“Welcome to ‘Heartbeat: Regret,’ where we will provide a complete walkthrough of the game. This guide dives into each level and offers tips on how to successfully complete them. However, be warned, there are spoilers included. It is suggested to try each level on your own before using this guide.”
Introduction
The game Heartbeat: Regret was released in September of 2021 by the gaming software company Mytruesound. It is a retail side-scroller that is available on both Steam and Itch.io.
As far as mechanics are concerned, there are a number of interesting controls incorporated into the game. The most interesting of these is that it incorporates the option to use either written or voice commands to perform actions such as opening and closing doors, climbing staircases, and picking up objects found along the way. The option for which types of commands are accepted can be toggled in the options menu.
The story of this game can be quite confusing, and it is very easy to get stumped on a lot of the game’s levels. This tutorial aims to give you a better understanding of how to complete the game.
**Warning!**
This guide contains spoilers and may take away from the gameplay experience. It is highly recommended that you try to play through the entire game before reading this guide and only refer to it in the event that you are absolutely stuck.
As far as mechanics are concerned, there are a number of interesting controls incorporated into the game. The most interesting of these is that it incorporates the option to use either written or voice commands to perform actions such as opening and closing doors, climbing staircases, and picking up objects found along the way. The option for which types of commands are accepted can be toggled in the options menu.
The story of this game can be quite confusing, and it is very easy to get stumped on a lot of the game’s levels. This tutorial aims to give you a better understanding of how to complete the game.
**Warning!**
This guide contains spoilers and may take away from the gameplay experience. It is highly recommended that you try to play through the entire game before reading this guide and only refer to it in the event that you are absolutely stuck.
Level One
After entering the mansion in the introduction to the story, you will hear the sound of a ringing telephone as well as the sound of your dog on the far right. Since this is a side-scroller, you will need to use the left and right arrows to move backward and forward respectively. Be sure to match the pace at which you move to the sound of your heartbeat. If your heart rate gets too fast, you will die.
Continue moving forward until you hear a voice telling you to pick up the receiver. Make sure to type or say the command exactly as you hear it. After picking up the receiver and listening to the message, turn around and walk backward until you get to a staircase going up. Once again, type in the command exactly as you hear it spoken. Any wrong key press will make your heart rate go up.
At the top of the staircase, move forward until you come to a door. Walk past the staircase you find in the adjoining room and pick up the receiver. You can go back to the staircase and descend it once you hear the message on the phone.
At the bottom of the staircase, walk to the left until you find a key. Pick it up and head back to the right to open the door. Go through the room beyond it until you come to a locked door. At this point, you will hear a humming sound off to your right. Unlock and open the door, then head into the room beyond. Keep moving forward until you see the checkpoint. Upon reaching it, type the command to record your progress. Well done! You have just completed the first level!
Continue moving forward until you hear a voice telling you to pick up the receiver. Make sure to type or say the command exactly as you hear it. After picking up the receiver and listening to the message, turn around and walk backward until you get to a staircase going up. Once again, type in the command exactly as you hear it spoken. Any wrong key press will make your heart rate go up.
At the top of the staircase, move forward until you come to a door. Walk past the staircase you find in the adjoining room and pick up the receiver. You can go back to the staircase and descend it once you hear the message on the phone.
At the bottom of the staircase, walk to the left until you find a key. Pick it up and head back to the right to open the door. Go through the room beyond it until you come to a locked door. At this point, you will hear a humming sound off to your right. Unlock and open the door, then head into the room beyond. Keep moving forward until you see the checkpoint. Upon reaching it, type the command to record your progress. Well done! You have just completed the first level!
Level Two
This is where things get tricky. Walk forward until you get to a closed door. Upon reaching it, you will hear the first monster of the game. At this point in the level, it will sound closer than it actually is. You can open the door and enter the next room without fear. However, whatever you do, do *not!* go down the staircase you will find in that room, unless you want to suffer a quick and probably painful death.
Once in this room, move past the deadly staircase and pick up the ringing telephone. Our unknown ally will give us a neat trick for getting past the monster in our way. As long as you keep the up arrow depressed, you will remain hidden. However, there is a cost. The longer you hide, the more your heart rate will spike. If you stay hidden for too long, you will die.
