There hasn’t been much news about ConcernedApe’s upcoming game, Haunted Chocolatier. The game, which still has no set release date, was first announced back in October of 2021. Since then, there have only been a few updates and a handful of released screenshots. Despite the game being cloaked in mystery, much like its story, there is reason to be excited about the game. This especially goes for the ones who have witnessed the continued success of Stardew Valley. This is all thanks to a dedicated developer who makes his love and dedication for his projects plain to see.
Everything to Know About Haunted Chocolatier
Haunted Chocolatier was first announced on October 8, 2021. ConcernedApe, Eric Barone, made that announcement on the official website. In the announcement, he gave away the general story of the game. Players will take the role of a brand-new chocolatier in a community seemingly less rural than Pelican Town in Stardew Valley. It will focus on the more fantastical side of things with a haunted castle that Barone says represents the unknown. The ghosts within it represent the imprint of the past. With those statements, it’s clear that this game will be full of symbolism.
The first and only trailer for the game shows off some of the sights and experiences the player will get to explore. One of those is the journey the player character will make to collect ingredients for their chocolaty goods. Collecting those goods seems to sometimes involve combat. In one of the few updates, Barone said the combat system in Haunted Chocolatier will be more focused on than it was in Stardew Valley. It’s just one of the many things that will make the two titles unique from one another. In Barone’s own words from the game’s website, “If Stardew Valley mostly channeled the energy of the sun, Haunted Chocolatier channels the energy of the moon. Both are vital.”
The Success of Stardew Valley
For those who have enjoyed and continue to enjoy Stardew Valley, the excitement for Haunted Chocolatier might just be through the roof. There are some big reasons why the game has sold over 30 million copies. Since Stardew Valley was released in 2016, it has continued to garner attention from new and old players alike. This is a big feat given how saturated the cozy farming sub-genre of gaming has grown since its release. It’s possibly even the first title that pops into everyone’s heads when they happen to think of that sub-genre.
This is due to the incredible story and the deepness within the game since it first came onto the scene. While it wasn’t perfect, it was able to capture a troubled small town with colorful characters that players have fallen in love with time and time again. It only got better when the updates began to roll out bringing things like all new areas to explore, a host of quality-of-life changes, new enemies, new decorations, and much more. The most recent update was the 1.6 update, which Barone is trying hard to bring to the Nintendo Switch and mobile devices.
A Dedicated Developer
The immense success of Stardew Valley is thanks to the love and dedication shown by Barone. The single person behind ConcernedApe has only grown as a developer, which is clear if one compares the current state of Stardew Valley with its state on day one. He even made the charming soundtrack for the game himself. This proves just how much of his talent and skills he will pump into Haunted Chocolatier. Since he’s only gotten better, that game is likely to become as popular as his previous title.
While he hasn’t given much more information about Haunted Chocolatier, it’s to be expected. In the very description of the gameplay trailer, he made sure to state that the game would not be ready for a while. On the game’s website, he explained that just because the footage in the trailer looks like it came from a game in an advanced stage of development, he still had a lot of work to do. Until more news is revealed or even an official release date, fans of cozy games around the world will just have to wait and see what becomes of this hauntingly charming title.
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