Lily
Town ResidentThe first named character shown in the early gameplay trailer. She lives in a neon, plant-filled home and is seen extending the player a mysterious invitation.
Status: Seen in reveal footage
The Cast
Characters & Villagers
ConcernedApe has been deliberately tight-lipped about the full cast — he likes players to discover things in-game. The list below mixes characters explicitly named in the reveal trailer with new faces revealed in the 2024 update screenshots.
Important caveat: ConcernedApe has never published an official character roster. The names below are taken from the 2021 reveal trailer and community identification of NPCs in official screenshots. They are “seen in footage,” not “officially confirmed” — treat them as our best current picture, which will keep filling in as more screenshots drop.
From the 2021 reveal trailer
Burk
Blacksmith / WeaponsmithRuns a forge and shop that sells weapons in the village. Known for sturdy craftsmanship — likely helps the player gear up for wilderness expeditions.
Status: Seen in reveal footage
Maddie
Town ResidentA dark-haired villager who remains something of a mystery. In the trailer she asks the player what they think of life in the big city, offering three possible answers.
Status: Seen in reveal footage
Jett
Research AssistantA spiky-haired character with a knack for research, using Dr. Tungsten’s lab equipment for his own needs — preferably without anyone finding out.
Status: Seen in reveal footage
Dr. Tungsten
Town Doctor / ResearcherA spiky, grey-haired doctor who works in a lab, monitoring screens of unknown experiments. Treats the player after defeats during wilderness runs.
Status: Seen in reveal footage
Nigel
BartenderThe local bartender in what looks like an underground bar. His in-game model is unassuming, but his portrait suggests he has seen a thing or two.
Status: Seen in reveal footage
Ghosts
Shop AssistantsEthereal helpers who assist inside the haunted castle — carrying chocolates overhead and running the shop floor while you befriend the townspeople.
Status: Seen in reveal footage
Newly revealed NPCs (2024–2026)
The December 2024 update introduced two new character portraits that had not appeared in any prior footage:
- A dark-haired woman with a ruffled top — her styling (long wavy black hair, ruffled blouse) has drawn fan comparisons to Hailey from Stardew Valley. No name or role has been confirmed.
- A blonde man in a black jacket — slicked-back blonde hair, sharp jawline, dark jacket. Fans on Reddit have jokingly compared him to Albert Wesker; others see echoes of Stardew’s Alex. No name or role confirmed.
The January 2026 update added three more portraits to the dossier: a hooded bearded man with an eyepatch (shopkeeper?), a blonde woman in a green dress with long braids, and a refined gray-haired gentleman in a bowtie. Their roles in the town are still a mystery.
Relationships, romance & dialogue
Stardew Valley’s marriage and friendship systems are a template, but ConcernedApe has explicitly said Haunted Chocolatier will go deeper on dialogue. A May 2026 update confirmed that dialogue choices will meaningfully shape relationships and town progression — this is not just a “give liked gift, watch heart count climb” loop. Expect branching conversations, consequences, and potentially romance paths that diverge based on how you treat people across multiple seasons of in-game time.
Whether marriage is in the final game is unconfirmed, but the precedent is strong and the emotional sprite work (see the expression sheet above) suggests the team is investing heavily in NPC personality.
The ghost shop assistants
A category unique to Haunted Chocolatier: the ghosts who float around your castle carrying boxes of chocolates and running the shop floor. They are not enemies. They are your staff. ConcernedApe has hinted that their backstories are tied to the castle’s history and that befriending them is part of the core progression — one of the mysteries the game slowly unfolds as you settle into the shop.