Armed with this knowledge, we can continue to the right and through another door. I would recommend keeping this door open after going through it. You will find another staircase that leads to the lower floor. Once at the bottom, move to the left until you get to the next closed door.
**Important!**
Timing is essential here. Your goal is to open the door when the monster is not too close and not too far away. A good strategy to employ for this is to wait for the monster to crash into the wall that is closest to the door you need to get through. Wait for it to walk about 4 steps away, then open the door. As soon as it is open, you can move left about 4 steps at a normal pace before you hear him crash into the far wall. As soon as you hear him crash into it, hide yourself and wait for it to be on your right. Inevitably, your heart rate will go up, so make sure to move accordingly. For those who have a difficult time typing quickly, you may want to employ the use of voice commands.
Amid the havoc wrought by this vehicle of stressful mayhem, you will see a closed cabinet in the far left corner. Open it and pick up the key inside. Right before this cabinet, there is a very conveniently-placed staircase you can ascend. This is a very useful way of hiding yourself. Another good strategy here is to wait at the top of the staircase for the monster to be out of earshot on your right, then descend and take the key. However, don’t wait too long, or you will find yourself on the staircase to Heaven.
After escaping up the stairwell, continue forward through the open door and down the staircase in the next room. Unfortunately for you, the regret monster does not get the hint that you don’t want it around, so you will have to look out for the chase that is sure to ensue. Make sure it is to your left before heading down the stairs, and pace yourself so that your heartbeat doesn’t get too high. After reaching the locked door at the bottom of the staircase on the far right, unlock and open it in quick succession. Immediately after taking the first step through it, close it behind you and trap the monster outside. You can then save your progress at the checkpoint.
Once in this room, move past the deadly staircase and pick up the ringing telephone. Our unknown ally will give us a neat trick for getting past the monster in our way. As long as you keep the up arrow depressed, you will remain hidden. However, there is a cost. The longer you hide, the more your heart rate will spike. If you stay hidden for too long, you will die.
Armed with this knowledge, we can continue to the right and through another door. I would recommend keeping this door open after going through it. You will find another staircase that leads to the lower floor. Once at the bottom, move to the left until you get to the next closed door.
**Important!**
Timing is essential here. Your goal is to open the door when the monster is not too close and not too far away. A good strategy to employ for this is to wait for the monster to crash into the wall that is closest to the door you need to get through. Wait for it to walk about 4 steps away, then open the door. As soon as it is open, you can move left about 4 steps at a normal pace before you hear him crash into the far wall. As soon as you hear him crash into it, hide yourself and wait for it to be on your right. Inevitably, your heart rate will go up, so make sure to move accordingly. For those who have a difficult time typing quickly, you may want to employ the use of voice commands.
Amid the havoc wrought by this vehicle of stressful mayhem, you will see a closed cabinet in the far left corner. Open it and pick up the key inside. Right before this cabinet, there is a very conveniently-placed staircase you can ascend. This is a very useful way of hiding yourself. Another good strategy here is to wait at the top of the staircase for the monster to be out of earshot on your right, then descend and take the key. However, don’t wait too long, or you will find yourself on the staircase to Heaven.
After escaping up the stairwell, continue forward through the open door and down the staircase in the next room. Unfortunately for you, the regret monster does not get the hint that you don’t want it around, so you will have to look out for the chase that is sure to ensue. Make sure it is to your left before heading down the stairs, and pace yourself so that your heartbeat doesn’t get too high. After reaching the locked door at the bottom of the staircase on the far right, unlock and open it in quick succession. Immediately after taking the first step through it, close it behind you and trap the monster outside. You can then save your progress at the checkpoint.
Level Three
This level acts as a sort of breather, which is a welcome prize after winning the stairing contest of regret. Move forward until you come across the next telephone. While trying to discern the cryptic message you hear on the phone, follow the sound of your canine friend to the right towards the next closed door. Make sure you open it and get through quick, because Regret is on your heels again and he has no regret in ending your life. Make sure to close the door immediately after going through it. It should be noted at this point that the regret monsters will most likely be stalking you from now until the time you make it out of this accursed place.
