Haunted Chocolatier,the in-progress game fromStardew Valleydeveloper ConcernedApe, looks to be taking heavy cues from its predecessor. This inspiration is natural, and could influenceHaunted Chocolatierin many ways, but the game’s daily time limiter might need a change of tone.
Life sims likeStardew Valleyhave a tendency to influence each other, especially ones being made by the same solo developer. Inspiration is the lifeblood of new experiences, but innovation is important to give them meaning. The brief glimpse ofHaunted Chocolatierrevealed in its trailer shows a similar art style, collection system, and general tone to the indie hit that came before it, but one change to the formula should influence the game in other ways.Haunted Chocolatieris supposed to offer players a higher level of RPG gameplay focused ona combat system different fromStardew Valley’s. This change provides a perfect springboard for ConcernedApe to up the stakes at the end of the in-game day cycle.
The Key Difference Between Stardew Valley and Haunted Chocolatier
As game genres evolve, so do the mechanics that govern them. This is particularly evident in the life sim genre. Where the idea began with games focused mostly on farming and forging connections with NPCs, it has grown to include a multitude of different activities, with some games shifting the focus from farming to other main gameplay tasks.Haunted Chocolatier’s supernatural themeis said to be joined by a focus on combat while gathering materials, rather than the player growing them on their own. That combat focus should lead to a shift in other mechanics to fully unify the game.
“Haunted Chocolatieris more of an Action-RPG compared toStardew Valley. And instead of a farm being the focal point of your endeavors, it’s a chocolate shop.” - ConcernedApe on the differences between his two games
One way to do this is by changing what happens when the player doesn’t end their day at home. If the player doesn’t go to bed on time, they pass out and lose some of the money they’ve made, except in one incredible case where a playergained gold inStardew Valleyafter passing out. A note informs them that another villager from Pelican Town found them and returned them home. With the player taking the role of a farmer in a small rural community, this makes perfect sense. Farming is exhausting, so pushing the character too hard will lead to extreme exhaustion. But this type of penalty would feel out of place in a more combat-focused game with a more isolated protagonist. Instead, the player’s penalty should be combat based as well.
How Haunted Chocolatier Could Apply its Themes to an Old Mechanic
The most unique element ofHaunted Chocolatierlies in its supernatural theming. With ghosts and monsters already playing a large role in the game, enhancing their utility, like adding anew kind of reputation system, could lead to memorable moments for the player. Befriending ghosts in the daytime setsHaunted Chocolatierapart, but some players might be looking to fight some ghosts as well. Supernatural elements historically feel most at home in the dark or at nighttime. So the end of the day cycle is the perfect time for ghosts and monsters to appear in droves. While the player will be working with ghosts in their shop, maybe not all the monsters will be so friendly.
Ghost stories are full of malevolent spirits out for revenge and monsters who can’t control their rage. Leveraging that part of the folklore would lead to wonderful villains inHaunted Chocolatier. If the player stays out foraging too long, they could run into creatures more powerful than their weapons can handle. Rather than simply passing out, enhancing the horror of the ghosts and the difficulty of the combat would lead to a more unified gameplay experience. It could also encourage players to trynew types of weapons inHaunted Chocolatierand find a stronger build. By finding the core of what interests players about the supernatural,Haunted Chocolatiercould truly set itself apart from the offerings of the genre before it.
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.
