Haunted Chocolatier: Everything we know about the Stardew Valley successor

Haunted Chocolatier is the next game from the creator of Stardew Valley, which is fairly obvious from a quick glance at the screenshots and first gameplay trailer we've seen. But even though there's a solid resemblance between the well-loved farm sim and ConcernedApe's next community sim, there's a lot that is going to separate Haunted Chocolatier, such as straying from farmland for a chocolate shop and featuring some pretty intense looking boss battles. 

Although Haunted Chocolatier was originally revealed in 2021, sending fans of Stardew Valley into a frenzy, three years later information about the game is still pretty scarce. We've had a glimpse at what to expect through a short but sweet trailer introducing the setting, premise, a few characters, various screenshots, and a boss battle theme song. 

Here's the crucial information to know about Haunted Chocolatier, including the latest trailer and any information we have on its release date. 

• Release date: There is no release date, but ConcernedApe shared that the game "wouldn't be ready for a while" in 2021.  
• Developer: ConcernedApe, the creator of Stardew Valley. 
• Is it co-op?: Haunted Chocolatier will be singleplayer only, unlike Stardew Valley.  

Is there a Haunted Chocolatier release date? 

Unfortunately, we don't have an expected release date or even an expected release year for Haunted Chocolatier yet. ConcernedApe announced in April 2023 that he was taking a break from Haunted Chocolatier to focus on rolling out the 1.6 update for Stardew Valley which has since been released—so hopefully development on Chocolatier has resumed. 

Alongside the release of an early gameplay trailer, Barone shared that "While the video I put together may look like the game is at an advanced stage of development, there is still a ton of stuff to do." We haven't received an in-game look since 2021, but the screenshots we have seen since then suggest that development is going well. 

Here is the latest Haunted Chocolatier trailer 

The first trailer for Haunted Chocolatier looks incredibly similar to Stardew Valley in terms of environment and character design, but instead of tending to a farm you're decorating a shop and crafting sugary treats instead of animal products. The trailer also shows off a pretty detailed look at combat with new gear like shields and bows, and how that plays into collecting resources to make your chocolate. We're also seen some interactions with a few of the townsfolk, who ConcernedApe has confirmed you'll be able to pursue romance with.

Since the gameplay trailer, our only updates have come from the occasional surprise reveal of new Haunted Chocolatier screenshots shared by ConcernedApe. Once again, these are pretty limited in what they reveal about the game, but they have still fuelled the anticipation toward the eventual release. Hopefully we continue to be drip-fed more teasers now development is back on track.