•Eric Barone, the developer behind Stardew Valley who also works under the name ConcernedApe, has shared new details about his upcoming game Haunted Chocolatier. In a recent interview with GQ, he described the title as leaning more heavily into action than its predecessor.
“It is still what I call a town game, but it’s more of an action RPG,” Barone told GQ. “The main focus is more about adventuring, finding equipment and getting more powerful. There are monsters, there are boss fights.”
The developer compared the experience to exploring mines in Stardew Valley: “That’s what I do, honestly.” While Stardew Valley does include areas where players can fight monsters, it remains primarily a farming and life sim. Haunted Chocolatier will feature more action while still maintaining a cozy tone—players will run a chocolate business and get to know the locals.
The game was first revealed in 2021, and Barone began the year acknowledging he announced it too early. Like Stardew Valley, it remains a solo project. According to Barone, no one has played through the game yet.
“No one’s playing the game until I’m ready to show it,” Barone said. “If you have a turkey in the oven. You’re not going to pull it out halfway and have the guests taste it, right? It needs to be done.”
In an August blog post about Haunted Chocolatier, Barone apologized for the length of development while noting he “[doesn’t] stress too much about how long it’s taking” because he does not want to rush the process and risk hurting the game.
Haunted Chocolatier remains without a release date.
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