Stardew Valley Creator Reveals New Game Haunted Chocolatier

ConcernedApe, Stardew Valley’s sole independent developer, has announced Haunted Chocolatier, a spooky chocolate business simulator.

Stardew Valley creator Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone has announced Haunted Chocolatier. The developer’s previous offering, released in 2016, is a simulation RPG in which players tend to a farm and interact with their neighbors. ConcernedApe has stated that upgrades to Stardew Valley may be completed after nearly a decade of effort.

Despite being ConcernedApe’s first video game release, which he created independently, Stardew Valley was a huge hit at its initial release. The farming simulation game takes a relaxed approach, immersing players in the small, homey ambiance of Pelican Town. While developing and managing the farm is at the heart of Stardew Valley, engaging with non-player characters deepens the player’s immersion and adds a lot of diversity. Additionally, Stardew Valley was recently introduced to Xbox Game Pass, allowing a whole new group of gamers to enjoy the casual role-playing game.

ConcernedApe has now released the first look at Haunted Chocolatier, his second big video game project following Stardew Valley. The future project appears to be a sim RPG in the same vein, with players gathering ingredients to manufacture chocolate and managing their chocolate business. However, fantasy themes, such as a haunted mansion populated with ghosts, will be prominent in its theming. The trailer also shows combat, with the user swinging a stick to battle off birds and odd blob creatures. Haunted Chocolatier is still in production, with no set release date.

Although the game is more than five years old, Stardew Valley retains a powerful presence in the hearts and minds of gamers. The tranquil ambiance and emphasis on a player choice make the farming sim an engaging and soothing experience for both long-time fans and new players. However, the game is not always so peaceful, as ConcernedApe recently held a Stardew Valley tournament with a prize pool of almost $40,000. It remains to be seen whether Haunted Chocolatier will maintain the tranquility of its predecessor or be versatile enough in its gameplay to be played competitively in its hypothetical event potentially. Still, the unveiling trailer confirmed the title’s visual similarities.

Stardew Valley is a well-regarded indie title, and Haunted Chocolatier appears to be following in the footsteps of its predecessor, at least in terms of materials and tone. The pixel art designs and RPG gameplay appear to be very similar, although ConcernedApe’s upcoming release will have a stronger emphasis on the supernatural. Managing a chocolate shop and fighting ghosts may appear to be a weird mix, but the project appears to blend the two components successfully. While the game won’t be available for a while, Haunted Chocolatier could end up being a suitable successor to Stardew Valley.

Sources: ConcernedApe/YouTube, Haunted Chocolatier