Haunted Chocolatier

ConcernedApe, the solo developer behind the genre-defining farming sim Stardew Valley, is at work on a new project. Haunted Chocolatier swaps crops and livestock for cocoa beans and confections. This time, you run a chocolate shop in a ghost-filled town. The game blends role-playing elements with simulation mechanics, letting you gather ingredients, craft chocolates, and manage your store. But the twist is the spectral community. Ghosts are your customers, and they have requests and stories to share. Exploration plays a big role, too. You can venture into the wild to find rare ingredients, encounter spirits, and uncover the town's secrets. The game is planned for a Microsoft Windows release, though no date has been announced as of June 2026. Like Stardew Valley, it's being developed almost entirely by Eric Barone alone, which suggests a similar long development cycle. Fans of his previous work can expect the same pixel art charm and deep, layered gameplay, but with a darker, more whimsical tone. Haunted Chocolatier promises a cozy yet spooky experience that feels fresh while carrying that unmistakable ConcernedApe signature.[edit]

At its heart, Haunted Chocolatier is about running a chocolate shop in a town where the dead outnumber the living. You gather ingredients by exploring forests, caves, and other haunted locations. Combat is more action-focused than in Stardew Valley, timing and reflexes matter when you face off against hostile spirits. Defeated enemies drop Essences, which you use to upgrade your shop and unlock new recipes. Back in town, you craft chocolates that appeal to specific ghostly customers. Each ghost has unique cravings and a bit of personal history. Fulfilling their orders earns you money and advances their stories. The shop itself can be customized and expanded. A dynamic day-night cycle and weather system affect which ingredients are available and which ghosts show up. The game also includes fishing, foraging, and a crafting system that goes beyond chocolate, you can make furniture, tools, and decorations for your shop and home.[edit]

You inherit a chocolate shop from your grandfather in a town called (as yet unnamed) where the living and the dead coexist. The ghosts aren't malevolent, they're quirky, lonely, or simply forgetful. Each one has unfinished business that keeps them tethered to the mortal world. By making chocolates that match their cravings, you help them resolve those loose ends and move on. The narrative unfolds through interactions with these spectral customers, who reveal fragments of the town's history. Why are so many ghosts here? What happened to the previous chocolatier? And what's the secret behind the rare, magical ingredients hidden in the wild? The tone is cozy but melancholic, blending whimsy with a gentle sadness. The game doesn't rush you, you can take your time building relationships, exploring, and uncovering the mysteries at your own pace.[edit]