New free-to-play life-sim lands on Steam, hits 15,100-player peak in 12 hours with 350 reviews

Heartopia, the free-to-play life simulation game from developer XD Games, has debuted on Steam with notable player engagement but significant controversy. Within 12 hours of its January 17, 2026 launch, the title peaked at 15,100 concurrent players—climbing to 17,100 by press time—while accumulating 350 user reviews that reveal deep community division.

Transitioning from mobile success (where it topped charts in 50+ countries earlier this month), Heartopia enters a crowded "cozy game" market dominated by titles like Disney Dreamlight Valley and Palia. Set on Whale Island, the game emphasizes home decoration, gardening, fishing, cooking, and social interactions. Its key differentiator is eliminating stamina systems entirely—players engage in activities indefinitely without energy gates. A hobby progression system rewards specialized activities like photography with lifestyle unlocks.

The PC version faces harsh reception, holding a 66% 'Mixed' Steam rating. Core complaints target its monetization: While free-to-play, Heartopia employs Gacha mechanics for premium cosmetics and vehicles. This includes an upcoming My Little Pony collaboration, which players call 'predatory' compared to Stardew Valley's direct purchase approach.

Technical execution draws equal ire. The Unity-based port retains mobile-centric design flaws—text references 'taps' and 'pinching,' while the camera system lacks axis controls and native controller support. This blocks Steam Deck compatibility despite the genre's handheld appeal.

This contrasts sharply with recent PC-first launches like Dreadmyst (600MB, no monetization), which cultivated smaller communities deliberately. Heartopia instead leverages its mobile audience—a strategy requiring urgent fixes to 'afterthought port' perceptions through controller mapping and PC-specific optimizations. Whether XD Games addresses these concerns will determine if Heartopia sustains beyond its strong launch numbers.