Ever since ConcernedApe’sHaunted Chocolatierwas announced in 2021, fans have been desperate for news about the one-person development team’s next offering. Following the unprecedented success ofStardew Valley,there’s been a lot of scrutiny on the game that ConcernedApe would release next, but after the initial announcement in 2021 and a few blog updates and screenshots, news has been fairly thin on the ground. However, one tweet from last year did offer a glimpse at a potential boss battle that has interesting implications forHaunted Chocolatier’s combat.
There’s still no release date in sight forHaunted Chocolatier, and given the incredibly small scope of the development team, it might be a while until gamers know when it will be coming out. ConcernedApe’sinitial updates regardingHaunted Chocolatierconfirmed that it was in early find development in 2021, and players don’t have a solid idea of how far it’s come along since then. Fans have been excitedly soaking up the smallest details about the game, including the fact thatHaunted Chocolatieris aiming to have deeper combat than its predecessor.
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Stardew Valley’s Combat
Although there might be some obvious similarities betweenStardew Valleyand its sort-of sequelHaunted Chocolatier, like their retro artstyle, community focus, and simulation genre tropes, there are also plenty of new elements being introduced. Instead of receiving a parcel ofland and a house in Pelican Townto turn into a thriving farm,Haunted Chocolatierwill see players owning a chocolate shop in a haunted castle located in a brand-new town.Stardew Valleyalso added some unexpected elements compared to the farming games it was inspired by, like exploration and combat, whichHaunted Chocolatieris looking to build on.
Combat inStardew Valleywas contained to the procedurally generated caves that gamers could investigate in order to mine materials and earn other perks. It was simple but satisfying, and added another challenging layer to the rotation of farming, collecting, and socializing that players could undertake throughout the rest of the game. In addition to being randomly generated, the levels of the cave gradually scaled as gamers traveled further in, letting them progress further and further as each floor reached became harder and energy depleted.
How Haunted Chocolatier Can Match This
In addition to exploring a new town and getting to know anew cast of characters inHaunted Chocolatier, the core gameplay loop will also be changing. It will involve gathering ingredients, making chocolate, and managing the shop, as well as exploring and fighting off creatures. ConcernedApe has also been clear thatHaunted Chocolatierwill have a different vibe from the first game, and will “explore more fantastical possibilities” as players have already seen from the initial trailer. With ghosts, haunted castles, and a doorway in their house that lets players travel through a mysterious woodland area,Haunted Chocolatieris already expanding onStardew Valley’s formula.
Fans are hoping thatHaunted Chocolatiercontinues this trend with combatand doesn’t lose sight of what worked in the previous game. Initial signs are already promising though, as the developer has said that combat will be evolving and players will be able to use shields to defend against or even stun creatures. A tweet from last year also showed off a formidable-looking bee boss, showing how combat seems to be scaling up in a similar way toStardew Valley, but with added hurdles like boss fights thrown into the mix as well.
Haunted Chocolatieris currently in development.
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