Fox drops fifth chapter of ‘Deltarune’ novel of gaming narrative
As summer rolled in and all were anticipating their well deserved vacations, many fans of video game developer and composer Toby Fox awaited news regarding the latest chapter of his game Deltarune. Successor to his viral 2015 RPG Undertale, Deltarune is a single player indie RPG which follows Kris, an adolescent human in a world full of friendly monsters, and their friends as they attempt to prevent a world cataclysm. By embarking on wacky adventures and fighting (sometimes) fearsome enemies, they do their part to fulfill the prophecy of the Delta Rune which has bound them to their heroic fate.
Choices made by a player over the course of its story don’t make a difference in its ending, and while they may try to change the outcome prophesied, only time will tell if their actions are in vain.
Deltarune releases in short, typically few-hour long installments called chapters, with the first chapter being released on Oct. 31, 2018, and the finished game eventually resulting in seven total chapters. Luckily for fans, the fifth chapter was released on June 24, featuring new characters, immersive gameplay, and beautiful music.
Since Deltarune’s debut nearly eight years ago, Fox’s vision has evolved in several ways. Its characters have developed more depth, the plot has thickened substantially, visuals have grown more engrossing, and Chapter 5 is no exception to that hype. It focuses on topics of jealousy and nostalgia as it begins by stylistically returning to the first chapter, leaning on returning motifs through both visuals and soundtrack. Despite this nostalgic introduction, the reveal of a new supposed antagonist sparks controversy among Kris’s fellow heroes, Susie and Ralsei, as he challenges the dynamic of their relationship, the cause they’re fighting for, and creates jealousy within the group. This conflict ultimately provides the heroes with some of the most significant character development they’ve had yet, and proves itself to be an exciting, immersive, and necessary process as they near the end of their quest.
In comparison to previous chapters, Chapter 5’s gameplay is exceptional. While it’s not unheard of for chapters to present new mechanics such as climbing, game show style minigames, or spinning around in amusement park teacup rides, Chapter 5 introduces 2D platforming segments which provide players with a new UI and combat system in addition to a new way to traverse the game’s areas. These platforming sections, while demanding at times, move at a quicker pace than the game’s traditional exploration. This creates room for new types of puzzles and opens up new ways to progress the game, providing players with an unfamiliar, yet incredibly enjoyable change of speed.
Chapter 5 also presents gamers with stunning visuals. Those who have played Chapter 1 may recall many plain backgrounds, a relatively low number of fluid animations, and overall pleasant but lacking imagery. Many chapters have improved this deficit in visual quality, but Chapter 5 takes the Deltarune’s graphics and dials them to 11. Vibrant colors are used to make stunning sunsets of pink and gold, and many characters receive much more fluid motions, which help bring them to life.
There’s a stunning, fully animated cutscene, making it the most visually appealing of any chapter by far, while still primarily sticking to a 64-bit style. Hopefully, future chapters continue to improve the game's visuals, but they will certainly have a difficult time living up to Chapter 5’s undeniable beauty.
Deltarune Chapter 5 couldn’t be discussed without mentioning its soundtrack. Fox is an excellent composer, and his fans can’t seem to get enough of him. Chapter 5’s music is so adored that its two most popular tracks, “Flower Man” and “Cutie Mew Mew Magic,” have both already surpassed some of the designer’s well-established hits, such as “Hopes and Dreams” and “MEGALOVANIA” which both debuted over 11 years ago, by millions of listens on his official YouTube page.
Deltarune Chapter 5 provides a great installment in a truly unique game. While all may have their opinions about which of its chapters is the greatest, Chapter 5 has solidified its role in the series, and it without a doubt deserves to be there. Now one step closer to completion, Fox has announced that the remaining two chapters will primarily be the results and resolutions to previous actions and plot setup, which begs the question: will the heroes be able to survive their fate?
Grade: A
Between its amazing story, gameplay, visuals, and soundtrack, Chapter 5 has proven itself to be a spectacular installment and solidified its place among the rest of Deltarune’s chapters.
by Jacob Schneider
Published October 5, 2026
Oshkosh West Index Volume 122 Issue 1