How to Level Up Friendship in Heartopia (March 2026) Expert Guide

If you’ve been enjoying Heartopia solo but feel like you’re missing something, that “something” is almost always friendship. The whole game feels warmer when you’re unlocking new emotes, hugs, dances, and cozy actions with the people you care about.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how friendship leveling works, the fastest way to level up friendship in Heartopia, and how to avoid common mistakes that slow you down. I’ll also share all the friendship level rewards, practical daily routines, and pro strategies you won’t see in most short guides.

Quick overview: the only way to level up friendship with another player is by doing two-person interactions each day. These give you Friendship Marks, and when you collect enough, your friendship level goes up. It’s slow by design, but there are smart ways to stay consistent and hit max level together. Game Rant and IGN both confirm that two-person interactions are your main source of friendship progress and that daily limits keep the system gradual.gamerant+1

Heartopia Friendship System at a Glance

Before we dive into step-by-step strategies, here’s a quick reference table so you can see how the system works at a glance:

Feature	What It Means	How It Affects Leveling
Two-person interactions	Special actions like high-fives, hugs, and dances that both players perform together	The ONLY way to earn Friendship Marks and increase friendship levelsgamerant+1
Friendship Marks	Points you earn from the first two-person action you do with a specific friend each day	Collect enough marks → friendship level goes upgamerant
Daily limits	You can only earn a small number of Friendship Marks per friend per day	Repeating actions doesn’t give extra; leveling up takes multiple real-world daysgamerant
Friendship Journal	In‑game app where you can see your friends, their levels, and your progress to the next level	Essential for tracking progress and checking how many marks you needign+1
Friendship Ranks (1–10)	From “Greeting Friends” at level 1 to “Kindred‑Spirit Friends” at level 10	Each rank unlocks new actions like teleporting, gift-giving, and special emotesgamerant+1
Same‑town requirement	You and your friend must be in the same town to do two-person interactions	Visiting towns and joining friends directly are the core ways to meet upgamerant

Use this table as your cheat sheet while you read. Everything below is about how to squeeze the most out of these mechanics without burning yourself out.

How Friendship Leveling Works in Heartopia?

When you first add someone, your friendship starts at level 1. At that point, you can already chat, send postcards, and do a couple of basic actions like holding hands or doing a relaxing high-five. But Heartopia saves some of its cutest and most useful features for higher friendship levels.

According to Game Rant and IGN, the core rule is simple:

• To increase your friendship level, you must:
  • Be in the same town as a friend.
  • Perform a two-person interaction with them using the special heart icon above their head.gamerant+1
• Both players earn Friendship Marks the first time they perform an action together that day. Different actions or repeating the same action multiple times do not give bonus marks.gamerant

In other words:

• First two-person action of the day with a friend → both of you get Friendship Marks.
• Every extra action after that → just for fun, roleplay, or photos; no extra marks.

Because you can only earn a few Friendship Marks each day, you can’t grind friendship in one afternoon. IGN explicitly says it will likely take weeks of consistently playing together to reach the highest friendship levels, with the final rank being Kindred‑Spirits Friends.ign That’s not a bug — it’s meant to mirror long-term, real-life connections.

TheGamer and Screen Hype both reinforce this idea: focus on showing up daily and doing at least one two-person action with each friend you care about, rather than trying to spam interactions.thegamer+1

Prerequisites Before You Can Level Friendship

You can’t start leveling friendship straight out of the gate. There are a few things you need first:

• D.G. Member’s Guild level 4:
  • VG247 and several community guides point out that you must reach D.G. Member level 4 to unlock the Friendship Journal and add friends at all.vg247
• Friendship Journal unlocked:
  • The Friendship Journal is the app on your in‑game phone where you manage friends and see their levels.
• At least 1 Wishing Star:
  • Adding a friend costs 1 Wishing Star. If they decline or don’t accept within a couple of days, it’s refunded.thegamer+1
• Both players on the same server / in the same town:
  • You must be in the same town to do two-person actions, which means joining via the main menu or visiting through the Friendship Journal.gamerant

If you’re still early in the game and haven’t unlocked the social features yet, focus first on the basic quests and hobbies, and treat friendship leveling as your “mid‑game” goal.

Step-by-Step: How to Perform Two-Person Actions for Friendship Marks?

Here’s the exact process I use whenever I want to make sure my daily friendship “tick” happens with a friend:

1. Make sure you’re friends and in the same town

• Check that:
  • You’ve already added each other (Friendship Journal).
  • You’re both online.
  • You’re in the same town (use the “Join” button from the main menu or the “Visit” option from the Friendship Journal).gamerant

2. Walk up to your friend in‑game

• Move close to them so that icons appear above their head.
• You should see a small set of bubbles/icons when you’re near enough.

