What is Haunted Chocolatier? Release Date, gameplay, platforms, & more

Haunted Chocolatier is an upcoming game developed and published by ConcernedApe, a studio headed by Eric Barone, the creator of Stardew Valley. Eric Barone has revealed very little about Haunted Chocolatier since the game was announced in Oct. 2021. We've gathered everything we know about the game so far, a lot of which comes directly from Barone's blog posts.

Everything we know about Haunted Chocolatier

Haunted Chocolatier is an action RPG that puts players in charge of a chocolate factory. Eric Barone is working alone on this game and has no plans to involve anyone else. He has stated that he will most likely get help to port and localize the game when it is close to completion. As of now, Eric Barone is not sure if there will be multiplayer, but he's not ruling anything out.

Players are in charge of a chocolate shop and a factory and are tasked with building the factory and working with the townspeople. Building up a factory and interacting with the townspeople are the player's responsibilities during the game. The player appears exceptionally wealthy, with a butler, a huge mansion, a factory, and their own shop.

Is there a release date for Haunted Chocolatier?

No, there is no release date for Haunted Chocolatier. Eric Barone has been working on the game since 2020, and it's just one of many he's working on. He has been very open in mentioning that it could be years before Haunted Chocolatier releases. We will update this page accordingly when a release date or window is known.

What platforms is Haunted Chocolatier releasing on?

Haunted Chocolatier will release first on PC, but it will eventually come to every major platform, including Switch and other consoles. The developer notes that this will take time.

Is Haunted Chocolatier a sequel to Stardew Valley?

No, Haunted Chocolatier is a game unto itself. Eric Barone has stated in a tweet that he does not want the game to rely on Stardew Valley and vice versa, but he is sure there will be nods to Stardew Valley.

Related: What does “A Train is Passing Through Stardew Valley” mean?

Does Haunted Chocolatier take place in the same universe as Stardew Valley

Eric Barone has stated that he is not at the point where he can reveal anything. Based on his tweets, it's clear that he's not sure how much of Stardew Valley will be in Haunted Chocolatier. There's no way to tell if they occur in the same universe, but it is possible.

What is the gameplay of Haunted Chocolatier like?

Although we don't know the story, the gameplay resembles Stardew Valley. As you progress through the game, you will get to know the townspeople, achieve your goals, and progress in various ways. There are many similarities between Stardew Valley. The core gameplay and themes are quite different, however. Comparatively, Haunted Chocolatier is a more action-oriented RPG. Instead of a farm, your endeavors are centered around a chocolate shop.

Will Stardew Valley still get updates once Haunted Chocolatier releases?

Stardew Valley is still receiving updates. Eric Barone hasn't announced anything about stopping his updates to Stardew Valley, though the frequency of patches and updates to Stardew Valley could decrease in the future as Barone focuses on Haunted Chocolatier. This is speculation, however.

Will Chucklefish publish Haunted Chocolatier?

Chucklefish will not publish haunted Chocolatier. Also, Chucklefish has stopped publishing Stardew Valley, and all publishing rights have reverted to Eric Barone. It does not appear that they will publish any games from Eric Barone in the future.

Haunted Chocolatier Trailer

The trailer shows the player moving around their mansion and then going to town. The player talks to residents and gives gifts as they would in Stardew Valley. As described by Eric Barone in a blog post, the trailer also shows the player fighting as they did in Stardew Valley, but it is unlikely that the game will look like this upon release. Eric Barone makes many changes to his games as he makes them, and graphics and art are among the biggest changes.

For more on games by Eric Barone, check out Where is the Flower Dance in Stardew Valley? or All farm and farmhouse upgrades in Stardew Valley here on Pro Game Guides!