"No Daily or Other Required Tasks." Secretly Try the Life Sim "Heart Pia Slow Life" Where You Connect Randomly with 12 Different People Each Time [TGS2025]
Note: the original Japanese article can be found at:
https://www.4gamer.net/games/943/G094341/20250926081/
Editorial Department: Instruments | 2025/09/27 04:46 (UTC)
At Tokyo Game Show 2025 (TGS 2025), I had the chance to try out XD’s new mobile game, “Heartopia Slow Life” (iOS / Android).
Thumbnail image for Gallery No. 001 / “No daily or other required tasks.” A life simulation game where you secretly interact with 12 random people each time, “Heartopia Slow Life,” tried at TGS 2025 Thumbnail image for Gallery No. 002 / “No daily or other required tasks.” A life simulation game where you secretly interact with 12 random people each time, “Heartopia Slow Life,” tried at TGS 2025
Related article
“One-of-a-kind” Open World Life Sim Without Tasks, “Heartopia Slow Life,” to Launch in Japan’s First Half of 2026
On September 8, 2025 (today), XD announced that “Heartopia Slow Life,” currently available in China, will be released in Japan during the first half of 2026. A closed beta test is scheduled for November.
[September 8, 2025, 18:40]
- Keywords:
- iPhone: Heartopia Slow Life
- iPhone
- Simulation
- XD
- Heartwarming
- Life-style
- Android: Heartopia Slow Life
- Android
- News
- Editorial: Yawaragi
- TGS 2025
This game, titled a “calming life simulation,” is an open-world life simulator where players can enjoy one-of-a-kind encounters with 12 randomly selected other players every time they log in—without any required daily tasks or obligations.
Currently available only in China, the game will undergo a closed beta test in Japan this November and aims for release by the first half of 2026.
However, there was no playable demo booth at TGS this year. After asking, I was granted access to try out the developer’s actual device (the Traditional Chinese version).
Upon logging in, players arrive in a town where 12 randomly selected other players gather. Conceptually, it’s similar to how online games feature different player combinations each time you join a quick match. Additionally, items and objects—such as your own home—are brought into the world and reflected accordingly.
There is nothing “to do” in this game. More precisely, nothing is required of the player by the game itself. As such, players are free to choose their gender and appearance freely, cooking, playing music, fishing, gardening, designing a unique home, or simply spending time chatting with cats using “meow,” among countless other possibilities.
The core concept centers around eliminating any “pressure to do something,” which was essential to embody the game’s philosophy. Furthermore, there are no competitive elements against others—making it truly possible to experience a heart-pia (heartwarming) slow life as suggested by its title.
A wide range of possibilities Thumbnail image for Gallery No. 018 / “No daily or other required tasks.” A life simulation game where you secretly interact with 12 random people each time, “Heartopia Slow Life,” tried at TGS 2025 Thumbnail image for Gallery No. 019 / “No daily or other required tasks.” A life simulation game where you secretly interact with 12 random people each time, “Heartopia Slow Life,” tried at TGS 2025
That said, most mobile games typically feature mechanisms to guide player engagement or boost daily active users (DAU), such as daily login rewards and incentives. Avoiding this standard structure is both bold and innovative.
Of course, there are still hooks for logging in—such as the fashion store being updated every day. It’s like saying “no work today, but it’s nice to go to the office anyway.” Sorry—that example was not very good.
To be honest, daily tasks are a double-edged sword—both helpful and potentially burdensome—but they do provide undeniable functionality. It remains to be seen how this unique design will turn out.
Nevertheless, the fact that it has already attracted nearly 70 million players in China suggests impressive results—even when considering population ratios.
The driving force behind its success appears to be not only daily fashion updates but also the core appeal of meeting different people every time you log in. The game seems to have effectively leveraged this anticipation, resulting in today’s strong performance.
Also, if you hit it off with a random player, you can add them as a friend. In theory, one could even build a “town of 12 friends.” Rather than relying solely on the often-cited “loose matchmaking system,” the developers seem to have aimed for something more enjoyable and accessible.
When meeting someone new, they smiled back Thumbnail image for Gallery No. 006 / “No daily or other required tasks.” A life simulation game where you secretly interact with 12 random people each time, “Heartopia Slow Life,” tried at TGS 2025
The game also includes various activities and seasonal events based on themes like seasons. However, the strongest aspects appear to be fashion and home building.
Fashion elements are highlighted by daily updates at the shop. Avatars allow extensive customization of clothing and accessories, along with premium paid fashion items designed as key weapons for sustaining game operations.
The variety in clothing styles is vast, offering plenty of room for personal pursuit and expression.
