Expanding the farm was one of Stardew Valley's notable accomplishments, but Haunted Chocolatier needs to remember what made those additions so satisfying. As the player builds up their factory from making basic chocolates to creating the most delicious desserts, the same feeling of accomplishment needs to be present. Thankfully, Stardew Valley left a blueprint for how building up can be satisfying, and by following that example, Haunted Chocolatier's progression can be just as much of a joy for players while still feeling fresh.
One of the clearest signs of progress was upgrading one's farm in Stardew Valley. At the start of the game, players only have the bare essentials to work with, including a slim amount of tillable land to plant their crops, a small house, a mailbox and shipping box, and whatever amenities their chosen farm type provided. From there, the player had several ways to improve their farm, and the ways they went about this was entirely driven by their own agency. They could take on several facilities with different functions, like barns for raising animals or casks for turning fruit into juice and wine. The player had to either pay for or craft their own improvements, but could reap the rewards for the rest of the game.
Haunted Chocolatier's Shop Needs to be Worth The Work a Player Puts In
Despite their differences in theme, Haunted Chocolatier can imitate Stardew Valley in a few key areas. The player's store could get upgrades to display more items, for example. Perhaps some other amenities could be unlocked throughout the game as well, such as a way for NPCs to make special orders worth extra money, or more ways to decorate the store to the player's liking. The kitchen could also be the subject of such a system, only being able to make basic chocolates at first but expanding in scope as players get more equipment.
It is important that progression doesn't happen too quickly in Haunted Chocolatier. Making progress toward fulfilling Grandpa's wishes in Stardew Valley took a lot of time, with the player having to work hard in order to earn enough money and materials for their farm upgrades. Although the process could be hard, the end result opened up entirely new options, making it well worth the effort. For Haunted Chocolatier to recreate this, players will need to start from a similar place - it's easy to assume that a haunted, abandoned factory would not start with the best equipment available.
There is another reason to follow Stardew Valley's approach to upgrades aside from a mark of progress. If the player starts with too many of Haunted Chocolatier's shop management abilities at their disposal, there is a lot less excitement around improving the player's shop. If the player can already make most of the game's confections from the start, gameplay could easily get repetitive. There needs to be a meaningful road to unlocking the best options, especially in a game like Haunted Chocolatier. Having the same shop and recipes all game long would get boring fast, so earning upgrades over time is a must.
The shop in Haunted Chocolatier should be a work in progress, just like the player's farm was in Stardew Valley. While there are certainly ways that Haunted Chocolatier will differ from Stardew Valley, its approach to upgrades should remain in place, albeit with a few tweaks to better suit the player's haunted shop. Building a dessert shop could turn out to be just as satisfying as revitalizing Grandpa's farm from Stardew Valley. Haunted Chocolatier can't give away too much too soon, but the shop's final form should be worth the effort.
Haunted Chocolatier is in development.