Penguins have arrived in Heartopia as part of the Winter Frost Event. Here is where to find the Penguin Trough, what foods they prefer, and how the bond level system works before the event ends.
Penguins have arrived in Heartopia as part of the Winter Frost Event. Here is where to find the Penguin Trough, what foods they prefer, and how the bond level system works before the event ends.
Most animals in Heartopia stick around long enough that players can afford to be casual about bonding with them. Penguins are different. They showed up in Week 4 of the Winter Frost Event with a hard deadline attached — roughly 21 days before they disappear entirely. Miss the window, and the exclusive rewards tied to their bond levels go with them.
Getting started sooner rather than later matters here. The feeding routine is straightforward once the trough location is sorted, and knowing which fish to stock up on cuts down the daily time investment significantly. Players who want to keep their item supplies topped up during event seasons will find that platforms like LootBar offer a smooth way to manage Heartopia top-ups without stepping away from the grind.
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How the Penguins Arrived in Heartopia
Penguins were not part of the island's permanent roster. Their arrival came through a questline triggered at the start of Week 4, introduced by NPC Naughty. He sends players toward something unusual near the Onsen area — a Strange Bird Feather found in the sand near the Old Sea. Taking that feather to Bailey J, then following up with Annie and Harry, sets off a cutscene confirming the penguins have returned to the island.
That quest chain — called Major Discovery — also serves a practical purpose. Players who have not completed it may have trouble locating the trough, since the questline effectively points directly to the penguin area. It is worth running through it early if it has not been started yet.
Unlike permanent companions in Heartopia, penguins are classified as wild, time-limited animals. They are not pets. They wander a designated area, respond to feeding and interaction, and leave when the event closes — regardless of bond progress.
Where to Find the Penguin Trough
The trough sits in the Winter Area, north of Onsen Mountain. Coming from the Igloo in the event zone, head right toward the Concert Portal. The trough appears along the shore before reaching the portal entrance — positioned between the igloo and the Concert venue entrance along the main path.
It is easy to run past. The trough blends into the winter scenery, and players focused on reaching the Concert Portal often miss it on the first pass. Slowing down near the entrance to the Snow Concert area is the simplest fix. Once spotted, long-pressing the location on the map lets players drop a custom marker — useful for daily return visits without having to search again.
Several adult penguins and at least one baby penguin wander the area around the trough. If none are visible on arrival, waiting briefly usually brings them back into view — their positions shift slightly within the zone as they move around.
Penguin Favorite Food: What to Put in the Trough
Penguins accept a range of fish, but three items consistently work best for feeding: Sardines, Common Prawn, and False Scad. Sticking to these options makes the limited bonding window much easier to manage.
Sardines are the most accessible option. They can be fished directly from the Old Sea, which sits right next to the trough itself — meaning no extra travel is required. Fish shadows in that area are mostly sardines, so a quick fishing session before interacting with the penguins usually covers the day's feeding needs.
Common Prawn is found in the East Sea and appears throughout the day regardless of weather conditions. Sunny, Rainy, and Rainbow weather all allow it to spawn, making it a reliable backup if sardines are running low. Both sardines and common prawn tend to appear as smaller fish shadows, which helps when identifying them in the water.
False Scad requires Fishing Hobby Level 2 and can be caught in the Zephyr Sea. Its fish shadow is noticeably larger than the other two options, making it easier to identify before casting. Reaching Fishing Level 2 does not take long — catching a handful of starter fish and using a Hobby Upgrade Ticket from the Hobbies menu is usually enough.
Star rarity also influences bonding efficiency. Higher-star fish tend to produce more bond hearts when used for feeding, so keeping an eye out for 3-star catches can speed up progress without requiring additional fishing trips.
Some players also report slightly smoother bonding progress during Rain or Rainbow weather, though the game does not officially specify a numerical bonus tied to weather conditions.
Bond Levels and Rewards
Penguins cap at Bond Level 5, which is lower than many permanent animals in Heartopia. Each level unlocks something meaningful rather than small incremental upgrades.
Level 1 activates Animal Gifts, allowing penguins to occasionally leave items near the trough.
Level 2 unlocks Animal Visits, where the penguin may appear at the player's home for up to 20 minutes. At this stage, open world gift probability increases and players can take photos or interact with the penguin at home.
Level 3 improves reward rates further and introduces the Baby Penguin statue, one of the collectible decorations tied to the event.
Level 4 adds a unique interaction where the penguin mimics the player's walking animation. Visit duration also increases to 30 minutes, and gift chances become noticeably higher.
Level 5 delivers the final reward: the Penguin Family Trophy, a decoration item for the player's home or island. Together with the Baby Penguin statue from Level 3, these rewards remain permanently in inventory even after the penguins leave at the end of the event.
Bond progress can be tracked through the Animal app on the in-game watch, which displays current progress and remaining requirements for the next level.
Daily Feeding Routine Tips
Feeding is the primary source of bond gain, but interaction contributes additional hearts as well. Approaching a penguin and selecting interaction prompts such as petting or playing increases bonding alongside the food placed in the trough.
Collecting gifts left near the trough also adds a small amount of bond progress. Completing all three steps during a visit — feeding, interacting, and collecting gifts — ensures the most efficient daily progress.
Stocking up on sardines ahead of time simplifies the routine considerably. Since the Old Sea sits directly beside the trough, fishing and feeding can easily be combined into a single stop during the daily visit.
Players who unlock home visits at Level 2 should also be aware that other players may be able to collect gifts during those visits. Staying nearby while the penguin is visiting helps ensure those rewards are not missed.
Conclusion
Penguins are one of the more time-sensitive additions Heartopia has introduced during the Winter Frost Event. The bonding window is limited, the rewards are exclusive, and the routine needed to reach Level 5 is light enough that skipping a few days can slow progress noticeably.
Finding the trough early, stocking sardines from the nearby Old Sea, and completing the full daily interaction loop keeps bonding on track well before the event deadline. Players who stay consistent with the routine can comfortably secure both the Baby Penguin statue and the Penguin Family Trophy before the penguins leave the island.
For players keeping their resources stable during seasonal events, a Heartopia top up through LootBar can help maintain supplies without interrupting daily progress.