The two below are reportedly among the most popular outfits in China Thumbnail image for Gallery No. 007 / “No daily or other required tasks.” A life simulation game where you secretly interact with 12 random people each time, “Heartopia Slow Life,” tried at TGS 2025 Thumbnail image for Gallery No. 008 / “No daily or other required tasks.” A life simulation game where you secretly interact with 12 random people each time, “Heartopia Slow Life,” tried at TGS 2025 Thumbnail image for Gallery No. 009 / “No daily or other required tasks.” A life simulation game where you secretly interact with 12 random people each time, “Heartopia Slow Life,” tried at TGS 2025 Thumbnail image for Gallery No. 010 / “No daily or other required tasks.” A life simulation game where you secretly interact with 12 random people each time, “Heartopia Slow Life,” tried at TGS 2025 Thumbnail image for Gallery No. 011 / “No daily or other required tasks.” A life simulation game where you secretly interact with 12 random people each time, “Heartopia Slow Life,” tried at TGS 2025 Thumbnail image for Gallery No. 012 / “No daily or other required tasks.” A life simulation game where you secretly interact with 12 random people each time, “Heartopia Slow Life,” tried at TGS 2025 Thumbnail image for Gallery No. 013 / “No daily or other required tasks.” A life simulation game where you secretly interact with 12 random people each time, “Heartopia Slow Life,” tried at TGS 2025 Thumbnail image for Gallery No. 014 / “No daily or other required tasks.” A life simulation game where you secretly interact with 12 random people each time, “Heartopia Slow Life,” tried at TGS 2025
Home building begins with gathering resources, stacking bricks one by one to design your dream home from scratch.
Indoors, you can change flooring and wallpaper, place vases, or even carefully hang wall paintings straight—details that reflect personal taste.
Incidentally, the photos below show physical models displayed at the booth. Just looking at them might inspire creativity in many players.
Thumbnail image for Gallery No. 021 / “No daily or other required tasks.” A life simulation game where you secretly interact with 12 random people each time, “Heartopia Slow Life,” tried at TGS 2025 Thumbnail image for Gallery No. 022 / “No daily or other required tasks.” A life simulation game where you secretly interact with 12 random people each time, “Heartopia Slow Life,” tried at TGS 2025 Thumbnail image for Gallery No. 023 / “No daily or other required tasks.” A life simulation game where you secretly interact with 12 random people each time, “Heartopia Slow Life,” tried at TGS 2025
Thumbnail image for Gallery No. 015 / “No daily or other required tasks.” A life simulation game where you secretly interact with 12 random people each time, “Heartopia Slow Life,” tried at TGS 2025 Thumbnail image for Gallery No. 016 / “No daily or other required tasks.” A life simulation game where you secretly interact with 12 random people each time, “Heartopia Slow Life,” tried at TGS 2025
Also, players reportedly enjoy exploring the homes of the 12 random people they meet upon login. Some even lock their doors saying “I’d like to keep my private space,” but that’s all part of the fun—exploring strangers’ houses is a delightful experience.
However, one element in this otherwise perfect game unexpectedly triggers a slightly conflicting emotion: at the start I mentioned there are no competitive elements—but situations such as “Wow, that person’s dress is amazing!” or “How lovely their home looks!” might spark some rivalry from time to time.
Even if you feel such urges, destroying a neighbor’s house isn’t possible within the system. Still, it’s an interesting lesson: slow life doesn’t have to mean only relaxing and peaceful—it can also include subtle forms of friendly inspiration.
Although there was no playable demo of the game at the TGS venue, several fun booth events were available—such as getting cute merchandise, a costume-changing game corner, an order caricature station, and photo spots.
In particular, the caricature corner (where artists quickly draw small portraits) attracted long lines, making it one of the most popular activities at the booth.
Thumbnail image for Gallery No. 024 / “No daily or other required tasks.” A life simulation game where you secretly interact with 12 random people each time, “Heartopia Slow Life,” tried at TGS 2025 Thumbnail image for Gallery No. 025 / “No daily or other required tasks.” A life simulation game where you secretly interact with 12 random people each time, “Heartopia Slow Life,” tried at TGS 2025
No tasks. One-of-a-kind encounters. And yet, every aspect is thoughtfully designed to avoid inconvenience—making it an ideal slow-life experience.
Recently, we’ve seen increasing numbers of games using phrases like “no gacha, only fashion purchases” or “all characters are free.” What’s striking about this shift isn’t just that such ideas appear in small casual titles—it’s that they now come from major publishers and large-scale productions.
In that sense, “Heartopia Slow Life” is not just a game; it may well represent a meaningful challenge toward redefining the future of service models.