In October of last year, ConcernedApe announced a new project, Haunted Chocolatier. An early gameplay trailer came out on YouTube around the same time, and fans were very much intrigued by the prospect of a new game in the signature Stardew Valley aesthetic. Though there’s no release date yet, ConcernedApe has revealed much about what fans can expect from Haunted Chocolatier.
In one early blog post, the developer explains how it might differ from Stardew Valley. ConcernedApe writes, “if Stardew Valley mostly channeled the energy of the sun, Haunted Chocolatier channels the energy of the moon. Both are vital.” While this statement leaves much to the reader’s interpretation, there’s no harm in exploring what it might mean.
Haunted Chocolatier and the ‘Energy of the Moon’
Stardew Valley is a game with vibrant colors, cheery locations, and a general brightness that pervades the player’s gaming experience. Of course, it also had its quieter, more muted moments, but these were far outnumbered during the course of one playthrough. So, perhaps it was this brightness that made Stardew Valley so comparable to the sun.
On the other hand (though not necessarily in contrast), Haunted Chocolatier exudes coziness and comfort. This is especially true in the shots of the town and inside the castle. While the combat seems to take place in much brighter areas, the player’s “homebase,” so to speak, appears homier. This more relaxed atmosphere could be one reason why Haunted Chocolatier seems more comparable to the moon.
Even the games’ core mechanics seem to fit their respective descriptions. Stardew Valley being a farming simulator means players will be waking up early to tend to their crops, then letting the sun ensure that they grow well.
On the other hand, Haunted Chocolatier’s gameplay loop will entail gathering ingredients, making chocolate in the comfort of the castle, then putting the products up for sale in a lovely little chocolate shop. Granted, the moon isn’t explicitly involved in the process, but the whole undertaking does seem more comparable to the moon than the sun — quiet and cozy rather than vivid and bright.
All that said, it seems Haunted Chocolatier’s spookier aesthetic isn’t meant to instill a sense of horror. On the contrary, ConcernedApe writes that it’s meant to uplift the players — to be positive and life-affirming, as stated in the blog. The haunted castle and the ghostly sprites aren’t evil or negative aspects. Based on the early gameplay trailer, they actually appear quite welcoming of the player. The ghosts even help set up the chocolate shop.
Thus, when compared to Stardew Valley, Haunted Chocolatier certainly is very different. The farming simulator was more grounded, letting the player live off the land and dropping a few lore bits about magic in the greater world. In contrast, the chocolatier simulator will likely double down on the more fantastical elements that were introduced in its predecessor. It might even solve some of the mysteries in Stardew Valley.
Whatever the case, players will have to wait a bit more before the release of The Haunted Chocolatier. As of December 2021, ConcernedApe has said that the core elements of the game are being worked on. The developer has also decided to keep most of the game’s content under wraps, preferring that it be a surprise. As such, not much is known apart from what was revealed in the early gameplay trailer as well as in ConcernedApe’s updates and screenshots of Haunted Chocolatier. It seems the community will only get to experience the energy of the moon when the game comes out.
Haunted Chocolatier is currently in development.