Haunted Chocolatieris set to bring forth a spiritual successor inspired by the massive indie hitStardew Valley. Since its launch,Stardew Valleyhas been at the forefront of the cozy life sim genre. Now that its follow-upHaunted Chocolatierlooms in the distance, there are plenty of questions surrounding just how muchStardew Valleywill influence the candy-focused title.
Although the energy and art style ofHaunted Chocolatierholds the same spirit as its predecessor, its premise is vastly different. Instead of inheriting a small farm that one has to tend, players step into the shoes of a candy maker who also happens to live in a haunted mansion. There will likely be gameplay similarities betweenStardew ValleyandHaunted Chocolatier, but one feature from the former could be a treasure trove of possibilities with the game’s spooky setting. When startingStardew Valley, players are able to choose which farm map they would like to begin with, andHaunted Chocolatierwould be wise to do the same.
Haunted Chocolatier Following in Stardew Valley’s Player Option Footsteps
Bringing Player Customization Front and Center
After the long-awaited 1.6 update,Stardew Valleynow has eight farm options for players to choose from. Each setting encourages its own specific play-style, adding an extra layer of versatility to the game. It wouldn’t be far out of the realm of possibility for developer Eric Barone to offer the same diversity for his next project. Of course,Haunted Chocolatierwill likely aim toset itself apart fromStardew Valleyin a variety of ways. However, staying true to some of the game’s strongest features would be a welcome point of familiarity for many players.
Stardew Valley’s Eight Farm Options
The variety offered in these optionsgivesHaunted Chocolatiera high bar to reachwhen it comes to player customization, but it isn’t impossible to match. Instead of choosing a specific setting that caters to focused types of farming,Haunted Chocolatiercould offer a roster of haunted mansions that are focused on specific types of candy.
Haunted Chocolatierwas announced in October 2021. Since then, there has yet to be another substantial update.
This could potentially be taken a step further by also making each mansion harbor different types of ghosts. Barone has stated that theghosts inHaunted Chocolatierare friendly, which leaves the door open for the game to include a variety of spooky friends that each have their own specific skill sets for one’s candy-making business. Depending on the mansion one chooses, it could determine what kind of spectral guests roam the halls.
Haunted Chocolatier Continuing Stardew Valley’s Legacy
As of now, there is no telling whenHaunted Chocolatierwill be ready to be released. Barone has had his hands full withStardew Valley’s 1.6 update, which has briefly taken him away from the project. Despite the setback, the future still looks bright forHaunted Chocolatier, even if it has some high expectations to meet.Stardew Valleyhas staked its claim as an indie darling, andHaunted Chocolatiercan hopefully achieve the same status. One of the main aspects ofStardew Valleythat makes it so special is how it provides a fun experience for a diverse variety of gamers. Whether one prefers a survival combat experience or just peacefully farming livestock, the game’s farm map options make it happen.
Many of thedetails surroundingHaunted Chocolatierremain in the shadows, but it will be fascinating to see howStardew Valley’s influence shines through in such an anticipated follow-up. WheneverHaunted Chocolatieris ready to launch, it will be exciting to see how player customization is handled.
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.