ConcernedApe’s ‘Haunted Chocolatier’: Everything We Know About the ‘Stardew Valley’ Creator’s New Game
Stardew Valley fans have a new adventure to look forward to. On Oct. 21, Stardew Valley creator ConcernedApe announced that he’s working on a new video game called Haunted Chocolatier. The RPG is still in its early stages, but the one-person development team unveiled a gameplay teaser and some images. This brief look has already been enough to drum up excitement among fans, especially after the immense success of ConcernedApe’s hit farm life simulator. Here’s everything we know about Haunted Chocolatier so far.
What is ‘Haunted Chocolatier’?
ConcernedApe’s FAQ page describes Haunted Chocolatier as an RPG/simulator where “you will play as a chocolatier living in a haunted castle. In order to thrive in your new role, you will have to gather rare ingredients, make delicious chocolates, and sell them in a chocolate shop.”
Going into a bit more detail in a blog post, the developer explained why he chose a chocolatey, haunted adventure.
“Chocolate represents that which is delightful. The haunted castle represents the allure of the unknown. The ghosts represent the imprint of the past. All of these things are important,” he wrote. “However, don’t think for a moment that, because this game features ghosts in a haunted castle, it is an evil or negative game. On the contrary, I intend for this game to be positive, uplifting, and life-affirming. However, if Stardew Valley mostly channeled the energy of the sun, Haunted Chocolatier channels the energy of the moon. Both are vital.”
ConcernedApe added that he’s still working out the details of the game, so it’s constantly changing. However, one thing seems inevitable: fans can expect to make a lot of chocolate. Check out the early gameplay video below.
The ghostly game will be different from ‘Stardew Valley’
In terms of graphics, setting, and perspective, the new game and Stardew Valley look similar. However, the developer emphasized that he wanted to take a different approach with his second game by exploring “fantastical possibilities” beyond the typical small-town farm life.
In the FAQ, ConcernedApe explained that Haunted Chocolatier sees players moving to a new town where they’ll meet new people and accomplish a set of goals, much like Stardew Valley. On the other hand, though, he said the “core gameplay and theming” are different.
“Haunted Chocolatier is more of an action RPG compared to Stardew Valley. And instead of a farm being the focal point of your endeavors, it’s a chocolate shop,” the creator added.
Does ‘Haunted Chocolatier’ have a release date?
ConcernedApe explained that he’s not quite ready to put a release date on Haunted Chocolatier yet, as he wants to work on the game without any pressure. Like Stardew Valley, the creator is working on his second game solo, so it might take a while. However, ConcernedApe promised to keep working on it as much as possible.
“I believe this will be a good opportunity, but I haven’t even gotten to the good stuff yet. I’ve been mostly working on the ‘meat and potatoes’ of the game so far,” he wrote in the blog post. “But what really brings a game to life is the spice, the sauce. And I haven’t really gotten to the sauce yet. That’s coming.”