3. Tap the two-person interaction icon (the one with the heart)

• Game Rant describes it as “two people standing side by side with a heart in the center,” and it’s the rightmost icon above their head.gamerant
• Tapping that opens the list of available two-person actions.

4. Choose an action

• Depending on your friendship level, you’ll see different actions:
  • Level 1 examples: Relaxing High‑Five, Hold Hands.gamerant+1
  • Higher levels unlock hugs, dances, selfies, and more.
• Select one you both like.

5. Wait for your friend to accept

• Your friend will see a special icon appear above your head representing the chosen action.
• They tap that to join you, and then both characters perform the animation together.gamerant

6. Confirm that you got your daily Friendship Mark

• Open your watch and go to the Friendship Journal.
• Tap your friend’s profile, then tap the red heart icon:
  • It shows your current level, how many points you still need for the next level, and the actions you’ve unlocked.gamerant
• If your progress increased, that interaction counted as your daily Friendship Mark.

That’s it. Everything else — co‑building, chatting, taking photos — is fun and supports your bond, but only that first two-person action per day pushes the bar forward.

Daily Reset and Timing Your Interactions

At the moment, the public guides (Game Rant, IGN, TheGamer, Screen Hype) don’t list the exact server reset time for friendship marks, but there are some general best practices:

• Do your friendship action at around the same time each day:
  • This reduces confusion about whether you’ve “ticked” today’s mark or if you accidentally slipped into the next reset window.
• If possible, agree on a Heartopia “friendship hour” with your core friends:
  • For example: “Every evening at 9 PM we hop on, do one two-person emote, and then casually hang out.”

Until/unless official patch notes or the official Discord announce a specific reset time, treat this as a soft, player-friendly system — your job is to show up once per real-world day for each friend you care about.

All Friendship Level Rewards (Levels 1–10)

One of the best motivators to keep logging in is seeing what unlocks at each level. Game Rant and TheGamer both list very similar rewards, and I’ve combined them here, plus added rank names from TheGamer’s guide.gamerant+1

Friendship Level 1 – Greeting Friends

Core unlocks:

• Friend chat.
• Teleport to friend’s town.
• Send postcards.
• Hold Hands action.
• Relaxing High‑Five action.gamerant+1

Friendship Level 2 – Chatterbox Friends

Unlocks:

• Energetic High‑Five.
• Shoulder Check.gamerant+1

Friendship Level 3 – Playful Friends

Unlocks:

• Give your friend a gift.
• Invite your friend to co-build.
• Face‑to‑Face Spin.
• Friendly Hug.gamerant+1

Friendship Level 4 – Journey Friends

Unlocks:

• Bear Hug.
• Pet on the Head.gamerant+1

Friendship Level 5 – Reliable Friends

Unlocks:

• Happy High‑Five.
• Hold Arms.
• Let’s Watch Meteor Shower action (a special weather event activity).gamerant+1

Friendship Level 6 – Charming Friends

Unlocks:

• Comfort Hug.
• Hook Pinkies.
• Snow Dance.gamerant+1

Friendship Level 7 – Imaginative Friends

Unlocks:

• Arms Heart.
• Hand‑in‑Hand Dance.gamerant+1

Friendship Level 8 – Secret‑Sharing Friends

Unlocks:

• Double/Duo Selfie.
• “Forced” Head Pat.gamerant+1

Friendship Level 9 – In‑Sync Friend

Unlocks:

• Laid‑back Waltz.
• Pinch Cheek.gamerant+1

Friendship Level 10 – Kindred‑Spirit Friends

Unlocks:

• Hold Face.
• Shoulder Lean.gamerant+1

IGN refers to the final stage as Kindred‑Spirits Friends.ign The rank names (like “Chatterbox Friends,” “Kindred‑Spirit Friends,” etc.) come from TheGamer’s table.thegamer

How to Visit Friends and Meet Up Efficiently?

Since you can’t do two-person actions remotely, learning to quickly visit friends is a big part of keeping your friendship streak alive. Game Rant explains two easy ways to do this.gamerant

Method 1 – Join your friend’s town from the main menu

• On the main title screen:
  • Press the white icon to the right of the “Start” button.
  • It shows a list of friends with:
    • Their name.
    • Town number.
    • Number of people in the town.
  • Tap the blue “Join” button next to your friend’s name to enter their town directly.gamerant

Method 2 – Visit from the Friendship Journal

• While you’re already in-game:
  • Open your Friendship Journal app.
  • Select the friend you want to visit.
  • Tap the orange “Visit” button at the bottom of the screen and confirm.gamerant
  • If their town has space, your home will move there too.

