Haunted Chocolatiercould carry over key features and mechanics fromStardew Valley, and the latter’s Community Center should help inspire the direction and design of ConcernedApe’s next game. WhileStardew Valleyallows players to freely explore and experience farming at their own pace, its Community Center guides player progression as they complete bundles throughout the year and restore the center to its full former glory. With how similarHaunted Chocolatierappears to be to its predecessorStardew Valley, ConcernedApe’s upcoming game may repeat and hopefully expand on this approach.
However, choosing to restore the Community Center inStardew Valleyis actually one of two options for players to choose from, as players have the alternative of purchasing a JojaMart membership and replacing the center with a Joja Warehouse. While players are encouraged to side with the community of Pelican Town over theantagonistic Joja Corporation,Haunted Chocolatiercould exploremore nuanced player choices and evolve their gameplay. After the community restoration model proved effective inStardew Valley,Haunted Chocolatiercan use it as a guideline for its own local town and its people.
Haunted Chocolatier Should Take Inspiration from Stardew Valley’s Community Center
As a spiritual successor to other games likeHarvest Moon, one ofStardew Valley’s core themes is the rejection of commercialism and urbanization in favor of the rural community spirit, something best embodied by the Community Center’s restoration. While it is unknown ifHaunted Chocolatierwill feature similar tones and themes,Stardew Valley’s option to choose between starkly different gameplay styles shouldn’t be overlooked. Thanks in part to a big shift in concept,Haunted Chocolatiercan offer choices to players that are better balanced and more nuanced thanStardew Valley’s pro-community bias.
Choices like Restoring the Community Center Could Shape Haunted Chocolatier’s World
When players choose between restoring the Community Center or joining JojaMart, there are a few ways in which Pelican Town and its citizens change to reflect this, such as several lines of negative dialogue about the player’s decision or new day-to-day schedules. Ultimately, players might join JojaMart beacuse it’s an easier and quicker way to earn money and “complete” the game, while restoring the Community Center requires more planning, time, and engagement. However, influencing the world and its characters through choices like renovating theCommunity Center could be explored inHaunted Chocolatierto expand and improve how players navigate the game.
For instance,Stardew Valleyalready includes player choicesthat change how the game progresses, such as deciding between a fruit bat or a mushroom cave on the player’s farm. Much like the choice between the Community Center and JojaMart,Haunted Chocolatiercould use these in-game decisions to allow players to gradually evolve their gameplay over time. Examples of this could include who players can sell their chocolate to and how much for, where they source ingredients and recipes from, and more:
Player Choices in Haunted Chocolatier Could Help Progression and Replay Value
By offering more choices thatcustomizeHaunted Chocolatier’s overall gameplayand story in new directions, players in the endgame stage would have even more incentive to replay the game, thanks to all-new narratives to explore through different decisions. Taking afterStardew Valley’s Community Center, the local town ofHaunted Chocolatiercould help guide player progression and offer greater in-game autonomy while still providing something new with each playthrough. Even though little is known aboutHaunted Chocolatierand how it will differ fromStardew Valley, the Community Center still stands as a template for how to engage players and guide their progression.
Stardew Valley
WHERE TO PLAY
You’ve inherited your grandfather’s old farm plot in Stardew Valley. Armed with hand-me-down tools and a few coins, you set out to begin your new life. Can you learn to live off the land and turn these overgrown fields into a thriving home? It won’t be easy. Ever since Joja Corporation came to town, the old ways of life have all but disappeared. The community center, once the town’s most vibrant hub of activity, now lies in shambles. But the valley seems full of opportunity. With a little dedication, you might just be the one to restore Stardew Valley to greatness!
