Haunted Chocolatier: Everything We Know So Far

In 2021, indie developer Eric Barone (known online as ConcernedApe), famous for single-handedly creating the magical Stardew Valley, officially announced he was developing a brand-new game. This game is called Haunted Chocolatier, and it looks like a whole new world of fun, a life sim, and a chance to discover the secret desires of every member of your community. When will Haunted Chocolatier release? Which platforms will it be on? What is the gameplay like, and more, in our article.

When Is Haunted Chocolatier's Release Date?

There's no set release date for Haunted Chocolatier yet, and it looks like it'll take a bit longer than fans were hoping.

The latest update on the game's progress comes from an interview Barone gave to Screen Rant in December 2022. The interview focused on Barone's collaboration with indie-pop band Alvvays on a music video for their song "Many Mirrors." There were also a few Stardew Valley references and news about Haunted Chocolatier. Here's what Barone said about his progress on Haunted Chocolatier: "It's going well, but it's a big game. I have a big, ambitious vision for it. It's a little intimidating, the amount of work it'll be. But Stardew Valley took me four and a half years; I've been working on Haunted Chocolatier for about a year and a half, maybe two years. I announced it a little over a year ago, but it'll still be a while. But I think it's going well. So far. Some really nice stuff has happened so far."

If it takes Haunted Chocolatier as long to reach its final form as Stardew Valley did, fans might not see the game until 2025 at the earliest.

Which Platforms Will Haunted Chocolatier Be On?

Haunted Chocolatier will definitely release on PC, but no other platforms have been mentioned.

Stardew Valley eventually made its way to consoles and mobile devices, so we assume Haunted Chocolatier will also be easily accessible to all players.

Haunted Chocolatier Gameplay

Haunted Chocolatier begins with the player opening a chocolate shop while living in a haunted castle in the middle of a snowy community. The player will need to seek out a wide variety of ingredients and alliances to make the best possible chocolate and ultimately achieve success.

It's no surprise the game has looked so much like Stardew Valley so far. ConcernedApe compared it to the energy of the moon, since Stardew Valley was the energy of the sun. The art style, movement, and interface are all recognizable here. However, it's being built on a new engine that seems to allow for some significant additions. So far, there's no information on whether it's set in the same world as Stardew Valley.

Simulation aspects

One of the things people loved about Stardew Valley was the ability to get to know everyone in the community and make progress through the various relationships (and of course the farming) in what Barone calls the "town." Haunted Chocolatier will be the same, with similar systems like giving gifts, getting to know characters, and progressing relationships.

Action and combat

This is where Haunted Chocolatier departs from Stardew Valley in significant ways. There's much more emphasis on action-RPG features, including completely overhauled combat. There will be a variety of weapons and shields, a full blocking system, a stun system tied to successfully blocking enemies, and more. This should make foraging attempts and exploration an interesting part of the game for those who want a bit more action in their chocolate-making plans.

Surprisingly, the game's combat may take a bit of inspiration from Diablo II.

"When I was in the early stages of Haunted Chocolatier, I was playing a lot of Diablo II. Do you want to get loot and watch your numbers go up in the stats? I love that stuff," Barone said in a December 2022 interview with Screen Rant. "I feel like a lot of Stardew Valley players don't like that, but I just have to do what I think is fun. And if I'm excited about it, I think it'll shine through in the game."

Soundtrack

Stardew Valley fans are no doubt wondering what kind of soothing melodies Haunted Chocolatier will have. You can check out the trailer to get an idea of what to expect. We probably won't hear much more until the game is complete.