Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone, the developer behind the immensely popular Stardew Valley, is working on a new game titled Haunted Chocolatier. Announced in 2021, the project is a simulation RPG that puts players in the role of a chocolatier running a shop within a haunted castle. While not a direct sequel, it appears to share a similar structure to Stardew Valley, involving moving to a new locale, revitalizing a business, interacting with townsfolk, and accumulating wealth. The potential connection between the game's lore and Stardew Valley remains unconfirmed, with Barone stating he is not yet ready to reveal any such links.
Gameplay and Content
Haunted Chocolatier will expand on the gathering, crafting, and selling loop familiar to Stardew Valley players by incorporating a more significant combat element. The game will feature shields for stunning enemies and other unrevealed off-hand weapons, alongside boss encounters. Barone has indicated that Haunted Chocolatier will be substantially larger than Stardew Valley, with more maps, monsters, a deeper item system, and additional equipment slots.
Unlike its predecessor, Haunted Chocolatier will not feature multiplayer. Barone has stated that co-operative play is not currently planned for the game, even for future updates.
The game is described as having a darker and more mysterious atmosphere than Stardew Valley, with a touch of creepiness. However, the haunting elements are expected to be generally friendly, with ghosts potentially assisting the player in running the shop and conducting chocolate research. Ultimately, Barone aims for the game to be a "positive, uplifting and life-affirming" experience.
Development and Release
Barone has acknowledged announcing Haunted Chocolatier earlier than intended and is working on both this new project and updates for Stardew Valley simultaneously, which has extended development time. In a 2025 interview, he expressed hope for a release within the next five years. He has since dedicated more time to Haunted Chocolatier after expanding the Stardew Valley team, spending five days a week on his new game while the other two are focused on Stardew updates. He is currently the sole developer on Haunted Chocolatier.
At present, PC is the only confirmed platform for Haunted Chocolatier, though Barone intends to bring it to other major platforms as well. A Nintendo Switch release is anticipated.
Players can stay updated on development through Barone's Haunted Chocolatier blog. Updates may be infrequent, with significant reveals about late-game content being unlikely.