ConcernedApe’s Haunted Chocolatier announced for PC
Developer has "every intention of bringing it to the other major platforms."
ConcernedApe, the creator of Stardew Valley, has announced ConcernedApe’s Haunted Chocolatier, a new RPG / simulation game currently in development. Currently, the only confirmed platform is PC, but ConcernedApe said it has “every intention of bringing it to the other major platforms as well.”
“In Stardew Valley, the focus was more humble: living off the land, growing food, and connecting to the people and nature around you,” ConcernedApe, whose real name is Eric Barone, said in a blog post. “However, with my next game, I wanted to explore more fantastical possibilities… experiences that take you beyond the ordinary. That’s where magical haunted ghost chocolate comes in.”
Barone continued, “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. 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.”
The gameplay loop of ConcernedApe’s Haunted Chocolatier involves gathering ingredients, making chocolate, and running a chocolate shop, but “there’s a lot more to the game than that, the developer affirms. “I don’t want to get too deep into at this early stage, partly because I don’t want to be tied down to any particular concept of what the game is.”
Barone describes ConcernedApe’s Haunted Chocolatier as a means to ‘unleash’ his creativity and not be tied down to working with an established tradition, as was the case with Stardew Valley.
Here is the full FAQ provided by the developer:
What is ConcernedApe’s Haunted Chocolatier?
ConcernedApe’s Haunted Chocolatier is an RPG / simulation game, currently in development.
In this game, 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.
There’s a lot more to the game than that, but it’s still early in development so I don’t want to go too deep into it right now.
Who’s making this game?
Haunted Chocolatier is being developed by Eric Barone (also known as ConcernedApe), the creator of Stardew Valley.
(So far, I have been working alone on this game, and I have no plans to get anyone else involved at this time. However, when it’s close to being done I will most likely get help for console ports and localizations. I will also be self-publishing this game.)
When does it come out?
I can’t commit to a release date yet. It’s still relatively early in development and I want to be able to work in peace without the pressure of a release date, or even an estimated release date.
Does it take place in the world of Stardew Valley?
I’m not ready to reveal anything like that just yet.
Is the gameplay similar to Stardew Valley?
In some ways, yes, but in many ways, no.
Like Stardew Valley, Haunted Chocolatier is another “town game,” where you move to a new town and try your hand at a new way of living. You’ll get to know the townspeople, achieve your goals and make progress in many ways. All of that is similar to Stardew Valley. However, the core gameplay and theming are quite a bit 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.
How long has it been in development?
I started working on this game a little over one year ago, in 2020. Since then, I’ve been working on it mostly in evenings and on the weekends, because I’m still actively working on Stardew Valley-related things.
It’s actually not the first or only “new project” I’ve been working on, but it’s the one that I believe I will finish first.
Is it multiplayer?
No, it’s currently just single-player. I have no current plans to make it multiplayer.
What platforms will it come out on?
The only platform I am 100 percent certain about is PC. However, I have every intention of bringing it to the other major platforms as well.
What languages will it have?
The only language I know for sure at this point, is English. That being said, I intend to localize to other languages. But I’m not even close to doing that yet, and I don’t want to put the cart before the horse, so to speak.
Watch an early gameplay video below. View the first screenshots at the gallery.