On the surface, it may seem likeStardew Valleyis a run-of-the-mill farming simulator with humble visuals and a limited gameplay options. This is far from the case, though, asConcernedApe’s solo-developed masterpieceis packed with engaging activities and charming character moments that have kept players coming back since it released back in 2016. It’s far deeper than its looks would suggest, and working to create a productive and pretty farm is just a small piece of what players can do to occupy the in-game day. Narratively it’s limited, but has enough stellar world-building forHaunted Chocolatierto take advantage of.
Haunted Chocolatieris the next project for the Seattle-based developer, and shares some aesthetic and gameplay similarities with its farming simulator predecessor. Giving players the responsibility of running a chocolate factory, it’s a title that will differ greatly fromStardew Valley, and its heavier emphasis on combat and shift in tone should do well to differentiate the pair. However,Stardew Valleyintroduces some lore that has lots of potential, and havingHaunted Chocolatiertake some of it would be a great way to bring something familiar to the game.
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Joja Corporation’s Overbearing Presence
Haunted Chocolatierhas players assume the role of the owner of a chocolate factory, and looks to be amore commercially-driven format thanStardew Valley. Amassing a small fortune was one of the key driving factors ofStardew Valley’s progression, but raising livestock, interacting with the Pelican Town inhabitants, and tending to an ever-growing farm were the more important factors to enjoying the experience. The Joja Corporation is introduced early, and immediately feels like an intrusive company that’s not afraid to upset the applecart in pursuit of profit.Stardew Valleyis an otherwise wholesome experience, and to have the overbearing Joja Corporation ruining the pleasant nature of the town gave the setting some added depth.
Including Joja CorporationinHaunted Chocolatierwould introduce a commercial rival for players to fend off, and could create a dynamic where customers can flit between Joja and the player’s company according to how well the player is tending the shop. InStardew Valleythere is a small introduction to the oppressive corporation, butHaunted Chocolatierhas the unique opportunity to use it further to create a villainous presence, as well as a suitable motivation to keep the chocolate factory performing at its best.
Stardew Valley’s Charming Races
While the humans in Pelican Town take up far more time than other races, there are a host of friendly and not-so-friendly creatures that makeStardew Valleyfeel diverse. Fromhanging out with Shaneor Maru to tentatively stopping by the Community Center to greet the Junimos, the personalities on offer do well to keep the world-building fresh and keeps curiosity alive.
Thevolume of races on offer makeStardew Valleyan experience that feels like it always has something new that is yet to be explored. The wizard that lives alone to the west of the map shows that the game isn’t going to prioritize realism and instead uses plenty of supernatural elements, andStardew Valleyonly continues to introduce more as the hours tick by.Haunted Chocolatieris going to be more combat-focused, but reducing other races to enemies that are only there to be dispatched would be such a shame. The darker tone ofHaunted Chocolatierallows for more creative freedom with the races, and ensuring they are friends as well as foes would surely be a wise decision.
Stardew Valleyhas the potential for fun in all of its corners. From fishing to mining, feeding animals to farming until dusk, the tasks thatStardew Valleypresent are plentiful and always enjoyable. Thelore inStardew Valleycan be harder to find, but it’s present in abundance if players are willing to take a break from the grind and soak in the game’s sublime atmosphere.Haunted Chocolatierlooks to be a significant departure from what came before, but remembering the potential thatStardew Valley’s impressive lore and world-building had – and still has – would makeHaunted Chocolatiereven more of an exciting project for fans.