Once through the door, head to the staircase on the right and ascend it. Go through the door to the right of the staircase and up the stairs in the next room. There will be one more staircase on the far right to climb after making it to the top of the steps. Once at the top of the last staircase, head past the cabinet on the left to the telephone and pick it up. After answering the phone and getting the key in the cabinet, climb back down the first staircase. Wait a minute, what’s that sound? Oh shoot, it’s a monster! Make sure he is out of earshot on your left before attempting the climb back down the other staircase. Escape to the door on the far right and, same as in the previous level, unlock and open the door just long enough to slip through. Close it behind you and record your progress at the checkpoint.
Once through the door, head to the staircase on the right and ascend it. Go through the door to the right of the staircase and up the stairs in the next room. There will be one more staircase on the far right to climb after making it to the top of the steps. Once at the top of the last staircase, head past the cabinet on the left to the telephone and pick it up. After answering the phone and getting the key in the cabinet, climb back down the first staircase. Wait a minute, what’s that sound? Oh shoot, it’s a monster! Make sure he is out of earshot on your left before attempting the climb back down the other staircase. Escape to the door on the far right and, same as in the previous level, unlock and open the door just long enough to slip through. Close it behind you and record your progress at the checkpoint.
Level Four
This level is pretty easy. Start by walking past the staircase on the right and getting the chest key you will find in the cabinet. Go back to the staircase and descend it. Upon reaching the bottom and moving to the right, you will come across a locked chest. Open it with the key you just got, and pick up the trap you will find inside. At this point, continue moving forward until you find the next ringing telephone. Phone Girl will tell you that you can use the trap by pressing the down arrow to place it. As soon as you set it down and start moving right, the monster will come after you. The trap will slow it down, but do not waste too much time. Hurry to the checkpoint and save your progress.
Level Five
The challenges comprising this level make it one of the hardest levels in the game, and completing it is much easier said than done. That said, it is recommended that you read through this challenge in its entirety before trying to complete the various steps listed below. You may need to refer to this section often as you go through the level. You will most likely not be able to complete it during your first try, but don’t get discouraged. It is possible!
After the level starts, you will hear the displeasure of the monster you just defeated through the wall to your left as it realizes that you have escaped. Continue forward until you come to a closed chest. Open it and take the trap, then set it in place. As soon as you take another step forward, the next regret monster will start coming after you. If you play your cards right, you should be able to move forward at a normal pace for this part of the level. The trap will temporarily slow the monster down, during which time you should find and descend the next staircase. Try to pace yourself and be as quick as you can without pushing your heart rate up too high. As if life wasn’t hard enough with this monstrosity around, the monster is now capable of climbing down the staircase after you. The end goal is to make it to the door to the far left, which you will find after passing a locked chest. We don’t have the key for this yet, so we can’t unlock it. You may have to hide yourself during your flight to the door, so be extremely careful. After reaching the door, open it quickly, take the first step into the room, and slam the door in the monster’s face.
After a few well-earned deep breaths, move to the left and answer the ringing telephone. Phone Girl will give you some words of encouragement and inform you that “the trap is the key.” Continue moving left until you find a cabinet. Pick up the key you will find inside, and go find the next staircase on your left.
After descending the staircase, move forward and open the door to the next room. You will hear the monster, but it will not be able to reach you. Locate the next staircase and wait for an opportunity to ascend. Keep in mind that the regret patrol will be right above you, which is why it is worth playing the waiting game so you can analyze his movements. Wait for his footsteps to fade to your left before making your move. At the top of the staircase, go to the left and ascend the next staircase on your left. Don’t tarry if you can help it.
At the top of the staircase, continue moving left until you locate the trap that is lying on the ground. Pick it up and move back to the staircase on the right. Wait for the monster to move to the left of the staircase, then descend. Move one step to the left and lay down the trap before hiding yourself. The monster will charge past into the trap, at which point you will have a few seconds to unlock and open the chest. Take the key you will find inside and escape through the door on the far left.
