The story begins in the seemingly mundane town of Hometown. You control Kris, a silent, blue-skinned human who lives with their mother, Toriel, and a mysterious horned neighbor named Ralsei (an anagram of “Asriel”).
The inciting incident is classic Fox: Kris, their abrasive classmate Susie, and the player are pulled into a dark supply closet that transforms into a sprawling Dark World. Here, they meet Ralsei, who reveals a prophetic legend: three heroes (a human, a monster, and a "Prince of Darkness") must seal the fountains of darkness to prevent the world from falling into eternal night.
Unlike Undertale’s single underground setting, Deltarune features multiple "Dark Worlds" (a closet, a computer lab, a library), each with its own biomes, cultures, and inhabitants. These “Darkners” (objects given life) rely on the heroes—the “Lightners”—to restore balance.
| Aspect | Details | |------------|--------------| | Developer | Toby Fox | | Publisher | Toby Fox | | Release Dates | Chapter 1: Oct 31, 2018; Chapter 2: Sept 17, 2021 | | Platforms | PC (Steam, itch.io), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | | Genre | Role-Playing Game (RPG), Bullet Hell | | Model | Chapters 1 & 2 free; future chapters in paid bundle | | Engine | GameMaker Studio 2 |
Where Undertale thrived on a rotating cast, Deltarune locks you into a party of three. Their chemistry is the glue of the game.
Kris (The Body/ The Prisoner): Kris is the silent protagonist trope weaponized as horror. Unlike Frisk (who was a blank slate), Kris has a history. They are a prankster who plays piano, hates hugs from their mom, and is allegedly the "weird kid" in town. The fact that you control them implies a parasitic relationship. When Kris rips the soul out, they walk stiffly, drag a knife, and smile creepily at the camera. The question remains: Is Kris saving themselves from us, or are they plotting something worse?
Susie (The Monster with a Heart of Chromium): Susie starts as a standard bully archetype—loud, aggressive, solves problems with an axe. But Toby Fox subverts this instantly. In the first Dark World encounter, Susie refuses to "Act" (the mercy system). She fights. You can't stop her. However, as the game progresses (specifically her solo adventure with Lancer), Susie discovers friendship. By Chapter 2, she is arguably the moral compass of the group, protecting Ralsei and trying to understand the Light World. She is proof that Deltarune is about the illusion of choice; you cannot change Susie’s heart—she changes it herself. Deltarune
Ralsei (The Prince of Darkness): Ralsei is a walking mystery. He looks exactly like Asriel (Kris's absent brother), but wears black robes. He is excessively kind, teaches the player to pacify enemies, and knows the prophecy intimately. Suspiciously, Ralsei is the only Darkner who does not turn to stone when entering a different Dark World (Lancer does). He also seems to break the fourth wall, understanding "Save" files. Fan theories suggest Ralsei is either a manifestation of Kris's grief or the true secret final boss.
Toby Fox releases annual "progress updates" via newsletters. The current known roadmap:
| Chapter | Status | Notes | |-------------|------------|------------| | Chapter 1 | Released (2018) | Free demo/prologue. | | Chapter 2 | Released (2021) | Free; doubled the length of Ch.1. | | Chapter 3 | Completed (as of 2024) | Fully playable, localized, awaiting polish. | | Chapter 4 | In development | Coding and art in progress. | | Chapter 5 | In early dev | Some music and writing done. | | Chapters 6-7 | Planned | Will conclude the story. |
Note: The full game (Chapters 3-5) will be a paid release. No official release date has been set.
In an era of massive open worlds and live-service grind fests, Deltarune is a pocket-sized existential crisis. It asks a question that Undertale avoided: What if you don't have free will?
It is a game where the "Mercy" button exists, but it feels desperate. It is a game where you want to be friends with everyone, but you can feel the strings of the puppeteer (Toby Fox) pulling your arms. It is hilarious, with jokes about internet trolls and anime conventions; but it is also horrifying, with themes of loneliness, loss of agency, and consent. The story begins in the seemingly mundane town of Hometown
Deltarune is not finished, but it is already a masterpiece of tone. Whether you are here for the banger soundtrack ("BIG SHOT" will live in your head rent-free), the shipping wars (Kris/Susie? Noelle/Berdly?), or the Gaster conspiracy theories, one thing is certain:
Your choices don't matter. But the journey? The journey is terrifyingly beautiful.
You are not in control. Kris is.
Are you ready for the next chapter? In the meantime, go hug a Ralsei plushie. You’ll need the emotional support.
is an episodic role-playing video game created by American indie developer Toby Fox. Set in a parallel universe to Fox’s 2015 hit Undertale, the game expands on its predecessor’s mechanics with a more complex party system and a narrative that deeply explores the relationship between the player and the protagonist . Setting and Premise
The story begins in Hometown, a peaceful suburban community populated primarily by monsters . Players control Kris, a quiet human teenager living with their adoptive mother, Toriel . While attempting to complete a school project with the local bully, Susie, the two fall into the Dark World—a surreal dimension where everyday objects like playing cards or chess pieces manifest as living beings called "Darkners" . Are you ready for the next chapter
There, they meet Ralsei, a Dark World prince who reveals a prophecy: Kris, Susie, and Ralsei are the fabled "Delta Warriors" destined to restore balance by sealing "Dark Fountains" that threaten to cause an apocalypse known as "The Roaring" . Gameplay Mechanics
Combat System: The game uses a turn-based system with bullet-hell elements. Unlike Undertale, players manage a three-member party, allowing for strategic synergies in healing and attacking .
ACTing and Sparing: Players can resolve encounters peacefully by using the "ACT" command to bond with enemies, eventually allowing them to "SPARE" them .
Tension Points (TP): Dodging enemy attacks closely ("grazing") builds TP, a resource required to cast magic spells or perform special team actions .
World Design: The game transitions between the exploration-focused "Light World" (Hometown) and dungeon-like "Dark Worlds" filled with puzzles and enemies . Development and Release History
Fox began conceptualizing Deltarune in 2012, even before Undertale . Because of the game's complexity, Fox transitioned from solo development to leading a small team . Release Date Chapter 1 October 31, 2018 Chapter 2 September 17, 2021 Chapters 3 & 4 June 4, 2025 Paid Release ($24.99) Chapter 5 Scheduled for 2026 Free Update Chapters 6 & 7 Free Update Themes and Narrative Depth
The protagonist, Kris (a human teen), lives in the quiet town of Hometown. One day, they, along with classmate Susie (a bully monster), are pulled into a mysterious "Dark World" within a school closet. There, they meet Ralsei (a kind, reclusive monster prince) and must seal a "Dark Fountain" to save the world. This event repeats in Chapter 2 when Kris and Susie enter an abandoned computer lab's "Dark World."