ConcernedApe’s next game and the spiritual sequel to Stardew Valley, Haunted Chocolatier, already has fans excited despite the indie game being still in the very early stages of development. Despite coming from the same developer, Haunted Chocolatier is distinctly different from Stardew Valley in plenty of key ways. While not much is known about the game, ConcernedApe has focused on showing the differences between the two titles when releasing nuggets of information about Haunted Chocolatier’s development.
ConcernedApe has confirmed a few similarities between Haunted Chocolatier and Stardew Valley throughout promotion. Both games feature the same art style and a few core gameplay mechanics. Yet one key similarity between the two titles that has been confirmed by ConcernedApe has yet to receive any expansion. While it makes sense that ConcernedApe would focus on showcasing the differences between the two titles, in order to persuade gamers to give Haunted Chocolatier a try, it’s a tad surprising that this one similarity hasn’t been teased more.
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What is Known About Haunted Chocolatier So Far
Because of the information revealed by ConcernedApe, Haunted Chocolatier’s true genre is more clear. The game focuses on players running a confectionery, which could easily lead people to believe that Haunted Chocolatier would solely be a simulation game. But players need to take note of the first half of Haunted Chocolatier‘s title, as players will have to fight off ghosts and various other monsters. Combat is present in Stardew Valley, but this aspect of gameplay is only featured in specific sections of the simulation game, like in caves. In contrast, combat is an integral part of Haunted Chocolatier that players will not be able to avoid, as suggested by its categorization as an action adventure RPG.
The other half of Haunted Chocolatier’s gameplay is, obviously, running a chocolate shop. This part of Haunted Chocolatier’s gameplay seems to be more relaxed, in-line with the simulation aspects of Stardew Valley. Players will also have to gather ingredients in order to create the game’s sweets, which could be the catalyst for Haunted Chocolatier’s various combat encounters. Of course, every chocolate shop also needs its customers. ConcernedApe has confirmed that like Stardew Valley, Haunted Chocolatier will have its own NPCs, but details about these characters have surprisingly been kept in the dark.
Haunted Chocolatier’s NPCs are Still in the Dark
Considering how popular Stardew Valley’s various NPCs are, it’s a bit of a surprise that ConcernedApe hasn’t revealed more information about Haunted Chocolatier’s various NPCs yet. The developer has also confirmed that players will, once again, be able to romance specific NPCs. A few names and portraits of these kooky characters have been revealed by ConcernedApe in various screenshots and Haunted Chocolatier’s gameplay trailer. These characters include Lily, Burk, Maddie, Jett, Dr. Tungsten, and Nigel. Some characters, like Lily, Jett, and Maddie, seem more primed for romance than others. Dialogue from these characters leaning more on the casual side, such as when Lily asks “So… You received my invitation?” or Maddie asks “What’s it like, living in the big city?”. These quick character reveals also inform players about possible beats in Haunted Chocolatier’s storyline, such as Jett’s line “Don’t tell Dr. Tungsten, but I’m using the equipment for my own research.”
Despite these reveals, it’s clear that ConcernedApe is much more focused on nailing down Haunted Chocolatier’s mechanics. The various screenshots and the gameplay trailer ConcernedApe has released are certainly exciting teasers for players, but introducing the game’s cast of characters could also be a great hook considering how beloved Stardew Valley’s NPCs are.
The lack of information regarding Haunted Chocolatier’s NPC roster could simply be because ConcernedApe has yet to nail down the cast entirely. Hopefully ConcernedApe show off more of Haunted Chocolatier’s NPCs soon.
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.