Deltarune Is Sick

8/05/2026

You may recall that in my replay of Undertale last year, I didn't come away with unwaveringly positive feelings towards it. I also promised at the end of that article that at some point, I would check out Deltarune. That point is now. HOLY MOLY.

I have been completely enthralled, possibly obsessed with Deltarune for nearly a month now. It has been quite the experience. I've completed all five chapters, gathered all the shadow crystals, the whole shebang. I have a lot I'd like to say about it, if I could ever organize my thoughts about such a titanically interesting game. I recently got sick, passed out, and then watched hours of Deltarune theories and essays on YouTube in a trancelike state. I have listened to Rude Buster for hours at this point. That is where I am with Deltarune.

Rather than a comprehensive review of everything I think about the game (for now...) I thought it better to review some of my previous criticisms of Undertale, and where I think Deltarune succeeds and shines in similar areas. Because, goodness, it does shine brightly.

Deltarune manages tone MUCH better.

My main criticism of Undertale was the shaky tone of the game. I referred to it as "earthquaking" in my last article. What's been shocking to me is that Deltarune features quite a few of the same writing "quirks" as Undertale. Somewhat frequently, the tension or drama of a scene will be broken by a joke or gag or interruption. In Undertale, I mentioned the biggest ones that irked me as the first time you meet Sans and Papyrus, and Alphys in the lab with the amalgamates. The same thing happens in Deltarune. Lancer rides in on a bike with a cartoon explosion to interrupt the tension and atmosphere of the Dark World and your first exposure to the prophecy.

It also sort of happens in reverse, on occasion. Toriel crying "Is that a knife? Noooo...! Is this your knife in the pie tin?" in Chapter 2's intro, after the shocking ending scene of Chapter 1. So what's different in Deltarune?

For one thing, it doesn't happen as often in Deltarune. A few examples I can recall include Tenna's appearance in Chapter 3 breaking up an emotional conversation between Ralsei and Susie. Maybe Flowery's appearance in Chapter 5 halting your investigation of Asgore. It's rarely on the scale of what happens with Sans in Undertale, though that is partly on the brilliance of Undertale's opening.

Deltarune is just more restrained with itself than Undertale. I would note that I understand these moments are meant to have some sense of whiplash, it's part of where the humor comes from. Some of these things happen to break the tension and give some levity. I don't think anything happens in Deltarune that completely shatters the immersion in the story. When Lancer's bike goes kablooey, we're still getting our bearings on everything, just enough for it to get a laugh. The expectation for what may happen next is not as extreme as Undertale. Sure, Ralsei explained the prophecy, but that comes off as fairly gentle tone setting and world building compared to Flowey's "In this world, it's kill or BE KILLED! DIE!"

In otherwords, Undertale is just really extreme and heavyhanded about it, whereas Deltarune is more reserved. Sometimes.

I hope that illustrates a difference. In the case of something like Tenna's appearance, at that point you're fairly well conditioned to expect a somewhat bombastic appearance of the Chapter's villain. Yes, he steals the attention away from the engrossing conversation our heroes were having, but you can trust that the ideas can live in your mind for a while while we work on this other thing. Which leads me to...

The Chapter structure is an ENORMOUS benefit.

Undertale's pacing and short length (not in itself a bad thing) means it's got very little breathing room between parading it's wacky, lovable(?) characters and gags. Yes, there are some battles and puzzles, but it's never come across to me like enough. It's dense, although you could also fairly say it's never boring.

Deltarune's episodic, chapter-based structure is enormously helpful in the pacing. Again, a lot of it is still in the broad style of Undertale. But Deltarune gets to split things things up in stories that feel more whole individually, while still being part of a bigger narrative. Things also get split up a bit between the Light World and Dark World, lending another tool to have things be broken up. At certain points, players can (and almost certainly will) mess around in Castle Town, catching up with all the characters that have been able to stay from previous episodes. The same thing goes for the denizens of the Light World.

That breathing room also allows for the characters themselves to get some extra dimension and depth after their initial, main encounter. It's not always (or, even usually) eye-opening stuff, most enemies and bosses that hang around are still exaggerated and comedic. But the chance to just be around them helps lend the sense that they are characters and not just walking jokes. And the ones who are walking jokes get to have a second chance at a good zinger.

You also don't have main story and gameplay progression locked behind doing this in the way the Dates in Undertale do. Sure, not recuriting an enemy (or simply choosing not to talk to a sprite at that moment) means you might not technically see all the possible textboxes, but that's your choice to make!

Susie and Ralsei

In Deltarune, there's a running gag where Ralsei will comment on a particularly outlandish or goofy scene with "Okay."

THIS IS GREAT. IT'S ACTUALLY SO GOOD. JUST THAT BY ITSELF.

Susie and Ralsei, being, generally inseparable for 99% of any given Deltarune chapter, have the chance to react to and speak to other characters in a way that Frisk in Undertale just can't. Susie can be frustrated with the behavior of a villain or situation, or be herself bewildering and funny. Ralsei gets to ask for details and offer solutions and be a sweet little fluffy thing. This is the absolute simplest way I can put that, but the lack of this kind of thing in Undertale means that I am the one left to go "Okay...?" when something falls flat or doesn't land for me.

Better still, Susie and Ralsei don't exist to sit around and say "Well, that just happened." to take a little pressure off. They're also incredibly lovable, fleshed out characters with a lot going on. They just also happen to be able to do that when it's amusing or seems appropriate. Characters like Noelle, Berdly, and occasional check-ins with existing Undertale cast are also great.

A dear friend of my described the humor in Deltarune as "very webcomics" (a high compliment imo!) and I think Susie and Ralsei are big part of that. A truly regular cast of characters fits the style and humor much better than the "Alright, moving on" style in Undertale.

It's really all of these things that work together that give Deltarune its immersive story and personality. And, like with Undertale, I think once it's "got you", it's really got you, and the thought of nitpicking it vanishes. I hope my particular scene examples don't give the impression that Deltarune is simply Undertale done better. They are different, but certainly cut from the same cloth, if you will.

I've simply been taken by how good I find Deltarune. I'm in. I'm here. Undertale will always be a game worth celebrating, remembering, and talking about. It just doesn't hit for me personally the way I wish it did. Deltarune, though, is an absolutely outstanding experience for me. I laugh or smile at nearly every joke, and just have a general great interest in the story and characters. It was not that way for me in Undertale.

One more thing, the community. The Deltarune (and Undertale) communities are absolute riots. Anyone who has ever made a meme, fandub, playthrough, artwork, or theory video, you have my utmost respect and thanks. One day, Deltarune will be truly complete with all seven chapters. The fervor around what's going to happen will not be there in the future. I'm sure we'll all analyze every last aspect, dead pixel, and line of dialogue. Today, Deltarune benefits a lot from being serialized, it's a big part of why it's so engrossing. I believe that Deltarune is going to stand the test of time when it's all said and done. Undertale is still celebrated, discussed, and discovered. So is my beloved Earthbound.

Deltarune is going to have a long life, long beyond chapter 7. The wonderful music, characters, battles, graphics. I'd say it deserves it. See you all there, in the future!

-Jane 'Rude Buster' Parker