Contents
- Chapter 1 – The Beginning: Setting the Foundation
- Chapter 2 – A Cyber’s World: Digital Adventures
- Chapter 3 – Late Night: Game Show Spectacle
- Chapter 4 – Prophecy: Darkness and Revelation
- Chapter 5 – Future Content: The Festival Approaches
- Chapter 6 – Planned Content: Approaching the Climax
- Chapter 7 – The Finale: Resolution and Destiny
- Understanding Deltarune’s Seven-Chapter Structure
- Release Timeline and Development Updates
Deltarune represents one of the most ambitious indie gaming projects of the decade, continuing the creative legacy of Toby Fox’s acclaimed Undertale. This comprehensive episodic RPG follows the adventures of Kris, a human teenager, alongside their unlikely companions Susie and Ralsei as they navigate between the Light World and various Dark Worlds. The game’s chapter-based structure allows for deep storytelling and character development across seven planned installments, with Deltarune All Chapters ultimately forming a complete narrative that explores themes of friendship, destiny, and the power of choice. Currently, players can experience chapters 1 through 4, with the remaining three chapters scheduled for future release, making this the perfect time to dive into the rich world that bridges familiar Undertale elements with entirely new gameplay mechanics and storytelling approaches. Each chapter in Deltarune All Chapters offers unique environments, memorable boss battles, and intricate puzzles that contribute to an overarching prophecy that will determine the fate of both Light and Dark Worlds.
Chapter 1 – The Beginning: Setting the Foundation
Chapter 1 – The Beginning serves as the perfect introduction to the Deltarune universe, originally released for free on October 31, 2018. This inaugural chapter introduces players to Kris, a human teenager living with their adoptive monster family consisting of Toriel (mother) and divorced father Asgore. The adventure begins when Kris and their delinquent classmate Susie are sent to retrieve supplies from a school closet, only to be pulled into the mysterious Dark World.
In the Dark World, they encounter Ralsei, a friendly darkner prince who reveals that the three are prophesied heroes destined to seal Dark Fountains that threaten the balance between worlds. The chapter features classic RPG elements including exploration of areas like the Cliffs, Field, Forest, and Castle, culminating in a confrontation with the tyrannical King. Players learn the fundamental mechanics of Deltarune’s unique battle system, which combines turn-based combat with bullet-hell dodging segments.
The chapter concludes with a mysterious ending where Kris appears to rip out their soul – representing the player’s control – and draws a knife with glowing red eyes, hinting at deeper mysteries to come. This first chapter establishes the core themes of friendship, choice, and the blurred lines between player agency and character autonomy that define the entire Deltarune experience.
Chapter 2 – A Cyber’s World: Digital Adventures
Chapter 2 – A Cyber’s World was released as a free update on September 17, 2021, significantly expanding the Deltarune universe. This chapter takes Kris and Susie to the library, where they discover another Dark World hidden within the computer lab. The cybernetic-themed Dark World introduces players to Queen, a boisterous ruler who has captured their classmate Noelle Holiday.
The chapter features distinct areas including Castle Town, Cyber Field, Trash Zone, Cyber City, and the Mansion, each offering unique puzzles and enemy encounters. Players must navigate through digital landscapes filled with Werewires, Tasques, and Virovirokuns, learning to recruit enemies rather than simply defeating them. The introduction of Noelle as a temporary party member adds new strategic elements to combat, particularly in the controversial “Snowgrave” alternate route.
Chapter 2 significantly develops the relationship between Kris, Susie, and Ralsei while introducing complex themes about control and manipulation. The chapter culminates in an elaborate battle against Queen using a mecha suit, followed by the sealing of another Dark Fountain. Like Chapter 1, it ends with Kris creating a new Dark Fountain, suggesting they may not be entirely in control of their actions.
Chapter 3 – Late Night: Game Show Spectacle
Chapter 3 – Late Night represents a dramatic shift in Deltarune’s formula, centering around Ant Tenna’s TV Time game show. Released as part of the paid Chapters 3-4 bundle on June 5, 2025, this chapter introduces a completely different Dark World aesthetic focused on television and entertainment.
The chapter structure revolves around participating in various rounds of a game show, including Round One, Round Two, and a Bonus Round, with intermissions in the Green Room between segments. Players must achieve high scores and S-ranks to access secret content and unlock the path to the chapter’s secret boss. The game show format allows for creative puzzle design and unique battle mechanics that differ significantly from previous chapters.
Chapter 3 introduces new gameplay elements focused on performance and scoring, requiring players to master specific challenges to progress. The chapter features memorable characters like Mr. Ant Tenna and explores themes of media manipulation and performance anxiety. Players who successfully navigate the scoring requirements can access the Shadow Mantle and confront the chapter’s challenging secret boss.
Chapter 4 – Prophecy: Darkness and Revelation
Chapter 4 – Prophecy serves as one of Deltarune’s most lore-heavy and dramatic chapters, exploring deep mythology through the Dark Sanctuary. This chapter takes place primarily in a church-themed Dark World, featuring multiple visits to the Dark Sanctuary interspersed with returns to the Light World. It was released simultaneously with Chapter 3 on June 5, 2025.
The chapter is structured around several key sections: Hometown Day, Dark Sanctuary One, Back to Church, Dark Sanctuary Two, Dark Sanctuary Three, and Hometown Night. Players encounter the mysterious “Old Man” character, heavily implied to be based on the late Gerson from Undertale, who provides crucial information about the overarching prophecy that governs the Deltarune universe.
