What Kind of Game Is DELTARUNE?

DELTARUNE is a chapter-based, nonviolent-option RPG from UNDERTALE creator Toby Fox, available now on Nintendo Switch, PC / Mac, and PlayStation. You explore a mysterious parallel world, fight or spare enemies in bullet-dodging battles, and can pick the story up from any chapter. Chapters 1–5 are out, with more planned as free updates, and a free demo covering Chapters 1 & 2 is available for PC / Mac.

The core loop: fight or spare, while dodging bullets

Battles are turn-based RPG encounters where you choose to attack or spare enemies, and between your turns you dodge incoming bullet patterns. The official site describes this as "creative bullet-dodging based battles inspired by games like the Touhou series and Chrono Trigger." So the moment-to-moment skill test is positioning and timing, not just menu choices — the "nonviolent" path is an option you actively play toward, not a cutscene.

If you have played UNDERTALE, this will feel like a familiar system pushed further: the dodging is more central, and encounters are built around reading patterns rather than only picking the right action.

Structure: chapters you can enter from anywhere

DELTARUNE is explicitly "a linear, chapter-based system that you can pick up from anywhere." Practically, that means:

• The story is told in numbered chapters rather than one continuous save file.
• You can start at a later chapter without replaying earlier ones.
• Chapters 1–5 are available now, and the site states more are planned as free updates.

This matters if you want to jump in without committing to a long backlog, or if you are returning after a long break — you are not locked into a single continuous playthrough.

Who makes it, and what it looks like

• Story and soundtrack: written by Toby Fox, with what the site calls "a massive soundtrack."
• Pixel animation: by Temmie, described as "smooth and expressive," with a new in-game hat.
• Cast: new main characters alongside returning UNDERTALE faces such as Toriel and Sans. (The site explicitly notes Papyrus is "busy" — so do not expect him.)
• Difficulty ceiling: "Jevilishly difficult hidden bosses" for players who seek out optional challenges.
• Endings: the site teases "only 1 ending...?" — presented as an open question rather than a confirmed fact.

What you can play right now, and on what

The site does not state prices for the paid chapters, so check your platform store for current pricing and any login requirements before buying.

How to decide if it is for you

• Try it if you liked UNDERTALE's tone and want a longer, chapter-by-chapter continuation with more active dodging, or you want a story you can drop into at any chapter.
• Skip it if you want a single self-contained game with a finished ending — the chapter structure and ongoing free updates mean the story is still unfolding.
• Start with the free demo (Chapters 1 & 2 on PC / Mac) if you are unsure. It is the lowest-commitment way to test whether the bullet-dodging battles click for you.

For news and status updates, the site points to a free mailing list and a newsletter archive, with past status updates dated September 2020, 2021, and 2022.