Haunted Chocolatieris still shrouded in secrecy, much to the chagrin of manyStardew Valleyfans. ConcernedApe’s next major project definitely seems to borrow heavily from his seminal debut, though exactly howsimilarHaunted Chocolatierwill be toStardew Valleyremains to be seen. For now, it looks like it could be something of a radical departure, despite the clear parallels in presentation, tone, and the like.
A distinction that fans can probably bet on is signaled byHaunted Chocolatier’s very title: ConcernedApe’s upcoming game will be about making and selling chocolate, rather than raising crops and livestock like inStardew Valley. This premise virtually assures that the moment-to-moment gameplay ofChocolatierwill be different from that of its predecessor, since the goal will presumably be to buttress a customer-facing chocolate shop and create a robust chocolate-crafting process; it won’t be about making a vast, efficient, and constantly expanding farm.
Haunted Chocolatier May Not Have the User-Generated-Content Potential of Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley’s Premise Allows for a Wide Range of Farms; Haunted Chocolatier Might Not Share that Strength
Anyone with even a passing familiarity withStardew Valleycan attest to the ambition and passion of its fanbase: one look at theStardew Valleysubreddit is proof enough of the community’s potential for sharing unique and stunning in-game creations. This mostly comes down to the freeform nature ofStardew Valley’s base-building: players can put structures, crops, and animal shelters wherever they please, leading to a number of ingenious, quirky, and efficient farm designs.
These flexible mechanics have obvious benefits for the player, but they also play a big role inStardew’s ongoing success, as the game remains visible and relevant thanks to the experimentation and creativity of its playerbase.
One can only hope thatHaunted Chocolatierwill feature similarly expressive systems, but its premise could make this easier said than done. After all,Haunted Chocolatieris ostensibly about creating specific, hand-crafted products, not nurturing crops or expanding a base of operations for the proliferation of several different business endeavors.
ConcernedApe has also gone on record aboutHaunted Chocolatierbeing more of anaction-RPG thanStardew Valley, and this shifted focus away from base-building and other “cozy” staples could undermine the game’s potential for UGC. This would be something of a shame after so many years of compelling content coming from theStardewcommunity, but there are still ways that ConcernedApe could avoid such a “downgrade.”
How Haunted Chocolatier Could Feature Stardew-Level Customization
Haunted Chocolatiermay not feature farminglike its predecessor, but it could still fling open the doors to customization in other ways. For instance, maybe chocolate-making could be augmented by certain machinery or accessories, which would need to be organized and connected in specific ways, not unlike a game likeFactorio.
This puzzle-like customization would be similar to what’s on offer inStardew Valley, but more robust, complex, and with a higher skill ceiling—all factors that give it potential for UGC and broader community involvement. Another avenue for player expression could be the customer-facing portion of the game, which has been hinted at inHaunted Chocolatier’s sparse promotional materials.
If players have full control over the layout, presentation, and structure of their in-game shops, then such locations could be the de facto replacement forStardew Valley’s farms, at least when it comes to UGC and word-of-mouth marketing. Naturally, there are still several aspects ofHaunted Chocolatier, such as its overall tone and gameplay loop, that could impact its approach to customization, so as always, fans will have to wait and see.
Haunted Chocolatier
WHERE TO PLAY
Haunted Chocolatier is an upcoming adventure game from Stardew Valley creator ConcernedApe (Eric Barone). The game is currently set to feature a lush explorable world, chocolate making and cooking, a spooky theme, and more. There is currently no release date or time period for the game.