Once you’re in their town:

• Open the map:
  • Their icon shows their current location.
  • Their home appears with a red marker and a heart icon.gamerant
• Use the map to navigate to them quickly and start your interaction.

How to Check Your Friendship Level and Progress?

Heartopia doesn’t hide your progress — you just need to know where to look. Both IGN and Game Rant point to the Friendship Journal.ign+1

Steps:

1. Open your watch in the top right of the screen.
2. Tap “Friendship Journal”.
3. Select your friend’s profile.
4. Tap the red heart icon in the upper right of their profile:
   • This shows:
     • Current friendship level.
     • How many points (marks) you still need for the next level.
     • Which actions you’ve unlocked so far.gamerant

I recommend checking this screen once a week with your closest friends so you can celebrate levels and plan which emotes you want to unlock next.

Pro Strategies to Level Up Friendship Consistently

Now that we’ve covered the mechanics, here’s where you can get ahead of most players by designing a consistent, low‑stress friendship routine.

1) Prioritize “one action per day” over long sessions

Because of the daily Friendship Mark limit, the most important thing is:

• Show up.
• Do one two-person action with each friend you want to progress.
• That’s it.

You don’t gain extra for:

• Doing ten different emotes in a row.
• Standing next to each other for hours.

Game Rant explicitly says doing different actions or repeating the same one several times does not give bonus marks, and you can only earn a few marks per day.gamerant So:

• Short but consistent beats long but rare.

2) Rotate through a small friend group

Instead of trying to level everyone at once:

• Pick 2–4 close friends to focus on each “season.”
• Make sure you:
  • Do your one two-person action with them daily.
• Once they reach a satisfying rank, shift focus to another group.

This keeps your daily routine manageable while still progressing multiple friendships over time.

3) Combine friendship marks with co-building and shared hobbies

Even though only the first two-person action counts for marks, you can:

• Start your session with the required action.
• Then spend time:
  • Co‑building (unlocked at friendship level 3).gamerant
  • Fishing or birdwatching together.
  • Taking photos.

TheGamer and Screen Hype emphasize using co‑building and activities like ice skating or music to strengthen your social experience beyond just the mechanics.thegamer+1 The marks might be limited, but your memories don’t have to be.

4) Use Coffee Umbrellas to meet new friends and stay in touch

Screen Hype and TheGamer both highlight Free‑Spirit Coffee Umbrellas as a fun social item.screenhype+1

What they do:

• You can place them on flat ground to create a little coffee stand.
• Up to four players can join under the umbrella.
• You:
  • Sip coffee.
  • Recover energy.
  • Get access to a private chatbox.screenhype+1

This is great for:

• Hosting a “daily coffee meetup” with your friend group.
• Making your friendship check-ins feel more like a ritual than a chore.

5) Cross-platform flexibility: PC and mobile

TheGamer confirms that Heartopia has crossplay and cross‑save between PC and mobile, so you can meet friends no matter what device they’re on.heartopia This flexibility is huge for consistency:

• If your friend only has time on their phone during their commute, you can hop on mobile too.
• If you’re at your PC later, you can continue playing there and still keep the same progress.

If you want more on inviting friends and multiplayer basics, our Heartopia multiplayer guide covers sending friend requests, joining towns, and co‑building in depth.ofzenandcomputing

Common Mistakes That Slow Down Friendship Progress

Here are the mistakes I see people make most often, and how to avoid them.

Mistake 1: Only doing one-way emotes instead of two-person actions

• There are single-person emotes and then there are two-person actions.
• Only the two-person interactions (triggered from the heart icon) give Friendship Marks.gamerant+1
• If you’re just waving or using random emotes from the list, you’re not progressing friendship.

Mistake 2: Assuming more actions = more marks

• Remember:
  • First action of the day = Friendship Marks.
  • All extra actions = zero marks.
• Don’t burn yourself out grinding emotes; focus on consistency instead.gamerant

Mistake 3: Forgetting that friendship is tied to specific players

• Friendship is between you and each specific friend, not a single global bar.
• You need to:
  • Perform a daily two-person action with each friend whose relationship you care about.

Mistake 4: Ignoring the D.G. Member requirement

• You can’t add friends until D.G. Member level 4.
• Trying to add friends before you unlock the Friendship Journal can be confusing and waste time.vg247

Mistake 5: Not checking in when life gets busy

• Because the system is daily-oriented, missing several days in a row can make progress feel slower.
• If you can’t play much:
  • Try to at least log in, meet up, and do your one emote with each priority friend.

