Stardew Valley creator ConcernedApe's next game will be Haunted Chocolatier, a brand new sim that bears a strong resemblance to his previous work. It's so similar, in fact, that it looks like it could even be a sequel, though ConcernedApe isn't ready to confirm that one way or the other.
In a brief reveal on Youtube, ConcernedApe showed off Haunted Chocolatier's beautiful new world. Much like Stardew Valley, it will be a top-down pixel-based sim, and it looks to have much the same flavor as ConcernedApe's previous work.
Some of the initial characters include Maddie, who asks what it's like to live in the big city, as well Jett and Nigel. Presumably you will be able to date quite a few of them.
ConcernedApe, the pseudonym for solo indie developer Eric Barone, has found considerable success with Stardew Valley, which has grown into one of the most popular indie games of the past decade. Earlier this year, Barone released a massive expansion for Stardew Valley, after which he said he would be shifting his attention to Haunted Chocolatier.
First Haunted Chocolatier details revealed
Barone wrote in a blog following the announcement, "Why chocolate? I’m not sure. It just kind of came to me. I think sometimes the best ideas just appear in a flash, instead of being cleverly thought out. That’s how I like to work, anyway. What’s important is the execution. And after 10 years of practice, I feel more confident than ever in being able to bring an idea to life."
He added, "Regardless, I think a lot of people like chocolate."
He also outlined some of the ways that it will differ from Stardew Valley. In his previous game, the focus was more "humble," but in the new game he wants to explore more "fantastical possibilities." These possibilities evidently include "magical haunted ghost chocolate."
"Chocolate represents that which is delightful. The haunted castle represents the allure of the unknown. The ghosts represent the imprint of the past. All of these things are important," Barone wrote. "However, don’t think for a moment that, because this game features ghosts in a haunted castle, it is an evil or negative game. On the contrary, I intend for this game to be positive, uplifting and life-affirming. However, if Stardew Valley mostly channeled the energy of the sun, Haunted Chocolatier channels the energy of the moon. Both are vital. More important than all that, I just want to make a fun game."
Barone admitted that he's not exactly sure how to describe the new effort. At its core, he says, it will involve gathering ingredients, making chocolate, and running a chocolate shop. In short, it will be a lot like Stardew Valley, only you will be a merchant instead of a farmer. Barone said he hopes the new setting will give him a chance to throw off the constraints of tradition and be "unleashed," which should be good news for fans.
In the FAQ, Barone described Haunted Chocolatier as "more of an action RPG" than his previous effort. He added that he has no plans to add multiplayer at present.
"I’ve been mostly working on the “meat and potatoes” of the game so far. But what really brings a game to life is the spice, the sauce. And I haven’t really gotten to the sauce yet. That’s coming," Barone wrote.
Barone said there is still a "ton of content" that needs to be made and that "it will be a while" before this game is done. In the meantime, we have no release date yet for Haunted Chocolatier, and PC is the only confirmed platform.
Kat Bailey is a Senior News Editor at IGN