This chapter reveals significant plot details about the prophecy that drives the narrative, including references to future events in subsequent chapters. The chapter features some of the most detailed boss fights and puzzles in the series, particularly the secret boss battle involving Susie and the Old Man. Chapter 4 ends with major revelations about character relationships and sets the stage for the festival that will occur in Chapter 5.
Chapter 5 – Future Content: The Festival Approaches
Chapter 5 is currently in active development and scheduled for release as a free update in 2026. Based on foreshadowing from previous chapters and developer hints, this chapter will likely center around the long-anticipated festival that has been mentioned since Chapter 2. The festival promises to transform the entire town into a carnival-like celebration.
Predictions suggest that Chapter 5 will feature Asgore in a prominent antagonistic role, possibly driven by jealousy over Toriel’s relationship with Sans. The prophecy references from Chapter 4 indicate this chapter will involve “The Field of Pink and Gold” where “the vast garden is charred into an inferno of jealousy”. This suggests significant character development for Asgore and potential resolution of family conflicts that have been building throughout the series.
Chapter 5 represents a crucial turning point in the Deltarune narrative, as it will be the penultimate “normal” chapter before the series moves toward its climactic conclusion. The festival setting may break from the usual Dark World structure, potentially featuring multiple smaller Dark Worlds or unique gameplay mechanics.
Chapter 6 – Planned Content: Approaching the Climax
Chapter 6 remains in early development with no confirmed release date, though it will be included as part of the free updates for existing Deltarune owners. Based on narrative structure analysis, this chapter will likely coincide with Asriel’s return from college, creating significant emotional stakes for Kris and their family.
Speculation suggests that Chapter 6 may feature the orange “bravery” soul theme, following the pattern established in previous chapters that seems to reference Undertale’s soul colors. The chapter will likely begin building toward “The Roaring,” the catastrophic event that threatens to destroy both the Light and Dark Worlds if too many Dark Fountains remain open.
This chapter may represent the beginning of the series’ climactic arc, potentially featuring multiple Dark Worlds or the merging of Light and Dark World elements. The narrative setup suggests that Chapter 6 will focus on family reconciliation and the growing threat that has been building throughout the previous chapters.
Chapter 7 – The Finale: Resolution and Destiny
Chapter 7 will serve as Deltarune’s conclusion, bringing all narrative threads to their resolution. While specific details remain unknown, Toby Fox has confirmed that the ending was predetermined from the beginning and will not change based on player choices throughout the series. This chapter will likely feature the teal “patience” soul theme and resolve the central conflict of The Roaring.
Based on development insights, Chapter 7 will end in a Dark World rather than the Light World, suggesting that at least one Dark World will survive the events of the series. This may indicate that Castle Town, Ralsei’s domain, will serve as the final setting, or that The Roaring cannot be entirely prevented.
The chapter will likely address the identity and motivations of the mysterious Knight who has been creating Dark Fountains throughout the series. It will also resolve Kris’s struggle for autonomy against the player’s control, the fate of the prophecy, and the ultimate destiny of all characters players have encountered throughout their journey.
Understanding Deltarune’s Seven-Chapter Structure
Deltarune’s planned seven-chapter structure represents a carefully crafted narrative arc that Toby Fox outlined from the beginning of development. Unlike many episodic games, each chapter builds meaningfully on previous installments while offering complete story segments that can be enjoyed individually. The chapter-based release allows for extensive development time and community engagement between releases.
The game’s structure follows a unique development model where Chapters 1 and 2 were released for free, Chapters 3 and 4 form a paid bundle priced at $24.99, and Chapters 5, 6, and 7 will be added as free updates for existing owners. This approach ensures that players who invest in the series will receive the complete story without additional purchases.
While some unused data references Chapters 0, 8, 9, and 10, these appear to be development placeholders rather than actual planned content. The definitive seven-chapter structure has been consistently confirmed by Toby Fox and represents the complete vision for Deltarune’s narrative journey from beginning to end.
Release Timeline and Development Updates
The Deltarune release timeline showcases the episodic nature and evolving development strategy:
- October 31, 2018: Chapter 1 released for free
- September 17, 2021: Chapter 2 released for free
- June 5, 2025: Chapters 3 and 4 released as paid bundle ($24.99)
- 2026: Chapter 5 scheduled for release as free update
- After 2026: Chapters 6 and 7 planned for future release
Toby Fox has been transparent about development challenges, noting that creating Deltarune has been significantly more complex than Undertale due to “the complexity of new systems, plotlines, and graphics”. The developer has also mentioned working on Chapter 5 daily as the main focus following the completion of Chapters 3 and 4.
Deltarune All Chapters offers players an unprecedented episodic RPG experience that combines nostalgic charm with innovative storytelling. From the mysterious beginnings in Chapter 1 (2018) to the prophetic revelations of Chapter 4 (2025), each installment contributes essential elements to an overarching narrative about friendship, destiny, and the power of choice. With three chapters remaining in development and scheduled for 2026 and beyond, the complete Deltarune experience promises to deliver one of indie gaming’s most ambitious and emotionally resonant adventures, making it essential playing for RPG enthusiasts and anyone seeking a deeply meaningful gaming experience that respects both player agency and narrative integrity.