ConcernedApe’sHaunted Chocolatiershould ideally strive to establish its own identity distinct from mega-popular farming simulatorStardew Valley,but it also shouldn’t be afraid to take inspiration from its predecessor. After all, there are many elements ofStardew Valleythat combined to make the game so enduringly successful. One part ofStardew ValleythatHaunted Chocolatiercould draw from is its Mines location, which would fitHaunted Chocolatier’screepier aesthetic and greater focus on combat.
Haunted Chocolatierwill see the player character taking over the titular establishment, a castle-turned-chocolate-shop inhabited and staffed by adorable ghosts. So far, creatorEric “ConcernedApe” Barone has released only a few pieces of informationregarding the game, which he continues to describe as “early in development.” Current teasers have revealed thatHaunted Chocolatierwill include some returning elements fromStardew,such as cooking, combat, and the ability to form bonds - including romantic relationships - with various NPCs. It is definitely likely thatHaunted Chocolatierwill draw fromStardew’sMines, in particular its dark and creepy imagery, its classic RPG dungeon design, and its extra-tricky combat challenges.
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The Mines Are Full of Supernatural Spooks
Stardew Valley and Pelican Town are generally peaceful places. The Mines are the exception - they are filled to the brim with monsters, most of which are highly aggressive and will attack the player on sight.Denizens of the Minesinclude slimes, shadow creatures, insects, ghosts, bats, crabs, and more. The Skull Cavern and Volcano Dungeon, the two other later-game combat-focused areas, add even more beings to the roster: flying snakes, skeletons, mummies, and living flames.
WithHaunted Chocolatieralready focusing more heavily on supernatural beings and the ghosts inhabiting the protagonist’s home, the creatures introduced inStardew’sMines would make a great fit for the world of ConcernedApe’s second game. The shadow creatures would be especially interesting, as they come in multiple types and have a unique society and culture. Shadow creatures were represented inStardewvia the character Krobus, who became quite popular with fans to the point where he was added as a roommate option for the player in a later update. Other Mine dwellers that would fit well inHaunted Chocolatierinclude the armored skeletons and multicolored bats.
Stardew’s Mines Provide the Classic Dungeon Experience
Eric Barone recently stated that he wantscombat to be a larger focus inHaunted Chocolatiercompared toStardew Valley.Previously, he also revealed that the game will feature boss battles, showing off footage of a battle against a large bee. While the greater combat focus likely means that there will be more monster-inhabited areas to explore - and perhaps that monsters might even appear in the overworld or around the player’s home - the game should also feature dungeons like the Mines. The Mines' treasure system, in which players encountered a treasure chest every ten floors, would also be beneficial in a game with a major focus on item gathering.
Another aspect of the Mines that should return inHaunted Chocolatieris the tricky combat challenges it provides to players looking for a bit of extra difficulty. The Mines are a multi-floor dungeon, with each floor remaining unlocked once encountered. However, its more difficult counterpart, theSkull Cavern, does not save progress and requires players to start from Floor 1 each time they visit. After the addition of the 1.5 update toStardew Valley,players could change the Mines to a harder difficulty, reset floor progress back to the beginning, and take on a challenge where they temporarily could not eat food in dungeons. These tricky dungeon challenges added even more hours of content to the already jam-packedStardew,and they could do the same forHaunted Chocolatier.
AlthoughHaunted Chocolatierwill be a very different experience than Barone’s first game,it should definitely seek inspiration from the Mines and other elements ofStardew Valleythat players particularly enjoyed. A Mines-like creepy aesthetic would suit the game’s tone well, and dedicated combat areas and challenges make a nice counterbalance to the more laid-back item gathering and crafting-based gameplay. As ConcernedApe has so far shared minimal information regardingHaunted Chocolatier,it is definitely possible that Mines-inspired creatures or a Mines-like dungeon will be shown off in the future.
Haunted Chocolatieris currently in development. No release date has been announced.
