Haunted Chocolatier: Everything we know about the Stardew Valley successor

(Image credit: Eric Barone)

Haunted Chocolatier - A player runs in front of a shop with a sign that says "Chocolate" in a snowy village.

Haunted Chocolatier is the next game from the creator of Stardew Valley, which is fairly obvious from a quick glance at the screenshots and first gameplay trailer we’ve seen. But even though there’s a solid resemblance between the well-loved farm sim and ConcernedApe’s next community sim, there’s a lot that is going to separate Haunted Chocolatier, such as straying from farmland for a chocolate shop and featuring some pretty intense looking boss battles.

Although Haunted Chocolatier was originally revealed in 2021, sending fans of Stardew Valley into a frenzy, three years later information about the game is still pretty scarce. We’ve had a glimpse at what to expect through a short but sweet trailer introducing the setting, premise, a few characters, various screenshots, and a boss battle theme song.

Here’s the crucial information to know about Haunted Chocolatier, including the latest trailer and any information we have on its release date.

Is there a Haunted Chocolatier release date?

Unfortunately, we don’t have an expected release date or even an expected release year for Haunted Chocolatier yet. ConcernedApe announced in April 2023 that he was taking a break from Haunted Chocolatier to focus on rolling out the 1.6 update for Stardew Valley which has since been released—so hopefully development on Chocolatier has resumed.

Alongside the release of an early gameplay trailer, Barone shared that “While the video I put together may look like the game is at an advanced stage of development, there is still a ton of stuff to do.” We haven’t received an in-game look since 2021, but the screenshots we have seen since then suggest that development is going well.

Here is the latest Haunted Chocolatier trailer

The first trailer for Haunted Chocolatier looks incredibly similar to Stardew Valley in terms of environment and character design, but instead of tending to a farm you’re decorating a shop and crafting sugary treats instead of animal products. The trailer also shows off a pretty detailed look at combat with new gear like shields and bows, and how that plays into collecting resources to make your chocolate. We’re also seen some interactions with a few of the townsfolk, who ConcernedApe has confirmed you’ll be able to pursue romance with.

Latest about Haunted Chocolatier

‘It’s been a little sad to see Haunted Chocolatier getting dusty on the shelf, but this is the reality of my situation,’ Eric Barone says: ‘Stardew Valley is a big and popular game’newsBarone paused work on his new game so he could focus on Stardew Valley’s 1.6 update, but he wants everyone to know he hasn’t abandoned it.news

Haunted Chocolatier pre-release screenshot

‘It’s been a little sad to see Haunted Chocolatier getting dusty on the shelf, but this is the reality of my situation,’ Eric Barone says: ‘Stardew Valley is a big and popular game’

newsBarone paused work on his new game so he could focus on Stardew Valley’s 1.6 update, but he wants everyone to know he hasn’t abandoned it.

‘I have not touched Haunted Chocolatier in a long time’: Eric Barone says work on Stardew Valley’s 1.6 console and mobile port is still ongoingNews"To those who are patient and understanding, thank you.“News

The same man shows four different emotions

‘I have not touched Haunted Chocolatier in a long time’: Eric Barone says work on Stardew Valley’s 1.6 console and mobile port is still ongoing

News"To those who are patient and understanding, thank you."

‘I have this problem where once I start, I can’t stop’: Eric Barone discusses how Stardew Valley has affected work on his upcoming game Haunted ChocolatierNewsLet him cook.News

Eric Barone

‘I have this problem where once I start, I can’t stop’: Eric Barone discusses how Stardew Valley has affected work on his upcoming game Haunted ChocolatierNewsLet him cook.

‘I have this problem where once I start, I can’t stop’: Eric Barone discusses how Stardew Valley has affected work on his upcoming game Haunted Chocolatier

NewsLet him cook.

Haunted Chocolatier characters: everyone we know about so farFamiliar facesWe still have a lot to learn about Haunted Chocolatier, but here are a few characters we’ve met so far.Familiar faces

The chocolate factory at the start of the early gamplay for Haunted Chocolatier trailer

Haunted Chocolatier characters: everyone we know about so farFamiliar facesWe still have a lot to learn about Haunted Chocolatier, but here are a few characters we’ve met so far.

Haunted Chocolatier characters: everyone we know about so far

Familiar facesWe still have a lot to learn about Haunted Chocolatier, but here are a few characters we’ve met so far.

