Highlights
- Haunted Chocolatier offers a refreshing twist from Stardew Valley, focusing on managing a chocolate store instead of a farm business.
- The game’s setting may feature a larger, commerce-driven city, with potential for various sweet treat businesses to compete and thrive.
- ConcernedApe’s upcoming game is shrouded in mystery, but hints at a unique, immersive experience distinct from his previous hit title.
ConcernedApe’s Stardew Valley is not only one of the most successful cozy games ever made but also one of the most successful indie games. Its charming art style, satisfying gameplay loop, and captivating characters all serve to make it a unique experience unlike many before it. Now, ConcernedApe’s next big title on the horizon, Haunted Chocolatier, is looking very similar to Stardew Valley, which might be okay but could also be its downfall. Fortunately, it does seem the developer is doing what he can to ensure Haunted Chocolatier is a separate experience from Stardew Valley, although the two still appear to have similar visual styles.
Whereas players experience life on a farm in Stardew Valley‘s peaceful village of Pelican Town, they will be tasked with managing a chocolate confectionery store in Haunted Chocolatier. Already, this characteristic alone differentiates Chocolatier from Stardew, as it puts players in the role of managing a business rather than running a farm. While players can make money off of their farm-produced products in Stardew Valley, it’s nothing like running a business, which is what Haunted Chocolatier’s core gameplay loop will consist of. This significant difference between the two could set up Haunted Chocolatier‘s main city to also be starkly different from Stardew‘s Pelican Town, which could set Chocolatier even further apart from its spiritual predecessor.
Haunted Chocolatier’s Core Concept is a Gold Mine for Immersion
Haunted Chocolatier has one creative option that it could take to add plenty of immersion and interactivity to its gameplay loop.
Haunted Chocolatier’s Premise May Fuel Its City’s Identity
Haunted Chocolatier’s Confectionery Store Could Mean a Larger City Than Pelican Town
The fact that Haunted Chocolatier‘s premise revolves around players owning and running a business could mean big things for the city it is set in. Specifically, assuming all of Haunted Chocolatier will take place in one location, just as Stardew does, its town could be much larger than Stardew‘s Pelican Town. After all, it would make sense for Haunted Chocolatier to take place in a town that thrives on commerce, as a chocolate confectionery store is something of a specialty, rather than the traditional general store or bar that players can find in Stardew Valley. In that case, Chocolatier‘s town would have to be much bigger than Pelican Town to house any other businesses hoping to turn a profit there.
Haunted Chocolatier’s Confectionery Store Could Mean More Businesses Like It
If Haunted Chocolatier revolves around a specialty store like a chocolate confectionery store, surely players would be able to find more stores like it in the game’s main town. It’s not every day one comes across a store that specializes in chocolate, so it might open the door for more businesses like it to exist in Chocolatier‘s main town.
For example, perhaps Haunted Chocolatier‘s main town will be home to a donut shop or candy store, since there appears to be an emphasis on sweet treats. Maybe a shaved ice truck or ice cream shop would be in order as well. It’s currently unclear what Haunted Chocolatier‘s story will look like, but maybe there will be an element of competition to it all that sees dessert shops competing with one another during the town’s festival. It would all keep up with the game’s theme, as “haunted” implies something more akin to an eternal Halloween, which is associated with candy and sweets.
ConcernedApe hasn’t revealed too much about Haunted Chocolatier at this point. In fact, he has felt the need to remind his fans that he likes to play his cards close to his chest, so there will likely be very little coming from him leading up to Chocolatier‘s release. Still, it might be nice to get a good view of Chocolatier‘s town to see what it has in store for expectant players, especially if it means confirming its uniqueness in the shadow of Stardew Valley.
Haunted Chocolatier
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.