Key Takeaways
- Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone confirmed on June 25, 2026 that Haunted Chocolatier remains in active development, marking the first public update in months.
- Barone said he has repeatedly refined Haunted Chocolatier’s recipe book UI to minimize clicks, obsessing over every detail.
- Haunted Chocolatier has been confirmed to be larger in scope than Stardew Valley, making each system significantly more demanding to finalise
- No release window was given, Barone’s tone throughout the post is that the game will ship when it is ready and not a moment before
Five years after announcing Haunted Chocolatier, Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone has shared a new development update. While Stardew Valley received multiple major updates during that time, Haunted Chocolatier remained largely quiet.
In a blog post titled “Still Here, Still Grinding,” Barone confirmed the game is still in active development and explained that, as a solo developer, he is carefully refining features players will use most.
“I know it’s taking a long time,” he wrote, adding that those systems need to be “perfect,” seamless, clear, intuitive, satisfying, and aesthetic. The message carries weight because of Barone’s track record with Stardew Valley.
His patient, solo development approach is one Mina the Hollower recently showed can still produce one of the year’s best-reviewed games.
The Chocolate Recipe Book Has Been Rebuilt, Again
As PC gamer notes, Barone highlighted Haunted Chocolatier’s recipe book, a core crafting system players will use throughout this game.
He said he has refined it repeatedly to reduce clicks and make it “perfect.” “There needs to be just the right amount of data presented to the player,” he wrote, adding that information should be grouped into “compelling, intuitive, and easy to read” sections rather than cluttered layouts.
The comments reflect the same player-first UI philosophy behind Stardew Valley, where clean menus often go unnoticed because they work so well. That focus on intuitive design continues to set a high standard for indie titles, though these games are having a hard time.
Bigger Than Stardew, No Rush, No Date
Barone has previously said Haunted Chocolatier will be larger than Stardew Valley, with more characters, systems, and a bigger world.
“It’s a big game, so there are many things for me to fuss over,” he wrote. “But, this is what it will take to make a game I’m satisfied with.”
He ended the update with a simple goal: “I want to delight the player.” No release window or new gameplay was shared, only a progress update.
The approach mirrors other highly praised 2026 games, including Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, where developers prioritized polish over speed. For now, Haunted Chocolatier remains in that stage of development.
Source: Eric Barone gives players a small update on Haunted Chocolatier’s progress
