Overview
- In a GQ interview published Monday, Oct. 12, 2026, Eric Barone confirmed Haunted Chocolatier is shifting toward action RPG systems where adventuring, equipment progression, monsters and boss fights drive play.
- Barone framed the game as aimed at the players who liked Stardew Valley’s mine exploration and combat rather than its farming loop, making combat a central progression loop instead of an optional activity.
- The title will still be a “town game” with cozy elements: players will run a chocolate shop in a haunted castle, gather rare ingredients, craft chocolates and sell them to townspeople.
- Development remains a largely solo effort and Barone said he will not give a release date or let others play the game until he decides it is ready, citing a commitment to quality over speed.
- Barone acknowledged the pressure created by Stardew Valley’s success and said he is working to recapture the early creative feeling while building a project he describes as “way bigger than Stardew Valley,” which could lengthen development further.