After giving your heart a chance to get back to a nnormal rhythm, proceed to and descend the next staircase on the left. After a leisurely stroll through the empty room at the bottom of the stairs, you will find yourself walking past a staircase we previously climbed. On the far right, you will find a locked door. You can access this door with the key you just collected.
Upon heading through the door you just unlocked, the monster will warp into the room and try to chase you for a moment. After a second of hiding, it will realize that the effort is in vain and you will be free to descend the staircase on the far right. At the bottom of the stairs, you can make your way to the welcoming, long-overdue sound of the checkpoint and save your progress.
After the level starts, you will hear the displeasure of the monster you just defeated through the wall to your left as it realizes that you have escaped. Continue forward until you come to a closed chest. Open it and take the trap, then set it in place. As soon as you take another step forward, the next regret monster will start coming after you. If you play your cards right, you should be able to move forward at a normal pace for this part of the level. The trap will temporarily slow the monster down, during which time you should find and descend the next staircase. Try to pace yourself and be as quick as you can without pushing your heart rate up too high. As if life wasn’t hard enough with this monstrosity around, the monster is now capable of climbing down the staircase after you. The end goal is to make it to the door to the far left, which you will find after passing a locked chest. We don’t have the key for this yet, so we can’t unlock it. You may have to hide yourself during your flight to the door, so be extremely careful. After reaching the door, open it quickly, take the first step into the room, and slam the door in the monster’s face.
After a few well-earned deep breaths, move to the left and answer the ringing telephone. Phone Girl will give you some words of encouragement and inform you that “the trap is the key.” Continue moving left until you find a cabinet. Pick up the key you will find inside, and go find the next staircase on your left.
After descending the staircase, move forward and open the door to the next room. You will hear the monster, but it will not be able to reach you. Locate the next staircase and wait for an opportunity to ascend. Keep in mind that the regret patrol will be right above you, which is why it is worth playing the waiting game so you can analyze his movements. Wait for his footsteps to fade to your left before making your move. At the top of the staircase, go to the left and ascend the next staircase on your left. Don’t tarry if you can help it.
At the top of the staircase, continue moving left until you locate the trap that is lying on the ground. Pick it up and move back to the staircase on the right. Wait for the monster to move to the left of the staircase, then descend. Move one step to the left and lay down the trap before hiding yourself. The monster will charge past into the trap, at which point you will have a few seconds to unlock and open the chest. Take the key you will find inside and escape through the door on the far left.
After giving your heart a chance to get back to a nnormal rhythm, proceed to and descend the next staircase on the left. After a leisurely stroll through the empty room at the bottom of the stairs, you will find yourself walking past a staircase we previously climbed. On the far right, you will find a locked door. You can access this door with the key you just collected.
Upon heading through the door you just unlocked, the monster will warp into the room and try to chase you for a moment. After a second of hiding, it will realize that the effort is in vain and you will be free to descend the staircase on the far right. At the bottom of the stairs, you can make your way to the welcoming, long-overdue sound of the checkpoint and save your progress.
Level Six
The terrain on this level is vastly different from the previous levels we have seen so far. The primary difference is that we are walking on metal instead of wood and it sounds as if we are outside. The puppy we have been hearing on and off sounds much closer now. Begin the level by proceeding through the closed door to the left. After descending the stairs, move to the right. As a bonus, we can now pet our canine friend, after which time we receive a very creepy message.
While listening to the message and wondering about all of our life choices, we can proceed through the closed door on the right. This door takes you to an empty room. Open the door on the far right and proceed through the next couple of rooms to the staircase. At the bottom of the staircase, we can once again pet the magic dog. Another insightful message will play before we can continue on our journey.
After talking to the dog, proceed through the next two rooms to the staircase on the far left. At the foot of the stairs, turn left and walk to the closed door. Open it and head into the room to pet the dog. There will be a locked door to the right of the staircase we just descended, but there is currently no key to unlock it. However, this key can be found in the closed chest that will be on the far left. Turn around and make your way to the door on the far right to unlock it.
The door will take us into a room where some very disturbing sounds begin to make themselves known. Pet the dog a final time before moving past the pit of unknown substances to the checkpoint to save your progress.
