A Stardew Valley Mod Could Be a Taste of the Future in…

Haunted Chocolatier is the next title from Stardew Valley developer ConcernedApe. Some gamers may expect the indie developer to take the same route as Stardew Valley by making Haunted Chocolatier a simulation game. While Haunted Chocolatier will contain simulation elements, the game is supposedly also an action-adventure RPG. This genre switch is one key way that ConcernedApe has distinguished the two games from one another, though they will share similarities like romanceable NPCs and the same artstyle.

Images and a gameplay trailer for Haunted Chocolatier have been released by ConcernedApe, teasing players with new footage. The second half of the game’s title references the simulation elements of the game, whereas the first half hints at the combat players must face head on. ConcernedApe has played with combat previously in Stardew Valley, specifically in caves, but this brief taste of combat is only the beginning. A new mod for Stardew Valley Expanded features not only more combat, but could prime players for aspects of Haunted Chocolatier.

Haunted Chocolatier is Holding One of its Most Important Cards Close to the Chest

Though Haunted Chocolatier is still very early in development, one key aspect of its gameplay is arguably more in the dark than other features.

Posts

By Megan Lorich

New Zelda-Inspired Mod for Stardew Valley

Developer and creator of the Stardew Valley Expanded mod, FlashShifter, has been working in tandem with ConcernedApe for quite some time. Though Stardew Valley is clearly a passion of FlashShifter, the developer revealed in an interview with NexusMods that their focus has shifted to a new project. FlashShifter is currently working on a mod of gargantuan proportions called Castle Village. Inspired by The Legend of Zelda, the Castle Village mod will introduce dungeons to Stardew Valley. Further details about Castle Village, like a release date, are still in the dark, but FlashShifter has confirmed features like a new city, fully developed NPCs, boss monsters, magical artifacts, new music, and more.

Castle Village was initially intended to be part of Update 2.0 for Stardew Valley Expanded, but the creator ultimately decided to make it a separate project. Considering the alleged scope of Castle Village, the shift from update to a whole new mod makes perfect sense. According to FlashShifter, Castle Village is even more ambitious than Stardew Valley Expanded, with a stronger focus on monster combat. FlashShifter is currently working on sprites for Castle Village’s new region and developing a distinct architectural style from Stardew Valley.

Castle Village Could Be a Sign of What's to Come for Haunted Chocolatier

A few keywords from FlashShifter’s announcement should definitely pique the interest of any gamers invested in Haunted Chocolatier’s development and gameplay. Considering how closely ConcernedApe collaborates with FlashShifter, the combat movements planned for Castle Village could influence Haunted Chocolatier. Additionally, players need somewhere to face chance encounters with the ghosts and various monsters present in Haunted Chocolatier. A dungeon may not be the most obvious option for the game, but it could be tied into Haunted Chocolatier due to a crucial part of its gameplay.

One confirmed aspect of Haunted Chocolatier’s gameplay is the need to collect ingredients. After all, players will be crafting the chocolates and sweets available at their confectionery. The road to finding these ingredients will likely be spooky, considering the name of the game. Players might need to travel to dungeons to find rare ingredients, encouraging fans to explore and hone their combat skills.

Of course, this is all speculation. There’s no guarantee that Haunted Chocolatier will follow the exact beats of the Castle Village mod, but it certainly wouldn’t be the most surprising outcome from the game. As both Haunted Chocolatier and Castle Village are still in the very early stages of development, it will likely be awhile before more information about either game is revealed by FlashShifter and ConcernedApe. Nevertheless, players should keep their eyes peeled on Stardew Valley Expanded for future hints about Haunted Chocolatier’s gameplay.