| DELTARUNE | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Release Date | Gameplay & Story | Pre-Order & DLC | Chapter 1 & 2 Review | Chapter 3 & 4 Review |
DELTARUNE is a story-rich RPG blending turn-based combat and puzzles in a mysterious Dark World. Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying.
DELTARUNE Review Overview
What is DELTARUNE?
DELTARUNE is a narrative-driven RPG that blends classic turn-based combat with inventive gameplay twists and a rich, evolving story. Set in a mysterious world known as the Dark World, players follow a trio of characters as they navigate strange realms, uncover secrets, and face increasingly complex challenges. The game balances whimsical charm with darker themes, delivering an emotional and engaging experience.
DELTARUNE features:
⚫︎ Hybrid Combat
⚫︎ Slow Building Narrative
⚫︎ Expressive Character Designs
⚫︎ Genre Hopping Soundtrack
⚫︎ Mini-games, Puzzles and Hidden Secrets
⚫︎ Choices That Affect Encounters
For more gameplay details, read everything we know about DELTARUNE's gameplay and story.
| Digital Storefronts | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Steam |
 PlayStation |
 Switch |
 Switch 2 |
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| Price | $24.99 (Chapters 1-2 are free-to-play as a demo) |
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DELTARUNE Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
 Deeply Emotional Story Well Written Characters Inventive Mini Games More Scenes In Light World |
Plot Raises More Questions Than It Answers Chapter 3 Feels Meandering |
DELTARUNE Overall Score - 86/100
Chapters 3 & 4 mark a pivotal point for DELTARUNE—a leap forward in tone, structure, and ambition. The storytelling is deeper and more emotionally resonant, the gameplay experiments with surprising success, and the soundtrack remains an all-timer. But the pacing of Chapter 3 can feel meandering, which might disappoint some. Yet despite this, DELTARUNE continues to offer one of the most compelling, singular RPG experiences out there, with a sense of mystery and purpose that’s only grown stronger.
DELTARUNE Story - 8/10
The narrative hits new highs in emotional weight and mystery, introducing characters we care about deeply—and sometimes lose just as quickly. The pacing is mostly strong, but Chapter 3’s lighter tone and scattered structure can make it feel like a detour rather than progression. Kris’s arc remains captivating, even as it resists clarity, and the game’s internal logic holds up even through its stranger twists. It’s a bold story that’s clearly building toward something big, but a few moments still feel like setups waiting for payoffs.
DELTARUNE Gameplay - 8/10
Gameplay in Chapters 3 & 4 takes risks and most of them pay off. The rhythm game sequence, timed dodging, and traversal challenges inject energy, and the unlockable minigames encourage replayability. However, the de-emphasis on combat in Chapter 3 may feel underwhelming for those who enjoyed the earlier battles. Still, the creativity on display is impressive, and Chapter 4’s tougher sections offer a welcome return to challenge.
DELTARUNE Visuals - 8/10
Toby Fox and team have stretched the visual language of the series in bold new directions, especially in Chapter 4’s more surreal, shadowy sequences. While the pixel art remains simple on the surface, the game leverages color, layout, and movement to evoke mood in subtle, memorable ways.
DELTARUNE Audio - 9/10
Toby Fox continues to deliver some of the most emotionally resonant music in modern indie games. Every track fits its moment—whether it’s a bombastic rhythm game showdown or a lonely piano reprise that echoes the main theme. There’s no voice acting, but it’s never missed thanks to the strength of the sound design and musical storytelling. "A Piano That May Not Be Played Well" remains a personal standout for how it wrecks you in under thirty seconds.
DELTARUNE Value for Money - 10/10
At $24.99, DELTARUNE Chapters 3 & 4 offer a shockingly generous amount of new content—equalling the runtime of the first two chapters. Beyond that, there’s unlockable content, hidden rooms, and layers of narrative detail that reward repeat playthroughs. Chapters 5 through 7 are confirmed to release as free DLC, meaning the price you pay now covers the entire game as it unfolds. For fans, it's a no-brainer. For newcomers, it's one of the best RPG deals out there.
DELTARUNE Review: We're In The Deep End Now
It’s here. After years of speculation, conspiracy theories, YouTube video essays that spiraled into hour-long dissertations on pixels—it’s finally here. DELTARUNE Chapters 3 & 4 have dropped, and for the first time in what feels like a lifetime, the mystery has actually moved forward.
…Somewhat.
