Haunted Chocolatier may still be in development, but fans of ConcernedApe’s Stardew Valley are already eagerly waiting for its release. The title’s gameplay reveal trailer showcased the familiar, cozy art style that many players first saw in Pelican Town. It seems that ConcernedApe has carried over the visual style and is continuously improving it for the upcoming game.
That said, the trailer also featured a new setting, new gameplay elements, and more. Thus, ConcernedApe’s new title certainly won’t be Stardew Valley 2. Based on what’s been revealed thus far, it looks like Haunted Chocolatier is going to be a different game with a somewhat similar vibe to its predecessor.
How Haunted Chocolatier is Distinct from Stardew Valley
The most obvious difference between the two games is the setting. Haunted Chocolatier’s early gameplay reveal trailer shows scenes of a snowy town, which is likely the primary game area. This is where the chocolate factory is located – a towering mansion where the player can create confections and set up their shop. Of course, this also means the player will come across a new set of characters, some of whom can be romanced according to ConcernedApe.
The town’s name in Haunted Chocolatier has yet to be revealed, but it’s a clear deviation from the bright and vibrant Pelican Town. This location seems much darker (literally, that is) and cozier. It makes sense as ConcernedApe has said that while Stardew Valley channels the energy of the sun, Haunted Chocolatier channels the energy of the moon.
Haunted Chocolatier will most probably feature very different gameplay elements, compared to Stardew Valley. After all, the initial game was a farming sim, while Haunted Chocolatier is more like a shop simulator. So, instead of tending to crops and animals, players will likely focus on resource management and restocking their chocolate shop – all while juggling the more social aspects of the game or finding secrets hidden beneath the surface.
Aside from the shop management mechanics, the game will also feature more combat. This is clear in the trailer as the player is shown leaping through a portal and fighting mobs for different ingredients. In fact, it’s been revealed that Haunted Chocolatier will have boss battles, suggesting that combat mechanics will be more nuanced than what players experienced in Stardew Valley.
Stardew Valley had its fair share of fantastical creatures – Junimos, Shadow People, Dwarves, and more. However, Haunted Chocolatier may introduce more magical elements. The trailer already showcases a crucial new entity in the game: ghosts. These little ghost sprites act as helpers to the player’s chocolate shop, serving customers and carrying pieces of chocolate on their backs.
There’s also the fact that the player has access to a magical portal that transports them to new locations. How the player inherited such a magical mansion is yet unknown, but it certainly sets the stage for more magical features to be introduced. Haunted Chocolatier could introduce more creative races, or even delve into the ones that were showcased in Stardew Valley. Alternatively, the game could delve more into the nature of magic as this wasn’t explored in-depth in the preceding game.
So, while Stardew Valley and Haunted Chocolatier share similar art styles, they present different experiences. Haunted Chocolatier has new gameplay mechanics, new lore, and a wholly different vibe, and that’s what sets it apart from the beloved farm simulator. That said, it still seems to elicit the same comfort and warmth as Stardew Valley, which is a testament to ConcernedApe’s skill as a solo game developer. That’s why fans are so excited for the game’s release.
Haunted Chocolatier is currently in development.