The Haunted Chocolatier early gameplay video gave fans a glimpse of the town the game will take place in, and it’s subtly decorated with Christmas festiveness like candy canes and gift bows. Some of the things seen could be seasonal winter decorations, but the town looks like it may be located near a mountaintop where it is cold year-round. Some permanent fixtures also sport holiday spirit, so this place may be akin to the North Pole, but nothing is confirmed as of this time.
It is also not confirmed if Haunted Chocolatier will take place in the same universe as Stardew Valley, ConcernedApe’s other game, but if it does, that could support the idea that Haunted Chocolatier is a Christmas game. Stardew Valley‘s version of Christmas is called the Feast of the Winter Star, and players see Santa sleigh-riding across their shipping summary screen on Winter 24. After reaching certain objectives, players can also purchase a Santa Hat for their character to wear.
Many decorations are seen throughout the Haunted Chocolatier town in the trailer. Streetlights are adorned with red ribbons, and a Christmas tree can be seen in someone’s home. The chocolate storefront of the player character has white string lights in the window. In the blacksmith’s building, a calendar is seen on the wall with an image of snowfall. Perhaps it is a winter gift-giving time of year, amplifying the importance of the holiday.
Haunted Chocolatier’s Town Hall is Engraved with Candy Canes and Angels
The town hall seen in Haunted Chocolatier has decorations that look carved into the stone. On its left and right, there are candy cane designs, and between them are winged humanoids that look like angels. This kind of design aesthetic certainly makes it seem as if the game takes place around Christmas.
Inside the player’s mansion, there is a magic doorway leading to a lush, tree-covered landscape. Flanking this door are deer carved into the wood wall, and it’s possible that they could represent reindeer or caribou. It’s unlikely that these are temporary fixtures for the season, so it could represent a constant reverence for a Christmas-like winter holiday. This would be very appropriate for a place like the North Pole.
Gifts Can Be Given to Haunted Chocolatier Characters
The player character in Haunted Chocolatier can place a present on their action bar and give them to other characters. This could just be part of building relationships with the townspeople, like in Stardew Valley or other smalltown farming games, but they could also be like Christmas presents. They’re deliberately wrapped, feature a similar ribbon to the streetlights, and would look right at home under a tree. Chocolate also makes a great gift, and the player character is going to make quite a bit of it.
Yuletide Christmas activities in the modern day have roots in the Norse tradition. Maybe some Viking runes are responsible for the mansion’s mountain doorway, or for enabling ghosts to help run a shop. The tree seen etched into the center of town hall could even be a world tree-like Yggdrasil. So, while it hasn’t been officially confirmed that it’s a Christmas game, and regardless of what festivities await them, players are bound to get wrapped up in Haunted Chocolatier‘s winter spirit.
