Stardew Valley continues to attract millions of players years after its original release, and that appeal is a double-edged sword for Haunted Chocolatier (in the best of ways), per developer Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone. SDV’s appeal extends beyond planting crops and building relationships, as activities like exploring dangerous caves, collecting resources, and fighting monsters give players plenty of reasons to venture away from the farm. Those combat-focused elements have become an important part of the experience for players who want more adventure alongside Stardew Valley‘s farm sim coziness, and it seems Haunted Chocolatier leans into the former.
Barone has spent years developing Stardew Valley into a game that accommodates different playstyles, from players who prefer farming and socializing to those who spend their time fighting enemies in the mines. The latter group may have something new to look forward to with the developer’s next project. Although the two games share some broad similarities, Barone has explained that Haunted Chocolatier is designed to give combat and character progression a much bigger role.
Haunted Chocolatier is for SDV Players Who Crave the Mines
In an interview with GQ, Barone explained that The Haunted Chocolatier is aimed at the same players who enjoy exploring the mines in Stardew Valley. He described the upcoming game as a “town game,” but clarified that it leans much more heavily into action RPG mechanics, with adventuring, finding equipment, and becoming more powerful serving as its main focus. Monsters and boss fights will also play a role, offering a different experience from the farming-focused gameplay that made Stardew Valley popular. As Barone explained,
“It is still what I call a town game, 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.
Find the odd one out before the timer hits zero.
The distinction suggests that The Haunted Chocolatier will build on an aspect of Stardew Valley that already appeals to players who enjoy combat and exploration. Rather than making another farming simulation game in essence, Barone is shifting the focus toward adventuring and progression while retaining the broader town-game concept. The developer has previously shown glimpses of the project, but the GQ interview offers a more direct explanation of the kind of player experience he wants to create.
Barone also discussed the pressure of developing a new game after the enormous success of Stardew Valley. “I’ve been struggling with that,” he admitted, explaining that he wants to recapture the feeling he had while making his original game. At the time, he said, there was no established audience and no precedent to live up to. Now, he is working with the knowledge that millions of people are watching, creating the possibility that a design decision could disappoint some of them.
Despite those challenges, The Haunted Chocolatier allows Barone to explore a different side of the game design that helped make Stardew Valley successful. His comments suggest that the new project is shaped partly by his own preference for exploring the mines, fighting enemies, and steadily becoming stronger. Players who gravitated toward those activities in Stardew Valley may find the upcoming action RPG/town game especially appealing, although its full scope and release plans remain to be seen.
- Developer(s)
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ConcernedApe
- Publisher(s)
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ConcernedApe
- Engine
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MonoGame