See, questions have been answered. Sort of. In their place? Even more questions. It’s like drinking from a magical fountain and realizing it just made you thirstier. But still—we’ve finally gotten a glimpse of the bigger picture. And whether you’re a returning fan who’s been craving content for the past four years, or someone who just wandered in wondering why everyone keeps talking about skeletons and dogs, let’s back up for a second.
At its core, DELTARUNE is a turn-based RPG by indie dev Toby Fox—yes, the Undertale creator. You play as Kris, a seemingly average kid who stumbles into a hidden world beneath their town—a place shaped by dreams, fears, fountains, and something else you can’t quite name. You’re joined by two companions, Susie and Ralsei, as you navigate a realm called the Dark World, solving puzzles, dodging bullets (literally), and choosing whether to fight or show mercy in battles.
That’s the short version. Now, when we reviewed Chapters 1 & 2, we pointed out how each chapter had its own flavor—like a themed diorama, with unique settings, side characters, and minibosses that made each slice of the Dark World feel distinct. You were never quite sure what you’d run into next, but it always felt handcrafted. But now, with Chapters 3 & 4? Everything’s shifted. The formula has changed.
Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect going into Chapter 3. I thought it would follow the same blueprint: a new Dark World, some wacky supporting cast, a boss battle with philosophical implications, rinse and repeat. But it didn’t. It completely swerved, and to my surprise—I was pleased. I was hooked.
The shift is subtle at first, but powerful: in the first two chapters, the characters move the story forward. We explore them. Their relationships, their fears, their growth. But in these new chapters, it’s the story that moves the characters forward. The narrative has taken the wheel. The mystery at the heart of DELTARUNE isn’t just flavor anymore—it’s driving the pace, warping the world around us, and forcing the trio to confront more than just quirky side bosses. And the result? Chapters 3 & 4 feel different. Not in a jarring way but in that "you’re halfway through the book and just realized everything has been foreshadowed since page one" kind of way. These aren’t side stories anymore. The lore is bleeding through the seams. The threads are beginning to tighten, twist, and tangle.
The New Worlds
Let’s talk about the new Dark Worlds. In Chapters 1 and 2, the Dark Worlds felt like whimsical detours—distinct, self-contained slices of some larger mystery we hadn’t quite earned access to yet. Card Castle and Queen’s Cyber City were creative, yes, but they almost felt like isolated experiments. Like Toby was showing us the possibilities of the world rather than the world itself.
But in Chapters 3 and 4, things start to merge. The worlds created by these fountains don’t feel like side stories anymore. They feel like real pieces of something vast and interconnected. There’s a weight now—an urgency—that was only hinted at before.
Each chapter presents a new Dark World that’s visually and mechanically unique, but now there’s a thread tying it all together. Chapter 3, for instance, doesn’t follow the expected "go here, meet new character, defeat miniboss" formula. Instead, it plays more like a strange interlude—an intentional shift in rhythm. The pacing slows, the tension simmers just below the surface, and the rules of engagement change. You’re not just solving puzzles or fighting—you’re playing along with someone else’s game.
That sense of control—or rather, lack of control—lingers throughout. It’s not just that the story is moving the characters along now. It’s that we, the player, aren’t the only ones steering anymore.
Chapter 4 takes this even further. The world it presents is darker—not just thematically, but in its tone and structure. It’s more dangerous. More direct. Where Chapter 3 is a slow-burn, Chapter 4 is a pressure cooker. The environment is hostile in ways we haven’t seen before. It’s not a whimsical playground—it’s a battlefield. And the characters react to that. Susie starts to become frustrated, questioning things. Ralsei tightens his grip on his secrets. Kris… well, we all know something’s going on with Kris. And this chapter doesn’t exactly ease those suspicions.
It really feels like we’re approaching something bigger. Not just narratively, but structurally. The more we play, the more it seems like these worlds are trying to tell us something, if we can just figure out how to listen. Every new revelation (and there are plenty) only tightens the knot of questions: What are the Dark Worlds and Darkners really? What’s the real end to the prophecy? What’s inside the bunker? And maybe most importantly: Why does Kris keep ripping out their soul?
By the end of Chapter 4, it doesn’t feel like we’re wandering anymore. We’re being led somewhere. And even if we’re not sure where that is yet, we just know we’re getting close.
The Gameplay Shift
If Chapters 3 and 4 mark a turning point in DELTARUNE’s story, then they mark a pivot in its gameplay. The core combat loop—fight vs. act, spare vs. violence—is still here. But it feels like it’s stepping out of the spotlight. Especially in Chapter 3, where actual combat is minimal. Instead, what we get are games within the game, a surprise remix of mechanics that put everything we’ve learned so far to the test… just not in the way we expected.
Chapter 3 plays like a festival of minigames, with each new round introducing its own rules and genre shifts. There’s a trivia quiz sequence, a console game, a PHYSICAL CHALLENGE (it’s literally called that), and then there’s the standout: the rhythm game. It’s a dream come true for anyone who grew up on Piano Tiles, Guitar Hero, or any of those fast-paced, timing-based games. The screen fills with moving prompts, colors pulse with the beat, and if you’re quick enough, it’s pure dopamine. There’s even a moment where Ralsei sings during the sequence. It's surprisingly sweet, but the pace is so intense you don’t really get to appreciate it. It’s like background poetry in a boss fight—beautiful, fleeting, and absolutely not the focus since you're too busy trying not to mess up.
What’s even more interesting is how these minigames aren’t just one-offs. Depending on your progression, some of them can be replayed later through a dedicated room, almost like a minigame arcade tucked away from the main story. It’s a smart move that adds replayability, and it feels rewarding without being grindy. You’re not just rehashing content, you’re mastering it.
Then comes Chapter 4, which rips the training wheels off. Where Chapter 3 pulled back on combat, Chapter 4 dives in face first. Bosses and Mini-Bosses are relentless. The world itself feels hostile. There are sections where visibility is limited, darkness and environmental tricks obscure your path. There’s even a moment that forces you to navigate blindly, relying on sound cues rather than visuals. You feel the world pressing in, it’s disorienting in the best way, not frustrating, but immersive.
Climbing is also introduced—something small, but effective. It’s not just a traversal mechanic, it’s a tension multiplier. It makes you vulnerable, and when you’re trying to escape something, or chase something, that matters.
What’s impressive is how these changes never feel out of place. DELTARUNE is still DELTARUNE. But it’s evolving—mechanically, structurally, emotionally. These chapters don’t just add gameplay, they refocus it, using mechanics to match tone. You’re not just playing through a story anymore. You’re being played with.
Character Threads and Emotional Beats
One of the things Deltarune has always done well is characters, and Chapters 3 & 4 are no exception. We meet some new faces this time around—characters who are not just here to fill space but actually pull at your heartstrings. Some of them quickly become people you care about, others spark curiosity and questions, and yes, a few leave you with a sense of loss that hits harder than you’d expect from a pixel game.
Meanwhile, the core trio—Kris, Susie, and Ralsei—aren’t just bouncing off each other like before. Their bond feels deeper now, more complex. You can tell they’ve been through more together, and it shows. But it’s not all sunshine and friendship bracelets. There are cracks forming, little moments that suggest tension beneath the surface. By the time Chapter 4 wraps up, the dynamics between them have shifted in a way that feels meaningful, real, and yes—dramatic.
You get the sense that this isn’t just another adventure anymore. It’s personal.
Visual Evolution
Let’s talk about Chapter 4’s visuals, because… wow. I didn’t think Deltarune would change this much, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. For the most part, Chapters 1 through 3 keep things consistent. Clean pixel art, quirky animations, expressive faces—everything has that handmade feel, with enough weirdness to make it feel unique but still very readable. But Chapter 4 goes off-script a little. In a good way.
There’s one scene—when a fountain opens—that completely caught me off guard. We’re used to fountains looking like this big white noise explosion, very Deltarune-core. But this time? It’s something else entirely. The style shifts, the fountain has a soft color, the way it animates is completely different. It almost feels like it’s from another game. But it works. Somehow it still feels like Deltarune, even if it looks nothing like it.
And that’s true for a lot of Chapter 4. Some parts feel almost like you’re walking through a dream—or a nightmare—that’s slightly out of focus. The lighting gets moody, shadows stretch longer, and you start to question what’s safe and what isn’t. At one point, you’re moving through areas where your usual sense of direction is thrown off because you can’t rely on sight alone. It’s less about scares and more about that creeping unease, like you’re stepping carefully on thin ice, hoping not to crack through.
What’s interesting is that even though the visuals are evolving, they’re not breaking anything. It’s like the game is experimenting with new looks, new moods, but it never loses its identity. You can still feel the Deltarune-ness underneath it all. Just with a few new coats of paint.
Sound and Style
If there’s one thing Deltarune never misses, it’s its soundtrack—and Chapters 3 & 4 continue that tradition with flying colors. The music isn’t just background noise; it’s woven deeply into the gameplay and story, changing tone and texture to match what’s happening on screen. Every new mechanic and emotional beat gets its own musical identity, making the experience feel alive and fresh.
One standout moment that truly clutched my heart was the "piano that may not be played well" scene—when Kris sits at the piano play. The piece is a somber reprise of the "Beginning" OST, but this time it feels rawer, more vulnerable. The scene itself feels awkward, imperfect, and yet deeply intimate—like hearing Kris’s inner turmoil through the ivory keys. That moment hit me in a way few game scenes do, leaving an emotional echo that lingered long after the keys fell silent.
Each track in these chapters feels like a carefully crafted puzzle piece, fitting seamlessly into the overall tapestry of Deltarune. Whether it’s upbeat, eerie, or downright melancholy, the soundtrack elevates every scene and gameplay twist, making these chapters a true sensory journey.
From Theories to Truths (And Back)
After years of speculation, endless theories, and digging through every frame for clues, Chapters 3 & 4 finally give us something concrete. We get answers—some surprising, some expected—but more importantly, the game pulls back the curtain just enough to show there’s a much bigger story unfolding. It’s like finally spotting the outline of a vast puzzle, even if most of the pieces remain hidden.
That feeling—of clarity mixed with deeper mystery—is exactly what makes Deltarune so special. Even when we’re handed answers, the game still keeps us asking more. It’s this delicate balance of revelation and restraint that fuels the ongoing fascination, the midnight conversations, the fan theories, and the eager countdowns for the next chapter.
Looking ahead to Chapter 5 and beyond, these new entries don’t just expand the story, they reshape it. They challenge what we thought we knew about the world and the characters, shifting the tone from charming curiosity to something heavier, more complex, and deeply emotional. It’s a progression that both honors what came before and redefines the experience.
If Chapters 1 & 2 felt like introductions, then Chapters 3 & 4 are the first steps into the heart of that mystery. They deepen the emotional stakes, evolve the gameplay, and give us a reason to lean in closer. A word to the wise: while some may see Chapter 3 as light or meandering, I urge you to savor it. It may be the last time you’ll laugh so freely with these characters—before things get heavier, darker, and more uncertain. For fans and newcomers alike, this is Deltarune growing up, and it’s nothing short of captivating.
Is DELTARUNE Worth It?
Filled With the Power of Value
With Chapters 3 & 4 finally out in the world, DELTARUNE has entered a new phase—one where its mysteries deepen, its world darkens, and its ambitions feel more tangible than ever. And for the $24.99 asking price, it’s delivering more than just content—it’s delivering commitment.
This isn’t just a game you play. It’s a story you start to live in, theorize about, dream on. That price gets you four meaty chapters, each evolving the formula in strange and delightful ways. You get genre-defying gameplay, heartbreakingly earnest character writing, and music that will lodge itself in your soul like shrapnel made of piano keys.
What’s most impressive, though, is how much Deltarune trusts you to stay with it. It doesn’t rush to explain. It doesn’t shout for attention. It’s confident you’ll care, because it’s quietly earned your care across every beat, every note, every weird little mini-game. Is it worth $24.99? Unequivocally. For what’s already here, and for what’s still to come. DELTARUNE isn’t just worth the money—it’s worth the wait, the heartbreak, and the obsessive replays.
| Digital Storefronts | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam |
PlayStation |
Switch |
Switch 2 |
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| Price | $24.99 (Chapters 1-2 are free-to-play as a demo) |
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DELTARUNE FAQ
Warning: FAQ Contains Spoilers
Who Is The Roaring Knight In DELTARUNE?
That’s still one of the big mysteries—but we can now confidently say it isn’t Kris. While earlier theories speculated Kris might be the Knight (especially after Chapter 2’s ending), Chapters 3 & 4 show Kris and the Roaring Knight on screen together. That rules out them being the same person. However, it’s still unclear whether Kris might be helping the Knight or is influenced by the Knight’s actions.
What Exactly Are The Darkners?
We get an explanation from Ralsei, that Darkners are normal objects in the Light World that gains sentience once a Dark World is formed. Each Dark World is born from a different fountain, and the Darkners inside are shaped by that environment and the memories of the creator of that fountain.
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| Title | DELTARUNE |
|---|---|
| Release Date | Chapter 1 October 1, 2018 (Windows) February 28, 2019 (PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch) Chapter 2 September 17, 2021 (Windows) September 23, 2021 (PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch) Chapters 3/4 June 5, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2) |
| Developer | Toby Fox |
| Publisher | Toby Fox |
| Supported Platforms | PC (Steam), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch, Switch 2 |
| Genre | Adventure, Puzzle, Indie |
| Number of Players | 1 |
| ESRB Rating | T |
| Official Website | DELTARUNE Website |
