As the second game byStardew Valleydeveloper Eric Barone,Haunted Chocolatierhas high expectations to live up to. It’s a fine line that Barone must walk when making sure the game feels familiar to fans of his previous work while also retaining its own identity. One way this might be achieved is through the festivals that might be included inHaunted Chocolatier.
Eric Barone has proven himself as a fiercely dedicated developer by continuing to add updates to his surprise hit 8 years after its release. WhileStardew Valleyfans rejoice each time new content is added, Barone has admitted that his work on updates does take time away from the development ofHaunted Chocolatier. In arecent interview with Eric Barone, he explained that he will always remain dedicated toStardew Valley, but is now turning his full attention to his next title. AlthoughHaunted Chocolatieris still a long way off, Barone’s renewed dedication has opened discussions about what to expect when the game is finally ready. One inclusion that feels inevitable is new festivals forHaunted Chocolatier, ideally ones that will push the identity of the game farther into its own niche.
Which Festivals Should Appear in Haunted Chocolatier?
A Delicious Valentine’s Day
One way that Barone could distanceHaunted ChocolatierfromStardew Valleyis by including festivals that focus more on the delicacies that the player will be making. TheFlower Dance inStardew Valleyis meant to be an analog toValentine’s Day, offering players a chance at romance with the datable character of their choice. While this type of festival feels right at home in a small community like Pelican Town, it might not fit intoHaunted Chocolatier’s more urban setting. A proper Valentine’s Day celebration would be a way for players to still have a celebration dedicated to romance, but also a way for them to show off their chocolate-making skills by crafting the perfect recipe for their romantic pursuit and the city’s other residents.
Halloween or Spirit’s Eve
Between the focus on chocolate and the mysterious ghosts,Haunted Chocolatierfeels like a game made to celebrateHalloween, so it would simply feel incomplete to leave the holiday out of the festival rotation. It’s still unclear if this game will take place in the same world asStardew Valley, but one way that this information might be hinted at is if the holiday is given the name“Spirit’s Eve” like inStardew Valley.Haunted Chocolatiercould represent Halloween in a few ways, given the spooky themes that it seems primed to tackle. One way could be a typical city-wide party that involves a version of trick-or-treating that the player would provide candy for. Alternatively, this could be a chance for the ghosts in the shop to have a spotlight. Some believe that on Halloween, spirits can freely mingle among the living, which could let the game’s ghostly residents have a holiday all their own.
A Version of the Desert Festival
Stardew Valley’sDesert Festivalwas one of the best additions in the 1.6 update. A multi-day festival in a distinct location with slight changes on each day, the Desert Festival belongs inHaunted Chocolatierin some form. It’s still unknown if the game will have a version ofStardew Valley’s desert, a distant location where players can travel for experiences outside the main town, but if it does, a celebration dedicated to this spot would be the perfect analog. Offering unique shopping experiences, free decorations, special quests, and more, there isn’t another holiday inStardew Valleyquite like the Desert Festival, andHaunted Chocolatierdeserves a similar event. Because so little is known about the game, speculation on what this festival would be like is difficult, butStardew Valleyhas provided a great blueprint.
It’s not out of the realm of possibility thatHaunted Chocolatiermight borrow a few popular festivals fromStardew Valley, but it should avoid treading on overused material.Unique festivals inHaunted Chocolatierwould help the game stand out and retain its identity as separate from the game that came before it.
