Haunted Chocolatier 'More of an Action RPG' Compared to Stardew Valley, ConcernedApe Says

Eric Barone, aka ConcernedApe, has briefly discussed the difference between his all-conquering indie game Stardew Valley and his hotly anticipated follow-up, Haunted Chocolatier. 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. 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 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.”

Barone explained his meticulous approach to development, stating he is “being very thoughtful about every aspect of the game,” particularly focusing on making elements like the recipe book perfect. He emphasized that UI design must be seamless and intuitive, requiring him to iterate repeatedly until it delights the player.

He also addressed why he hasn't shown too much of the game yet: “Partly, it feels like I’m serving a half-baked bread. I would rather serve a fully baked bread,” he said. Regarding his workflow, Barone noted that expanding his team has allowed him to dedicate more time to Haunted Chocolatier while still managing updates for Stardew Valley.