Stardew Valley creator ConcernedApe, or Eric Barone, has been hard at work on a second game, Haunted Chocolatier, for some time now. The indie developer is a one-man team, and he just dropped a brief glimpse of what is sure to be another indie success story for the gaming world. In doing so, he also revealed a few things about the upcoming game that has so far been kept pretty close to the chest.
Haunted Chocolatier Image Drops on Social Media
ConcernedApe posted the below screenshot from Haunted Chocolatier, which very much employs the same art style as Stardew Valley. It has similar aesthetics, though this new game is clearly operating with a much more dark and somber mood.
In that thread, fans had some questions about the game, and the developer was happy to answer some of them. Perhaps the biggest confirmation came about one of Stardew Valley’s best mechanics. A user asked if there would be fishing, a big factor in their decision whether to play the game or not. The creator confirmed that Haunted Chocolatier would also have fishing.
One fan also asked if “that one song” with “oboe and piano,” which is known as Winter’s Melody, is going to be included in the game, to which ConcernedApe responded affirmatively. As for other music, the creator revealed he tries to make music for specific areas and moments in his games, and this new one will be no different, although it is sometimes easier to make music and then find a place to put it into the game.
He recently went viral for saying he doesn’t want every single update he reveals about the game to be newsworthy and generate thinkpieces and updates, but this is a major look at the upcoming title. “You don’t have to write an article every time I tweet,” he posted. “This makes people think I’m making a big statement or fishing for ‘good boy points’ when I am just making a small comment, like i would say to a friend. I dont always want to be in ‘PR’ mode.”
What We Know About Haunted Chocolatier
We know a little bit about Haunted Chocolatier right now, but there’s still plenty that is unknown or has been left to the imagination. We know that the world of that game will exceed the size of Stardew Valley’s world, and that game was not exactly working with a minuscule map. The game will also feature a greater focus on combat.
The game was officially revealed in 2021, but ConcernedApe has spent the last several years balancing Stardew Valley updates, like the massive 1.6 update on all platforms, and trying to develop a new game. The developer couldn’t commit to any release date back then, and there is still no confirmed date.
“The bottom line is that I won’t rest or release this game until I am personally satisfied that it’s very fun and compelling, in every aspect,” he said at the time. “If it never gets there, I’ll never release it. But don’t worry, I have 100% faith that I’ll get it there.” It was also confirmed that as of spring 2025, with the 1.6 update done, ConcernedApe was able to work with a focus on the upcoming game.
It is also confirmed to be “similar” to Stardew Valley but with key differences. It is another “town game”, so you’ll move to a new place and try a new way of living with townspeople. However, Haunted Chocolatier is more of an action-RPG than a cozy farming simulator. Of course, it also focuses on a chocolate shop and not a farm. For now, the only platform it is guaranteed to go on is PC. Barone has plans for other consoles like Stardew Valley, but he can’t confirm anything.
Conclusion
We still don’t know a ton about Haunted Chocolatier, but theoretically, every passing day gets us one step closer to the eventual release of one of the most anticipated indie games of all time. And every now and then, we get a small info dump and a brief look at what’s coming that helps make the wait worth it.
