Eric Barone, better known as ConcernedApe, is taking a different approach to his next game. While Stardew Valley built its reputation on farming, relationships, and the freedom to settle into a new life, Haunted Chocolatier will put a greater emphasis on action RPG mechanics, with adventuring, equipment progression, monsters, and boss fights playing a more prominent role.
In an interview with GQ celebrating the 10th anniversary of Stardew Valley, Barone described his upcoming game as a different kind of experience, despite sharing some of the same foundations as his previous work.
“It is still what I call a town game,” Barone explained. “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.”
Barone also made it clear which part of Stardew Valley helped inspire this direction, pointing to players who enjoy venturing into the mines rather than spending all their time tending to their farms. “It’s for the people in Stardew Valley that go into the mines. That’s what I do, honestly.”
The distinction offers a better idea of what to expect from Haunted Chocolatier, which was first announced in 2021. Rather than simply repeating the formula that made Stardew Valley such a success, Barone is building another town-based game around a different central activity. Players will still have a new place to call home, but exploration and becoming stronger will be much more important to the overall experience.
That doesn’t mean the game is abandoning the appeal of its predecessor. Barone’s description suggests that the sense of settling into a community will remain part of the experience, even as the gameplay shifts towards combat and character progression. The haunted setting also gives the project a different identity, although plenty of details about its world and mechanics remain under wraps.
The long development process has also put Barone in a difficult position. Stardew Valley became a massive indie success, selling more than 50 million copies, and the expectations surrounding its follow-up are considerably different from those he faced when developing his first game. Barone told GQ that he wants to recapture the feeling of working on Stardew Valley before a large audience was watching his every move, acknowledging the pressure of potentially disappointing millions of players.
Despite that pressure, Barone continues to develop Haunted Chocolatier largely on his own. He has also resisted letting others play the game before he feels it is ready to be shown, preferring to keep working until he is satisfied with the result.
For now, there is still no confirmed release date for Haunted Chocolatier. However, Barone’s latest comments provide a clearer picture of how the game will distinguish itself from Stardew Valley. Instead of making another farming-focused life simulation, ConcernedApe is pursuing a more combat-oriented RPG while retaining the town-based structure that connects his projects.