Haunted Chocolatier's Undead Theme Shouldn't Stop at Ghosts

Summary

Haunted Chocolatieris going to be full of ghosts, but that doesn’t have to be the extent of the game’s haunting theme.Haunted Chocolatierhas a wide-open chance to dabble with all sorts of supernatural encounters, and they could be a big selling point for the game. There are several ways that the game can evolve from the strong foundation thatStardew Valleylaid down, and its own themes provide a convenient launching pad. Part ofHaunted Chocolatier’s setting has already been laid out. However, making maximum use of its theme could make the game far more memorable.

Now thatStardew Valley’s Update 1.6 is complete, fans can return their attention to ConcernedApe’s upcoming project,Haunted Chocolatier. Much likeStardew Valley,Haunted Chocolatiersees the player moving to a new town that they will call home. The twist is that this time, the player will be running a chocolate shop on their own. In addition, whileStardew Valley’s farmer was doing all the work on their own,Haunted Chocolatiergives the protagonist a gleeful group of ghosts to help with their day-to-day operations. Early footage implies that ConcernedApe’s new project will put a supernatural spin on the cozy gaming genre.

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Haunted Chocolatier Doesn’t Have to Stop With Ghosts

Ghosts Will Be a Major Part of Haunted Chocolatier

There are bound to be plenty ofsecrets inHaunted Chocolatier, but its supernatural element is already proudly on display. Screenshots and gameplay footage have already shown off the ghosts in the player’s chocolate shop. It seems that they will be common knowledge in the town as well, since they can be seen staffing the store and serving chocolate to the townsfolk without any problems. From that, it can be surmised that, at the very least, ghosts are a known factor in the world ofHaunted Chocolatier. That alone raises an interesting question about what other supernatural forces could exist in the world.

Undead NPCs would be a perfect way forHaunted Chocolatierto lean into horror elementswithout actually being scary. There are several kinds of undead creatures that could make for interesting characters. Vampires are likely the most famous, and it’s easy to imagine a classy count or countess in town. There are plenty of other options as well, though. A zombie or ghoul could come shambling into town with unfinished business, or perhaps a mummy could emerge from an ancient crypt and come to terms with a new world. These kinds of undead characters would have a lot of potential for interesting character arcs.

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Stardew Valley Already Dabbled In Supernatural Villagers

There is already precedent for supernatural villagers in ConcernedApe’s works. InStardew Valley, the player could befriend magical and even inhuman characters, with the best example beingStardew Valley’s lovable Krobus, although the Wizard and Dwarf also helped to set the standard. WithHaunted Chocolatier’s premise already setting up ghosts as a part of the world, the door is wide open to go even further.Haunted Chocolatier’s setting and tone are more well-suited thanStardew Valley’s when it comes to incorporating supernatural elements. It would be exciting to see how active the mystical elements surrounding the game’s town truly are in that sense.

Undead NPCs would be a perfect way forHaunted Chocolatierto lean into horror elements without actually being scary.

A character from Haunted Chocolatier swinging a stick at Kel from Stardew Valley

Undead characters are one of the biggest opportunities thatHaunted Chocolatierhas overStardew Valley. WhetherHaunted Chocolatierincludes supernatural romancesor simply a wider selection of NPCs, embracing the magic of the setting would be greatly beneficial for the cast. Outside of Grandpa’s ghost, undead characters are not an area thatStardew Valleyexplored. Conveniently,Haunted Chocolatieris in a perfect position to delve deep into that idea if ConcernedApe chooses. Vampires, zombies, and other spirits could make for decent neighbors for the player inHaunted Chocolatier’s new world.