The sky is the limit forHaunted Chocolatier, the next big thing fromStardew Valleydeveloper ConcernedApe, AKA Eric Barone. It will certainly be interesting to seeeverything thatHaunted Chocolatierdoes to differentiate itselffrom the competition, but with so little information available about the game, it’s only natural to speculate about how similar it will be toStardewwith respect to its mechanics, visuals, narrative, and structure.
One way thatHaunted Chocolatieris splintering off fromStardew Valleyis with its approach to combat;Haunted Chocolatierhas been described as being more of an action-RPG, whereasStardew Valleyleans into a relaxed life-simulation experience. At the same time,Haunted Chocolatierwill likely take a different approach to its slice-of-life, lower-stakes gameplay sections, focusing more on recipes and ingredients than the rote and repetitive nature of farming inStardew. With these fundamental distinctions in mind, there are a number of opportunities forHaunted Chocolatierto set up a gear and progression model that is different from that ofStardew, which could be a risky proposition.
How Haunted Chocolatier Uses Gear Will Be Vital
Haunted Chocolatier’s Combat Equipment Will Likely Be Different from Stardew’s
As previously mentioned,Haunted Chocolatier’s combat emphasiswill surely be among the greatest points of difference between it andStardew Valley. With a gameplay loop that ostensibly places combat more toward its center,Chocolatier’s moment-to-moment fighting will have to outshineStardew’s more straightforward hack-and-slash mechanics, encouraging deeper engagement with its various systems.
Something that could be crucial to its RPG combat, naturally, is the gear grind and progression. WhileStardew Valleyhas a number of powerful weapons to collect,Haunted Chocolatiermay benefit from a greater diversity of offensive gear, opening doors to different combos, damage types, and status effects. The game’s approach to gear will be particularly weighty thanks to its off-hand weapon mechanic: players will be able to wield a ranged weapon or shield in tandem with their main melee weapon, allowing for synergistic build-crafting that simply isn’t available inStardew Valley. Thus, a wider selection of gear, perhaps with exclusive upgrade paths, will vastly expand the potential for experimentation.
Non-Combat Tools May Be Sparse in Haunted Chocolatier
WhileHaunted Chocolatier’s combat gameplaymay be improved by a more robust gear selection, tools dedicated to chocolate-making and shop-running should, and most likely will, be more conservative. After all, withChocolatier’s non-combat gameplay revolving around a single activity and product type, there are fewer justifications for specialized items. This is different fromStardew Valley, which tasks players with upgrading several different tools, including:
Haunted Chocolatier’s cooking-centric premisewill probably mean a far smaller assortment of core tools for players to use. At the very least, any chocolate-making devices will probably not be implemented in the same manner asStardew Valley’s farming equipment. The process of making chocolate is mostly stationary, with tasks being performed at a workstation rather than across a wide stretch of property like a farm, so players can expect a more compartmentalized, perhaps less flexible gear system. In all likelihood, upgrades will be made to sections of the chocolate-crafting contraptions, rather than to items that players carry around.
Both the expansion of combat tools and the truncation of non-combat items will most likely mean good things forHaunted Chocolatier. At the very least, such changes will make it a breath of fresh air from its predecessor, which has spawned no shortage ofsimilar farming-focused cozy games. Doubling down on combat options will shape how players interact withHaunted Chocolatier’s gameplay, while a more focused and streamlined approach to crafting, cooking, and business management could sharpen the game’s progression to a fine point.
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.
