It's not known how many cues that Haunted Chocolatier will take from Eric 'ConcernedApe' Barone's first game, but Stardew Valley looks to inspire its graphical design and core mechanics, at the very least. It will, of course, hope to bring players from the developers' 2016 title into this new adventure, this time putting them at the helm of a chocolate factory instead of a farm. With the familiar visual style, Haunted Chocolatier could pull one well-executed element from its predecessor.
The only way to change the protagonist's appearance in Stardew Valley is to visit the Wizard and use the Shrine of Illusions. It's a little cumbersome, and Haunted Chocolatier could take this idea but give it far more currency, using a more fluid method of providing players with cosmetic items to keep them frequently changing it up. Stardew Valley is rarely criticized for its lack of customizability, but there is room to maneuver, and the upcoming game could flesh out the character creator more.
An Ever-Changing Character Creator Could do Wonders for Haunted Chocolatier
Stardew Valley soars where other games in the genre fall. The art style is simple, but effective, and the character sprites give each personality to Stardew Valley's Shane, Penny, or Sebastian, being a visual aid to help assist the game's wonderful character development. The character creator that greets players before they move into their farm has plenty of options to make the main one stand out. However, Haunted Chocolatier could go one better and provide more clothing and hairstyle options in regular updates to ensure that it always remains up to date.
A pride-centric shirt during Pride Month, a Santa outfit at Christmas, or a Poppy during Remembrance could be a simple but effective way to keep players coming back. It wouldn't be as evolved as Animal Crossing, but customization to keep up with the times would be a very welcome addition to ConcernedApe's latest project. Character creation is one of the very first impressions a game can make, but many developers, even in the AAA space, provide few options. Haunted Chocolatier can and should buck that trend.
Stardew Valley is Both an RPG and a Farming Simulator
Though its promotional material and setting would imply something different, Stardew Valley is about far more than just harvesting crops and tending to livestock. It's a game that puts players in charge of their own farm, but the endless list of things to do means that it leans far more into the life simulation genre than just being a rigid farming game. Socializing, exploring, and foraging are as important to the gameplay loop as anything that can be done on the farm. In fact, the title can be enjoyed and people can thrive in Pelican Town by not even breaking ground at the farm, and instead finding other ways to make a profit.
It's an RPG in every sense of the word, and having the freedom to do anything in the environment is a big part of why it is still popular in 2023. That freedom is something that Haunted Chocolatier should replicate and even expand on -- when it launches in the (hopefully not too distant) future. Extending that to including a hearty character creator, giving even more choices to Stardew Valley's already comprehensive customization options, would elevate Haunted Chocolatier's appeal by letting players know that their experience is well and truly unique. ConcernedApe is taking development slow so far, but that means there's still hope for an extended character creator.
Haunted Chocolatier is in development.