Stardew Valley Dev Says Haunted Chocolatier Has More RPG Features

Eric Barone, also known as ConcernedApe, the developer of the beloved farming sim Stardew Valley, shared some details about his new cozy RPG game, Haunted Chocolatier, and discussed the difference between the two titles.

In a recent interview with GQ, the developer described the tone of the upcoming game, sharing that it will transport players to a more "metaphysical" locale. According to Barone, Haunted Chocolatier is set in a town but features more action-RPG elements, including intense combat and boss fights. The developer also made a witty remark that a certain kind of Stardew Valley fans might enjoy the upcoming sim with an eerie atmosphere:

"It is still what I call a town game," he said, "But it's more of an action RPG – the main focus is more about adventuring, finding equipment and getting more powerful. There are monsters, there are boss fights. It's for the people in Stardew Valley that go into the mines. That's what I do, honestly."

Barone also touched on a complex aspect of the added responsibility of developing the second title after Stardew Valley's success and said he wants to recapture that feeling of working on the farming sim. "Back then, there was no audience, there was no precedent. Everyone's watching me, and if I don't do things a certain way, it might disappoint millions of people.”

Haunted Chocolatier, first announced in 2021, centers around a chocolate maker who lives in a spooky castle. Gameplay will include gathering ingredients, making delicious chocolates, and selling them in a chocolate shop. Earlier, Barone shared that the RPG will be "way bigger" than Stardew Valley. The new game will also differ from Barone's first project's blissful, cozy style, leaning towards something dark and "creepy," with "ghosts, the haunted nature, the castle." In terms of technicality, Haunted Chocolatier is also a new project as it's written from scratch and doesn't use the same 'engine' as Stardew Valley.

"Working on Haunted Chocolatier is what I'm most eager and driven to do, out of everything," Barone wrote in a blog post. The developer also emphasized his goal to work hard on the game without "compromising quality" or hurrying its release.