ConcernedApe’sHaunted Chocolatiermight not currently have a release date, but fans of the developer’s first farming sim are already excited about the release of the follow-up title.Haunted Chocolatierisn’t necessarily a sequel to 2016’sStardew Valley,but there are obviously points of comparison between the two games. From their similar aesthetic to a focus on cozy activities like gathering ingredients and cultivating friendships with the local townsfolk, bothHaunted ChocolatierandStardew Valleyshould appeal to the same type of players, and they seem to share the same themes as well.
On the surface,Stardew Valleymay look like a cute farming simulator in the style of many comparable titles, but it has some surprising depth. There were magical elements and mysteries to solve, as well as some combat for gamers to engage in as they exploredPelican Town’s procedurally generated caves.Stardew Valleyalso contained some unexpectedly serious themes and issues including alcoholism, PTSD, loneliness, and depression. One of the other darker aspects of the game is the presence of JojaMart and the greedy capitalism it represents, whichHaunted Chocolatiercould parallel in some interesting ways.
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The Story Behind Stardew Valley’s JojaMart
Contrary to its unassuming image,Stardew Valleyisn’t afraid to mix some potent social messages into its largely comforting gameplay. Some of these might be easy for players to miss if they’re focused on farming and creating bonds with their neighbors, but there are some more overt issues that gamers have to contend with. The game starts at an office of the Joja Corporation, where the protagonist becomes disillusioned with the corporate rat race before finding the chance to escape when they inherit their late grandfather’s farm in Pelican Town. Leaving an office job for the charms of the countryside seems like a substantial upgrade, but even in the rural community, they aren’t free from theJoja Corporation’s reach.
The JojaMart in town can seem like a benefit for some – it provides jobs, and even some supposedly lower prices compared to the independent store owned by Pierre, but as with most things inStardew Valleyit has unexpected layers. JojaMart is clearly a satirical stand-in for big companies like Walmart and Amazon which are monopolizing the markets and pushing smaller, independently-owned businesses out of the way. The soulless JojaMart not only threatens Pierre’s General Store, but also the small town way of life, and can even take over the community center if gamers make that choice.Social commentary is everywhere inStardew Valleyif players look for it, andHaunted Chocolatierwill probably be no different.
Haunted Chocolatier’s Obvious Analog
AlthoughHaunted Chocolatiermay look to explore similar themes and messages within its gameplay, like a critique of ruthless capitalism and the threat it poses to a community, it can’t necessarily use the same example asStardew Valley. ConcernedApe has already discussed how the upcoming title is going for a very different vibe, withStardew Valley’s “energy of the sun” andHaunted Chocolatier’s “energy of the moon"demonstrating their diverse tones, so it can’t copy the first game’s formula exactly. The whole premise ofHaunted Chocolatierhas also shifted away fromStardew Valley’s focus on farming to the running of a chocolate shop, so the equivalent of a JojaMart doesn’t send quite the same message.
Gathering ingredients and creating new chocolaty treats will becentral toHaunted Chocolatier’s gameplay, but setting up and managing a boutique chocolate shop comes with its own challenges. An obvious parallel thatHaunted Chocolatiercould use to mirror the anti-corporate rhetoric in ConcernedApe’s first game would be for a company similar to the confectionary giant Hershey to set up shop in the new setting. This would show the same example of smaller, independent businesses struggling to compete with their much larger counterparts, and could serve to create some interesting tensions among the townsfolk if people choose to side with one business over another as well.
Haunted Chocolatieris in development.
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