Eric Barone says that Stardew Valley 1.6 has to be ‘bug-free and out to all platforms’ before work on Haunted Chocolatier can continueNewsPatience is a virtue.News

The same man shows four different emotions

Eric Barone says that Stardew Valley 1.6 has to be ‘bug-free and out to all platforms’ before work on Haunted Chocolatier can continueNewsPatience is a virtue.

Eric Barone says that Stardew Valley 1.6 has to be ‘bug-free and out to all platforms’ before work on Haunted Chocolatier can continue

NewsPatience is a virtue.

Haunted Chocolatier teasers are still rolling even while development is paused for StardewNewsBut you’ll have to wait for Stardew’s 1.6 patch, at minimum, before you can get your hands on it.News

A figure hunting with a bow in the woods.

Haunted Chocolatier teasers are still rolling even while development is paused for StardewNewsBut you’ll have to wait for Stardew’s 1.6 patch, at minimum, before you can get your hands on it.

Haunted Chocolatier teasers are still rolling even while development is paused for Stardew

NewsBut you’ll have to wait for Stardew’s 1.6 patch, at minimum, before you can get your hands on it.

Stardew Valley creator ignites new fan theories with five simple words: ‘Here’s a Haunted Chocolatier screen’newsEric Barone says he has lots more images from his new game to share, but right now he’s focused on Stardew Valley 1.6.news

Haunted Chocolatier screen - “I was just having the most terrible dream”

Stardew Valley creator ignites new fan theories with five simple words: ‘Here’s a Haunted Chocolatier screen’

newsEric Barone says he has lots more images from his new game to share, but right now he’s focused on Stardew Valley 1.6.

Haunted Chocolatier - A player runs in front of a shop with a sign that says “Chocolate” in a snowy village.

News"If people say it’s cut and paste Stardew Valley, well so be it. This is just what I do."

Stardew Valley creator surprise reveals a boss theme song for his next gameNewsEric Barone sneaks a Chocolatier boss reveal into a chat about working on Stardew Valley’s soundtrack.News

ConcernedApe’s Haunted Chocolatier

Stardew Valley creator surprise reveals a boss theme song for his next gameNewsEric Barone sneaks a Chocolatier boss reveal into a chat about working on Stardew Valley’s soundtrack.

Stardew Valley creator surprise reveals a boss theme song for his next game

NewsEric Barone sneaks a Chocolatier boss reveal into a chat about working on Stardew Valley’s soundtrack.

Stardew Valley creator teases boss fight, music for upcoming project Haunted ChocolatiernewsEric Barone showed off a giant bee and suitably buzzy showdown track.news

Haunted Chocolatier protagonist in giant beehive boss arena squaring off against a hostile but very cute giant bee.

Stardew Valley creator teases boss fight, music for upcoming project Haunted ChocolatiernewsEric Barone showed off a giant bee and suitably buzzy showdown track.

Stardew Valley creator teases boss fight, music for upcoming project Haunted Chocolatier

newsEric Barone showed off a giant bee and suitably buzzy showdown track.

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Is there a Haunted Chocolatier release date?#

Here is the latest Haunted Chocolatier trailer#

Latest about Haunted Chocolatier#

‘It’s been a little sad to see Haunted Chocolatier getting dusty on the shelf, but this is the reality of my situation,’ Eric Barone says: ‘Stardew Valley is a big and popular game’#

‘I have not touched Haunted Chocolatier in a long time’: Eric Barone says work on Stardew Valley’s 1.6 console and mobile port is still ongoing#

‘I have this problem where once I start, I can’t stop’: Eric Barone discusses how Stardew Valley has affected work on his upcoming game Haunted Chocolatier#

Haunted Chocolatier characters: everyone we know about so far#

Eric Barone says that Stardew Valley 1.6 has to be ‘bug-free and out to all platforms’ before work on Haunted Chocolatier can continue#

Haunted Chocolatier teasers are still rolling even while development is paused for Stardew#

Stardew Valley creator ignites new fan theories with five simple words: ‘Here’s a Haunted Chocolatier screen’#

Stardew Valley creator surprise reveals a boss theme song for his next game#

Stardew Valley creator teases boss fight, music for upcoming project Haunted Chocolatier#

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals#