Haunted Chocolatier: ConcernedApe's Next Game Gets Release Window

Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone, the solo developer behind the mega-hit Stardew Valley, has finally shared substantial details about his next project. Haunted Chocolatier is targeting a late 2025 release, and new footage reveals a game that's more action-focused than its farming predecessor.

Not Just Another Farm

While Stardew Valley was about escaping corporate life to find peace in farming, Haunted Chocolatier is about action and ambition. You run a chocolate shop in a haunted castle, but most of your time is spent in the wilderness gathering rare ingredients through combat.

The combat looks significantly more involved than Stardew's mine battles. Multiple weapon types, dodging, and special abilities suggest a game that takes its action RPG elements seriously.

The Chocolate Shop

Your shop is staffed by ghosts—each with unique personalities and abilities. Managing these spectral employees while crafting increasingly complex chocolates forms the game's economic loop:

• Ingredient gathering: Explore dangerous areas for rare components
• Recipe crafting: Combine ingredients into chocolate creations
• Shop management: Stock shelves, hire ghosts, upgrade your castle
• Customer satisfaction: Build relationships with the town's residents

Same Solo Dev Magic

ConcernedApe is once again developing everything himself—code, art, music, writing. This approach gave Stardew Valley its singular vision, and early footage suggests Haunted Chocolatier has the same cohesive charm.

The Verdict

After Stardew Valley became one of the best-selling indie games of all time, expectations for Haunted Chocolatier are astronomical. The shift toward action and the unique chocolate shop concept suggest ConcernedApe isn't content to repeat himself. This is our most anticipated indie of 2025.