Barone announced Haunted Chocolatier back in 2021, but amid ongoing work on his phenomenally successful Stardew Valley, progress on the follow-up has been slow going. Indeed, in June, Barone admitted to feeling somewhat embarrassed to have to keep on saying he was still working away on the game. “Feels kinda dumb posting this same thing over and over, but that’s the reality,” he said at the time.
In a new interview with GQ (thanks, Eurogamer), Barone touched on what to expect from Haunted Chocolatier when it eventually comes out, and it sounds more different from Stardew Valley than I had expected. It’s set in a more “metaphysical” locale, for a start, and in terms of gameplay it’s more of an action RPG.
“It is still what I call a town game,” Barone said, “But it’s more of an action RPG — 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. That’s what I do, honestly.”
I look forward to it.
Patiently
yeah its fine to take time. Good work often does.
So more like Recettear? Nice, love it!
I tried to find a Recettear-like game recently and couldn’t really find one that clicked, so I just replayed Recettear instead! Love it
Getting Earthbound vibes from the screenshot. Nice.
Perfect. My favorite way to play Stardew is to freeze time and energy and just attack the mines and skull cavern until I die. With a bit of fishing on the side.
Since there’s no farming focus, I hope they dont buil the day night cycle in Haunted Chocolatier.
unless day/night determines enemy variety, events, and world interactions! that would still be awesome
As lomg as there’s no time constraints forcing me to sleep, I’d be happy
Does anyone know if it takes place in the same universe as Stardew?
Does it take place in the world of Stardew Valley?
I’m not ready to reveal anything like that just yet.
I hope it is!
Aww, that’s disappointing, but thanks for doing the leg work on that issue.
There have been a lot of speculation based on trailers. For example, it looks like there is a Qi fruit in the background, so I’d bet they are linked somehow.
I’m hoping that they are and that at some point there will be be a dlc that links the two games together so you can kind of do it all.
Yes! That would be so cool!
I hope it’s something that unlocks as an endgame feature kind of like in pokemon gold letting you revisit the first games region.
If it’s not official I promise that modders will do it immediately anyway 😂
I trust Barone.
Good. I liked Stardew Valley when it was new, but never finished it and never could get past a couple of days in it when tried to starr it again. Great game, but just too damn grindy.
Base game I agree but modded stardew valley is fucking awesome
What mods are your favorite?
It’s not for everyone, that’s for sure! I’m excited to see how different HC is compared to Stardew and what other types of gamers it attract. Stardew is an incredibly good game and if that’s how Haunted Choc is going to be approached, then I’m happy that more people may appreciate Concerned Ape’s work! I hope this one clicks with you better :)
