Haunted Chocolatier finally gave fans something new, and it was worth the wait.
Before August 2025, Haunted Chocolatier was known as Eric Barone’s next major game after Stardew Valley.
First announced in October 2021, it only received occasional screenshots and brief comments. Barone described it as an action RPG-simulation about running a haunted chocolate shop. Compared to Stardew, it promised more combat, a snowier setting, and supernatural themes. Progress was steady but slow.
After briefly returning to Stardew’s 1.6 update, Barone confirmed Haunted Chocolatier remained deep in development, with a playable “vertical slice” finished but years of work still ahead. No release date was shared.
ConcernedApe Confirmed There Will be Fishing in Haunted Chocolatier
On Twitter, Barone surprised players with a new screenshot. It revealed a colossal tree house, trunks breaking through the floors. A river stretched nearby, with pines crowding the horizon.
The haunting scenery hinted at grander scale and verticality than Stardew Valley ever attempted.
Fans got more than visuals. Barone confirmed fishing would be part of Haunted Chocolatier.
Stardew’s fishing system divided players, but it also made fortunes. Bringing it back felt like a bold choice. He reassured fans by thanking them for their patience and reiterating the core idea. The game was, in his words, about moving to a snowy town, living in a haunted castle, and running a chocolate shop.
It’s now four years since Haunted Chocolatier’s reveal. There’s still no release date. But each glimpse, no matter how small, suggests Barone is quietly crafting another phenomenon: one chocolate bar, one ghost, and now one fishing rod at a time.
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