Preview – Deltarune: A Surreal and Soulful Indie Epic, Poised for Even Greater Heights
DaRmaZat From the mind of Toby Fox, the creator of the legendary indie hit Undertale, comes its equally quirky and ambitious sibling: Deltarune. This isn’t a sequel, but a parallel story with familiar characters, strange rules, and a whole new layer of mystery. As of June 4, Chapters 1 through 4 are available on PC, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, and PlayStation 4 & 5, with additional chapters planned as free updates. Both developed and published by Fox himself, Deltarune once again continues to push the boundaries of what a retro-style RPG can do—both emotionally and mechanically.
A Trip Where Nothing Makes Sense—and That’s Exactly the Point
Right from the moment you create your character—only to have the game discard it in a meta-joke—Deltarune makes it clear that you’re in for something different. You play as Kris, a seemingly ordinary student who finds themself pulled into the Dark World alongside the towering, chaotic Susie. What begins as a mundane classroom chore turns into a journey through a shadow realm full of symbolism, surreal humor, and emotional depth. Susie’s journey from unhinged menace to someone open to connection is central to the game’s beating heart, and it’s handled with more grace than you might expect from a pixel-art RPG.
Rounding out the trio is Ralsei, a robed mage with an air of mystery and a heart full of kindness. Together, the party—the Lightners—must navigate a bizarre world filled with enemies, allies, and shifting moral lines. The Darkners, including villains like the jester-like Lancer, are never quite what they seem, and the constant push-and-pull between good and evil, especially within Susie herself, keeps the narrative fluid and compelling.
Combat That Speaks For Itself
Deltarune builds on Undertale’s innovative battle system, with turn-based combat that often doubles as narrative. While you can fight your way through, the game encourages alternative routes: persuading, pacifying, or deceiving enemies until they no longer want to fight. Spells like “Pacify” and abilities unique to each party member deepen your tactical choices. Whether you’re using ACT options to wear down an enemy’s resolve or juggling spell points to heal or charm, every battle feels like a puzzle laced with dark comedy.
And yet, it’s not always peaceful. Susie often acts on her own in combat, and if not managed properly, she’ll derail any pacifist strategy, forcing you to adapt. This mechanical tension mirrors her character arc beautifully. That said, characters share common stats like Attack, Defense, and Magic, but it’s their unique personal traits—like Cuteness or Spookiness—that subtly shape gameplay. With gear slots for swords, scarves, axes, and shields, and a spell meter to manage, battles feel satisfyingly complex. Though the world is largely linear, with a few vertical sections and dead-end paths, fast travel points make exploration a breeze—a godsend for those chasing every optional item, boss, or obscure NPC interaction.
Where Retro Pixels and Mesmerizing Music Unite
Where Deltarune also excels, is in its soundscape. Composed entirely by the developer himself, the music is nothing short of transcendent. At times it swells into orchestral euphoria, other moments it tucks you into lullaby-like comfort. The soundtrack doesn’t just underscore the story—it is part of the story. Every area, fight, and cutscene pulses with the perfect handcrafted emotional tones. It’s a moody, often surreal experience that invites not just engagement but interpretation.
Visually, the game sticks to its NES-era aesthetic, with harsh pixel edges, stark contrast, and bursts of color that feel both primitive and poetic. It’s not about realism; it’s about resonance. Deltarune‘s art style, much of it animated expressively by Temmie Chang (who, yes, wears a new hat in-game), carries more emotion than you’d think possible from characters just a few pixels high.
Preliminary Thoughts
For all its goofs and fourth-wall breaks, Deltarune remains a story about choice, consequence, and the blurry line between good and evil. For now, there’s only one ending, or so we’re told—but the game constantly makes you question whether that means anything at all.
With more chapters on the horizon, Deltarune is already shaping up to be one of the most thoughtful, soulful, and artistically daring indie RPGs in years. It challenges genre conventions, toys with your expectations, and manages to be laugh-out-loud funny one moment and quietly devastating the next. It plays with you, and sometimes, it plays you.
Looking ahead, Chapter 5 is expected in 2026. Even now, though, it feels like something special is unfolding. If the momentum continues, Deltarune isn’t just a follow-up to Undertale. It will be a generational tale in its own right—one that must be lived through to grasp its full spectrum.
Additional Information
Release Date: June 4, 2025
Reviewed On: PC. Download code provided by the developer and publisher.
Developer: tobyfox
Publisher: tobyfox
Website: https://www.deltarune.com
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