Haunted Chocolatier has been quiet lately, but with the end of the year in sight, developer ConcernedApe could end on a high note. His success with Stardew Valley shows that his games stand out, but he may want to take a different advertising approach with Haunted Chocolatier.
What people may forget about Stardew Valley is that, in its early days, it had very little following. As a solo developer's first game, there were no spaces that were fit to properly advertise the game, instead being spread through word of mouth around the internet. But what started as a first-time indie game thrown into the void has now become one of the best farming games of all time. This places ConcernedApe in a drastically different place in his career now, as he works on his next game, Haunted Chocolatier. Not much news has come out about the follow-up lately, but if ConcernedApe chooses to leverage his now robust fanbase by showcasing new information, he could end 2024 on a true high note for his fans.
Why Haunted Chocolatier Fans Shouldn't Expect an Early Access Period
The most frustrating aspect of Haunted Chocolatier, ConcernedApe's second major project, is the lack of information about its release date. Building on the foundation set by Stardew Valley, the game is expected to feature similar aesthetics and gameplay while introducing new narrative and mechanical elements. This has naturally piqued the interest of Stardew Valley fans, especially those who have already explored all its content over the last eight years. The anticipation is high, but the chances of Haunted Chocolatier launching in early access appear slim, despite the trend of indie games like Hades 2 doing so.
Stardew Valley’s Success Should Influence Haunted Chocolatier’s Future
Because Stardew Valley was created by a complete unknown in the world of indie game development, it was easy to overlook in the early days. It wasn’t until the game blew up on streaming that it began to see more success. This is what led to Stardew Valley becoming one of the indie gaming world’s biggest success stories. But that type of advertising strategy might not work with Haunted Chocolatier. While the game will, hopefully, be just as magical in the eyes of players, the X factor of coming from someone they don’t know is gone now. So, ConcernedApe doesn’t have his anonymity to rely on, but he does have his previous success that he can learn from.
What Haunted Chocolatier Drastically Needs
The best way for Haunted Chocolatier to find an audience is by embracing its similarities to Stardew Valley. While the game does seem to have a different tone, and is said to be more combat focused than Stardew Valley, the two share plenty of DNA. It’s obvious by the art style, genre, and, of course, the same solo developer, that the two are related. There hasn’t been any attempt to hide that fact, but reassuring existing players that the experience they love can still be found in the new game can help ensure player loyalty. The other way to keep existing players on board is to release Haunted Chocolatier on PC, consoles, and mobile simultaneously, in order to avoid alienating any of the major markets.
After securing the existing fan base, it’s then time to advertise to the new players. Stardew Valley is great, but may not be for everyone. For players out there who prefer city life, combat, and a more somber tone, this is their game. While Stardew Valley was talked about mainly in Harvest Moon communities, due to that game’s large influence, ConcernedApe should look to different communities that might be excited about the differing style he’s going for in his new game. Haunted Chocolatier needs a different identity than Stardew Valley, so while that shared DNA may be an asset, it can’t be the only way to bring players on board.
"ConcernedApe doesn't have his anonymity to rely on, but he does have his previous success that he can learn from."
Finally, the most important part of advertising, and making a game stand out, is to show players what they’re in for. Haunted Chocolatier’s initial gameplay trailer was released in 2021, but fans haven’t heard much news since. With Stardew Valley’s 1.6 update renewing its player base earlier this year, now is a better time than any for ConcernedApe to show players what he’s been working on all this time. A release date hasn’t even been hinted at, so there’s likely still loads of work to be done before Haunted Chocolatier is ready to release, but updating fans with a new trailer or showcase could keep it top of mind for them well into the new year.
- Developer(s)
- ConcernedApe
- Publisher(s)
- ConcernedApe
- Engine
- MonoGame
WHERE TO PLAY
Haunted Chocolatier is an upcoming adventure game from Stardew Valley creator ConcernedApe (Eric Barone). The game is currently set to feature a lush explorable world, chocolate making and cooking, a spooky theme, and more. There is currently no release date or time period for the game.
- Platform(s)
- Microsoft Windows
- Developer
- Eric Barone, ConcernedApe LLC
- Publisher
- ConcernedApe LLC
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Simulation
