After Stardew Valley, Haunted Chocolatier is at a…

Summary

Haunted Chocolatier aims to stand out from Stardew Valley by offering unique gameplay mechanics and visuals.
The game may extend or replace traditional seasons to provide a fresh experience and avoid feeling too familiar.
Creator Eric Barone intends for Haunted Chocolatier to be positive and uplifting, channeling the energy of the moon.

Haunted Chocolatier has a lot of high and often contrasting expectations to fulfill. On one hand, fans of Stardew Valley will likely be eager to see that game's footprint on the developer's next project, but the impressive longevity of ConcernedApe's first title also means that his next needs to find a way to stand out and be unique. That could prove tricky, as Stardew Valley casts a very big shadow.

However, Haunted Chocolatier looks to be different in a lot of different ways, both mechanically and visually. The seasons are vital to Stardew Valley's identity, and the next game from the esteemed solo developer could extend them, or replace them entirely, maximizing their potential and contributing to an all-new experience.

Stardew Valley's Seasons' Familiarity Could Hurt Haunted Chocolatier

Stardew Valley Seasons — The four seasons of Stardew Valley.

Stardew Valley is a simulation game that is based on the trials and tribulations tied to farming and rural life, and thus it has to make full use of the four seasons to give players obstacles to overcome, and opportunities to capitalize on. Getting ahead on planting spring crops, using the winter to build out the farm, and making the most out of the greenhouse are smart choices that let the player maximize their productivity in Stardew Valley. Having four set seasons does well to help players organize their time, and gives the experience a distinctive sense of progression as each season shows something new.

It's brilliant, but while this format works for Stardew Valley, should Haunted Chocolatier do the same, it could run the risk of feeling too similar to its predecessor. Seasons are baked into Stardew Valley's fundamental design, so using the same philosophy again would increase the chance of the next game feeling too familiar, thus it would take even more new features to justify its existence. Stardew Valley feels like a game that is segmented into four distinctive chapters, and though this idea may work for Haunted Chocolatier, having it be by way of seasons feels like a misstep.

When addressing the differences between the two games, Eric 'ConcernedApe' Barone notes that:

"The haunted castle represents the allure of the unknown. The ghosts represent the imprint of the past. All of these things are important. However, don’t think for a moment that, because this game features ghosts in a haunted castle, it is an evil or negative game. On the contrary, I intend for this game to be positive, uplifting and life-affirming. However, if Stardew Valley mostly channeled the energy of the sun, Haunted Chocolatier channels the energy of the moon. Both are vital."

This sentiment could give insight into how Haunted Chocolatier will handle elements lifted from Stardew Valley.

Haunted Chocolatier Could Set Up Shop in One Season

Seasons in Stardew Valley can fly by when the player is having fun tending to the farm, finding friends in Pelican Town, and exploring all its curiosities. So much so that often it can feel like there hasn't been enough time to truly reap the benefits of Summer, or enjoy the vibe of Fall. Haunted Chocolatier has the opportunity to extend the seasons to give players more time to enjoy them, and its 'haunted' nature could imply that one season would warrant more time in the spotlight than the others.

Haunted Chocolatier could pitch itself as the perfect, cozy Fall game, and a title that is perfect for players who want all the atmosphere of Halloween with none of the horror. To do this, it would be wise to extend the seasons somewhat so that they can be enjoyed for longer or, perhaps better still, to just focus on having one season type, and find new ways of keeping it engaging while maintaining a Fall-inspired tone.

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