While listening to the message and wondering about all of our life choices, we can proceed through the closed door on the right. This door takes you to an empty room. Open the door on the far right and proceed through the next couple of rooms to the staircase. At the bottom of the staircase, we can once again pet the magic dog. Another insightful message will play before we can continue on our journey.
After talking to the dog, proceed through the next two rooms to the staircase on the far left. At the foot of the stairs, turn left and walk to the closed door. Open it and head into the room to pet the dog. There will be a locked door to the right of the staircase we just descended, but there is currently no key to unlock it. However, this key can be found in the closed chest that will be on the far left. Turn around and make your way to the door on the far right to unlock it.
The door will take us into a room where some very disturbing sounds begin to make themselves known. Pet the dog a final time before moving past the pit of unknown substances to the checkpoint to save your progress.
Level Seven
We finally made it to the last level! What horrors await us? Well, it starts with the ringing telephone to our right. After listening to Phone Girl’s message and wondering what the heck she is talking about, proceed to the staircase on the right. At the foot of the stairs, go pick up the trap that is lying on the ground to the right. Another staircase to descend will be on the far right, along with some unfamiliar humming sounds coming from the bottom.
On the floor below, there will be two doors, one on the left and one on the right. It doesn’t matter which one you take because they both lead to the same place. In any case, the first and only monster of the level will be waiting to greet us with open jaws at the bottom of the staircase in either room. Wait for it to get far enough to the left or right, depending on which entrance you went through, before descending and planting the trap next to the stairwell. While the monster is distracted, go recite from the magic book in the center of the room. This part is exceptionally difficult because the monster will free itself before you can finish reciting the spell. Each phrase of the spell is recited in strings, so you will have to alternate between rounds of Harry Potter witchcraft and evade that monster to stay alive and complete this challenge effectively. After reciting the book, the game will end with a short outtro.
On the floor below, there will be two doors, one on the left and one on the right. It doesn’t matter which one you take because they both lead to the same place. In any case, the first and only monster of the level will be waiting to greet us with open jaws at the bottom of the staircase in either room. Wait for it to get far enough to the left or right, depending on which entrance you went through, before descending and planting the trap next to the stairwell. While the monster is distracted, go recite from the magic book in the center of the room. This part is exceptionally difficult because the monster will free itself before you can finish reciting the spell. Each phrase of the spell is recited in strings, so you will have to alternate between rounds of Harry Potter witchcraft and evade that monster to stay alive and complete this challenge effectively. After reciting the book, the game will end with a short outtro.
Tips and Tricks
This game is notorious for requiring strategy to complete. As you have read in the previous sections, timing is key in multiple levels and in multiple puzzles. If you decide to type the commands instead of using voice input, one thing that can help is if you have the command primed and ready to go with the exception of one letter. In this way, all you will have to do to trigger the command sequence is key in that final letter. This will be very useful when trying to snag a narrow window of opportunity to act between the points when a monster is on the prowl. Additionally, if you know that a monster is about to break free of a trap, hide yourself just before it frees itself. Be careful not to do this too soon, or you will be mince meat. Give yourself plenty of time to let your heart rate go back down after a fight with a monster.
One minor but still important detail to note here is what happens in the event that you die. The voice will tell you that the game is over, but nothing will seem to happen after that. This is because you will need to either dictate or type in the words “game over” before it will take you back to the game.
One minor but still important detail to note here is what happens in the event that you die. The voice will tell you that the game is over, but nothing will seem to happen after that. This is because you will need to either dictate or type in the words “game over” before it will take you back to the game.
Conclusions
This game brings to the table a number of mechanics that give it a very unique feel. Such mechanics provide a number of interesting and complicated (probably rage-inducing for some) challenges that warrant caution when going through its levels. The story is hard to understand because of the distortion of the voices, but it creates a very rich environment to explore nonetheless. You may not be able to make it through completely on your first try, but continue working at it. Can you escape this house of horrors and, dare I say it, regret?
And that wraps up our share on Heartbeat: Regret: Heartbeat, Regret, the Complete Walkthrough. If you have any additional insights or tips to contribute, don’t hesitate to drop a comment below. For a more in-depth read, you can refer to the original article here by voyager2264, who deserves all the credit. Happy gaming!