Summary
Developer ConcernedApe’s upcoming titleHaunted Chocolatieris shrouded in secrecy, but expectations are high thanks to the precedent set by the developer’s previous smash hit titleStardew Valley. While little is known aboutHaunted Chocolatieras of now, there are a few things that the games appear to have in common.
The sleepy island that is the setting forStardew Valleyhas a lot of hidden secrets for players to discover, some of which are downright spooky. Drawing from what is known aboutHaunted Chocolatierit is probably safe to say that the game will be chock-full of mysteries for players to solve, but there is one particularunsolvedStardew Valleymysterythat sets the bar high for the upcoming game.
RELATED:Stardew Valley Creator Teases New Game Haunted Chocolatier With New Image
The Mysterious Strange Capsule Event
Of all themysteries inStardew Valley,the Strange Capsule stands out as one of the creepiest and most interesting. In gameplay terms, the Strange Capsule is a random event that can happen any time after Year 1 so long as the player has an open tile on their farm. The odd cylindrical curiosity is filled with “something fleshy” bobbing around in the fluid. If left alone for a few days players will find that the glass has broken, implying that whatever was inside the capsule broke out.
After the Strange Capsule breaks, players might notice a strange presence on the island at night. The dark figure will appear randomly and quickly dart out of sight. This mysterious presence has never been explained, and it is unknown if it ever will be. It is one of those things that giveStardew Valleya mystical sort of charm.
The chances of experiencing the Strange Capsule event were increased with theStardew Valley1.5 updatewhich was released in December 2020. There has been some debate about the nature of the shadowy figure that appears after the capsule has broken. While the form and purpose of the creature remain uncertain, it does not seem to be dangerous. ManyStardew Valleyplayers are content to treat it as an Easter egg that gives Pelican Town and its surroundings a supernatural feel.
The Strange Capsule Event in Stardew Valley Sets Expectations for Haunted Chocolatier
Haunted Chocolatierwill need to have a similar air of mystique if it’s going to live up to the lofty expectations of fans. ConcernedApe is notoriously secretive and this has led to all kinds of speculation about his upcoming game. One popular fan theory is thatStardew ValleyandHaunted Chocolatiertake place in the same world, but ConcernedApe has not confirmed or denied this.Haunted Chocolatierdoes have some key differences toStardew Valley,but it’s difficult to tell one way or the other and will likely remain so until more information is made official.
ConcernedApe seems to enjoy giving the occasional crypticclue aboutHaunted Chocolatierand interacting with fans while taking care not to spoil any surprises. A recent screenshot of an unnamed character that bears a striking resemblance to Grandpa fromStardew Valleyis one such example. The similarities between the characters may be purely superficial, but it has gotten some fans excited.
IfStardew ValleyandHaunted Chocolatiershare the setting, it will have interesting implications in terms of lore. Perhaps the true nature shadowy figure that appears after the Strange Capsule event will be revealed inThe Haunted Chocolatierif this is the case. If not, it might just remain left to the player’s imagination. Another possibility is that some more content related to the Strange Capsule event could be added toStardew Valleyitself, but it remains unconfirmed. Either way, the roaring success ofStardew Valleyhas set a high bar forHaunted Chocolatierin more ways than one. The Strange Capsule event in particular is a good example of the unique and strangely cozy supernatural happenings inStardew Valleythat will be hard to beat.
Haunted Chocolatieris currently in development.
MORE:Haunted Chocolatier’s Analog to Stardew Valley’s Community Center is Already Clear
