarking that it “might just be the most romantic (and challenging) stage yet.” While it’s debatable whether it’s truly the hardest challenge—given the game rates it as “hard” rather than “expert” and the completion rate is at 8.31%—it certainly has a romantic flair, with heart-shaped stones beating before you. Even if you do need to break them to win the level. The stage cleverly deviates from standard Humanity gameplay by concealing certain elements, prompting players to rely on context clues to devise the best strategy.

Another recommendation is “Lovers Quarrel,” which requires you to guide your troops through a forest that lies beneath two enormous statues seemingly engaged in an argument. While it may not radiate the most hopeful vibes, it offers a fantastic blend of stealth and strategy that makes it incredibly engaging.

Overall, this playlist is a brilliant collection of levels that enticed me to revisit a game I adored upon its release but hadn’t played in some time.