Tools & Communities to Help You Track and Optimize

Besides in‑game tools, there are a couple of external resources I recommend:

Heartopia.Life – Friendship Tracker and NPC Guide

• Heartopia.Life has:
  • An NPC Friendship Tracker for villagers, not players, with:
    • Favorite gifts.
    • Mood tips.
    • Best gifting times.heartopia
  • A full NPC list with favorite items and locations.
• This is separate from player-to-player friendship, but:
  • It teaches good habits (daily visits, mood awareness) that translate well into how you treat real friends in‑game too.

Official Heartopia Discord

• The Heartopia Official Discord is a great place to:
  • Ask questions about systems.
  • Find new friends to level with.
  • Get quick clarifications if game updates change anything.discord

Cozy and slow gaming communities

• If you’re into Heartopia’s chill vibe, you might also enjoy wider cozy and slow gaming communities.
• Our guides to feel-good games and slow gaming show how titles like this fit into a broader, wellness-focused way of gaming that emphasizes relaxation and connection over grinding.ofzenandcomputing+1

NPC Friendship vs. Player Friendship: Don’t Confuse Them

It’s easy to confuse two different “friendship” systems in Heartopia:

• Player-to-player friendship:
  • Managed via the Friendship Journal.
  • Leveled using two-person interactions and Friendship Marks.
  • Unlocks co‑building, teleporting, special emotes, and actions.gamerant+1
• NPC friendship:
  • Based on daily talking, gifting, and dialogue choices.
  • Uses tiers like Stranger → Acquaintance → Friend → Close Friend → Best Friend.
  • Unlocks shop discounts, quests, and special items.
  • Covered in detail by CozyGamingPanda and Heartopia.Life.heartopia

For this article, I’m focusing only on player friendship. But if you love Heartopia’s social side, I highly recommend diving into NPC friendship too — it makes the world feel even more alive.

Daily Friendship Routine Example

To make everything super concrete, here’s a simple daily routine you can adapt. It’s the pattern I follow to keep friendships moving without feeling like a second job.

1. Log in at a consistent time (even 10–15 minutes is enough).
2. Check your Friendship Journal:
   • See who you’re actively leveling.
3. Join a friend’s town or invite them to yours:
   • Use the main menu join button or the Friendship Journal “Visit” option.gamerant
4. Do one two-person action:
   • Choose any unlocked interaction (e.g., Relaxing High‑Five, Friendly Hug).
   • Make sure both of you trigger it via the heart icon.
5. Hang out a bit if you have time:
   • Co-build, fish, or just take photos.
6. Repeat step 4–5 for each priority friend.
7. Before you log off:
   • Place a Coffee Umbrella in a central spot if you want to host a little social hub for friends who drop by later.screenhype+1

Even if you only do steps 1–4 most days, your friendship levels will keep climbing.

How Heartopia Fits Into the Broader World of Cozy Social Games?

One of the reasons I love Heartopia’s friendship system is that it’s part of a bigger trend: cozy, slow-paced games where relationship-building is the core, not a side feature. If you’re here, you probably already enjoy that vibe.

If you like Heartopia, you might also enjoy:

• Other cozy life sims and feel‑good games that prioritize social connection and low‑stress play. We’ve rounded up some of the best feel-good games that rely on positive, wholesome mechanics similar to Heartopia’s social design.ofzenandcomputing
• Open-world co‑op and social simulators where hanging out is more important than min-maxing stats.ofzenandcomputing+1

Heartopia sits nicely between games like Animal Crossing and more structured life sims — flexible enough to play casually, but with enough systems (friendship, hobbies, building) to keep you engaged for months.

Why consistent daily play matters more than grinding?

Because friendship progression is capped each day, the “meta” is literally:

• Show up.
• Be present.
• Interact with your friends.

You don’t need to optimize every minute. You just need to show up consistently over time. That’s also why it pairs so well with slow gaming: short, regular sessions are more valuable than occasional marathon grinds.ofzenandcomputing

Final Tips to Reach Kindred‑Spirit Friends Faster

To wrap things up, here are my top tips if your goal is to reach Kindred‑Spirit Friends (level 10) with someone important to you:

• Set a shared Heartopia “friendship time” with that person:
  • Even 10 minutes a day is enough to get your Friendship Mark.
• Check each other’s progress in the Friendship Journal once a week:
  • This keeps you both accountable and motivated.
• Keep the same time zone routine:
  • This reduces confusion about daily resets.
• Mix friendship marks with fun co‑building and shared hobbies:
  • Co‑building unlocks at level 3, giving you a new way to bond.gamerant
• Use Coffee Umbrellas to turn daily check‑ins into small, cozy rituals:
  • It makes the process feel special, not mechanical.screenhype+1
• Remember: the journey is the point:
  • Weeks of daily high-fives, hugs, and dances are a story you’re building together.

