Eric Barone, creator of Stardew Valley, describes his upcoming follow-up Haunted Chocolatier as “more of an action RPG” rather than another farming-focused experience. In a recent interview with GQ, Barone says the game is still a “town game,” but its main activities centre on adventuring, finding equipment, and becoming more powerful. He also points to monsters and boss fights as core elements.
Across the outlets, Barone frames the game as aimed at players who enjoy the mine-focused progression in Stardew Valley. He is also not committing to a specific release date, though he has indicated the project has been in development for years since its announcement in October 2021. On Haunted Chocolatier’s website, Barone acknowledges the long wait and says he will not compromise quality by rushing the game. He also mentions returning to isolation to focus on finishing it, and previously expressed a hope to release it within a roughly five-year window, with timing potentially extending beyond that estimate.
