This indie gem is a stealthy, satirical take on finding love and living life in tiny spaces.
BattleBrew Productions' Love in Tiny Spaces is a cheeky and heartfelt video game about keeping love alive in even the least romantic of environments. Released on 31 July, the game is a stealth puzzle title where you sneak through public housing corridors and busy malls to meet your partner, dodging nosy neighbours and gossip-hungry relatives along the way.
The real-life housing squeeze that sparked it all
In 2016, then-Senior Minister of State Josephine Teo famously responded to questions about young couples delaying children due to longer waiting times and increased housing costs with: “You need a very small space to have sex.”
While perhaps intended to be tongue-in-cheek, the quote struck a nerve, especially among younger Singaporeans facing years-long waits for their Build-To-Order (BTO) flats. This in-game couple clearly doesn’t need much space to be together. But in a place where walls are thin, aunties are everywhere, and privacy is a luxury, so even finding a quiet corner can feel like an epic quest.
In a country where securing your first flat can take up to three to five years (or more), “no flat, no child” isn’t just a meme, it’s a lived reality. Dating is already hard enough, let alone starting a family, when your options for privacy are limited to dating spots, malls and hidden areas in neighbourhoods. This, perhaps, was the spark for a witty, relatable, and surprisingly warm video game.
Sneaking through corridors instead of facing epic battles
In Love in Tiny Spaces, you play as the main character navigating Singapore’s iconic HDB flats, malls, and other local landmarks. But instead of wielding weapons or charging into combat, you’re armed with stealth and quick thinking, sneaking past nosy neighbours, meddlesome relatives, and gossip-hungry aunties, all in the name of spending time with your partner.
The apartments are narrow, the corridors are bustling, and every turn feels like you might run into someone who’ll ask, “Where are you off to? Do you have a girlfriend? And when are you getting married?”
It’s stealth gameplay wrapped in Southeast Asian everyday life, where the ‘boss fights’ aren’t monsters but awkward encounters you’d rather avoid.
Visuals and music that feel like you're rifling through your childhood stationery drawer
The visuals are charmingly simple, with the 2D apartment layouts resembling cute sticker sheets you might have collected as a kid. Each room and hallway pops with colour, evoking both nostalgia and warmth.
The music is equally delightful, upbeat, catchy, and with lyrics that perfectly capture the shared experience of growing up in tight-knit Asian communities. One line from the opening song about nosy neighbours had me grinning instantly: “They love to ask about your life, how’s your life? Are you married? Where are you going, and why?”
Packed with heart, culture, and the kind of relatability you can taste
What makes Love in Tiny Spaces more than just a clever premise is how deeply it draws from Southeast Asian life. Levels take you through void decks, hawker centres, and bustling neighbourhoods, complete with recognisable characters and food references like ayam penyet and bubble tea.
The gossiping auntie who sprints after you? We’ve all met her! She’s there to either drag you into neighbourhood drama or grill you for your relationship status, and even worse, judge you for it.
There’s even a nod to urban legends, like a banana plant rumoured to be haunted, which any Southeast Asian will tell you is both ridiculous and completely believable.
If you’re Asian, and especially if you grew up in a dense city, you’ll laugh at how exaggerated-yet-accurate these moments feel. The humour still lands even if you didn’t, because the mechanics themselves are solid.
If you’re not Asian or don’t live in a dense city, is it still enjoyable?
Definitely. The controls are simple: WASD for movement, spacebar to sprint, and mouse clicks to draw magical lines that rearrange the map. What starts as a light premise becomes surprisingly engaging, as each new level introduces fresh mechanics. One moment you’re dodging a bratty kid on a PMD, the next you’re avoiding the supernatural. You can use lights to your advantage, sales aisles to distract Ah Ma, and more.
The challenge ramps up without feeling unfair, though some late-game puzzles will test your patience. My only gripe? Occasionally, the map-fold mechanic can feel fiddly when you’re under pressure; but when it works, it’s deeply satisfying.
Verdict
Light-hearted, hilarious, and deceptively challenging, Love in Tiny Spaces is a stealth game that thrives on its cultural specificity without shutting out players unfamiliar with it. Every level feels fresh, and every obstacle, from gossiping neighbours to ghostly corridors, adds both difficulty and charm.
It’s the kind of game you’ll either binge in one sitting or return to level by level, determined to beat that one tricky stage. Most importantly, it’s a reminder that even the simplest mechanics, when built with heart and rooted in lived experience, can create something truly memorable.
Love in Tiny Spaces is now available on PC via Steam for SG$7.88 | RM18.88 | PHP236.88 | US$6.88. We received a copy of the game for this review.