If you enjoy this social, relaxed style of multiplayer, our Heartopia multiplayer guide goes deeper into parties, co‑building, and group activities you can do once your friendships are strong enough.ofzenandcomputing And if you’re looking for more games that prioritize friendship and connection, our lists of the best feel-good games and slow gaming recommendations are perfect next steps.ofzenandcomputing+1

Bookmark this guide and check back in March 2026 if you want to refresh on how Heartopia’s friendship system works, confirm reward unlocks, or adjust your routine as the game evolves.

FAQ’s

How do I level up friendship in Heartopia?

The only way to level up friendship with another player in Heartopia is by performing two-person interactions with them. Both players earn Friendship Marks the first time they do a two-person action together each day; once you collect enough marks, your friendship level increases.gamerant+1

Does repeating the same two-person action give more Friendship Marks?

No. Heartopia only gives you Friendship Marks for the first two-person interaction you perform with a specific friend each day. Doing different actions or repeating the same one doesn’t give bonus marks.gamerant

How many friendship levels are there in Heartopia?

There are 10 friendship levels between players, ranging from level 1 (Greeting Friends) to level 10 (Kindred‑Spirit Friends). Each level unlocks new actions and abilities.gamerant+1

What do I unlock at each friendship level?

Level 1 unlocks basics like friend chat, teleporting, and sending postcards, plus basic emotes like Hold Hands and Relaxing High‑Five. Levels 2–10 gradually unlock more emotes, hugs, dances, co‑building, gift-giving, and special event actions like watching a meteor shower together.gamerant+1

How do I check my friendship level with a friend?

Open your watch, go to the Friendship Journal, select your friend’s profile, and tap the red heart icon in the upper right. It shows your current friendship level, how many marks you need for the next level, and the actions you’ve unlocked.gamerant+1

Can I level friendship without being in the same town?

No. You must be in the same town as your friend to do two-person interactions, which are the only source of Friendship Marks.gamerant

How do I visit a friend’s town?

You can either:

• Use the white icon next to the Start button on the main screen to join their town directly, or
• Use the Friendship Journal, select your friend, and tap the orange Visit button.gamerant

How long does it take to reach max friendship?

IGN and Game Rant both note that you can only earn a few Friendship Marks per day, so it takes several weeks of consistent play to reach the highest friendship levels like Kindred‑Spirit Friends.gamerant+1

Are there hidden tricks to farm Friendship Marks faster?

Currently, no. The system is intentionally limited to prevent grinding. Your “best strategy” is to show up every day and do one two-person action with each friend you care about.gamerant+1

Do NPCs and player friendships use the same system?

No. NPC friendship uses daily talking, gifts, and dialogue choices with tiers like Stranger, Acquaintance, Friend, and Best Friend. Player friendship uses two-person interactions and Friendship Marks in the Friendship Journal.heartopia+1

What are Coffee Umbrellas, and do they affect friendship?

Coffee Umbrellas are placeable items that create a small social hub where up to four players can chat, recover energy, and hang out. They don’t directly give Friendship Marks, but they’re a great way to organize regular meetups with friends.screenhype+1

Is there crossplay for Heartopia?

Yes. TheGamer confirms Heartopia supports both crossplay and cross-save between PC and mobile devices, so you and your friends can play together regardless of platform.heartopia

If Heartopia’s social side is one of the things you love about the game, you might also enjoy exploring other cozy, friendship-focused games that put connection at the center of the experience.

Conclusion

Leveling up friendship in Heartopia is a marathon, not a sprint, and honestly, that’s what makes it special. There are no shortcuts or secret exploits that will instantly grant you Kindred-Spirits status—it’s built one two-person interaction, one hug, and one shared laugh at a time. By focusing on that single daily action with your favorite people, you turn a simple game mechanic into a meaningful routine that keeps you connected.

So, don’t stress about grinding every minute of every day. Just show up, tap that heart icon, and enjoy the adorable rewards as they come. Whether you’re teleporting to a friend’s town, co-building a dream house, or just sharing a quiet coffee under an umbrella, remember that the real reward isn’t just the level up—it’s the friendship you’re building along the way. See you in Heartopia.