Haunted Chocolatier, the second game from Stardew Valley creator, Eric Barone, has been in development for more than five years, having been announced in October 2021. While there's no official word on the Haunted Chocolatier release date, Barone has been discussing the development of the game, including who it's for and more about the playstyle. In a recent interview with GQ, Barone said that Haunted Chocolatier is "more of an action RPG," although it is still what he'd call "a town game."
"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," he explained.
Writing on the Haunted Chocolatier website, Barone regularly apologizes for the game "taking so long," but reassures fans that he's making good progress on the game. "I won't compromise on the quality of the game by rushing it or releasing it too early," he adds.
Still, now that we have more information on what the game might entail, the wait feels like it will be worth it. According to GQ, Barone has "returned to isolation" to focus on finishing Haunted Chocolatier. "I really want to recapture that feeling that I had when I was making Stardew Valley," Barone said. "Everyone's watching me, and if I don't do things a certain way, it might disappoint millions of people."
Haunted Chocolatier is also shaping up to be bigger, and creepier, than Stardew Valley. In 2025, Barone said he "hoped" the game would release within the next five years, so we should get our hands on it before 2030, all being well. Fingers crossed.