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 had forgotten about the game! Looking forward to it whenever it’s eventually released.
The game will eventually be released, but in the meanwhile, I’m pretty sure he will release a few more Stardew Valley updates, because he just can’t leave that game alone.
Not that I am angry, if anything, I find it funny; because he is working on this game but every now and then, he’ll come “Hey, so… I know I said Stardew was done but…” and drops another absurdly big update nobody asked for that makes you go “I know I said I finished playing Stardew but… one more run!”.
I wish some AAA games had half the post-launch support Stardew has…
I dislike the mines in Stardew Valley because the combat feels awkward and frustrating with a mouse and keyboard. Is it better with a game controller?
No the combat is just bad (sorry eric), there are some mods that help add depth to it though with more mobility and different moves.
I trust Barone.
I am hungry, RAVENOUS, for high quality life sim, please, feed me CA
I’m terrified that Witchbrook is actually going to suck.
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
I play so many shop sims, everything from normal simulators like Supermarket Sim to fantasy dungeon crawlers like Fell & Sell or Moonlighter to gimmicky ones like The Walking Trade, I have never found one that I enjoyed as much as Recettear. It’s a hard act to follow.
I look forward to it.
Patiently
yeah its fine to take time. Good work often does.
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 😂
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 :)
