This isn’t just another pixel indie basking in nostalgia-Deltarune’s explosive launch across Steam, PlayStation, and Switch actually caught me off guard. Toby Fox’s spiritual follow-up to Undertale was always going to ride a wave of hype, but let’s be honest: sequels and spin-offs regularly disappoint. So when I saw that Deltarune Chapters 1-4 landed with a staggering 98% “overwhelmingly positive” on Steam (over 21,500 votes!) and peaked at 133,000 concurrent PC players, I had to see if that love was all rose-tinted-or if Fox and his tiny team really did it again.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Toby Fox |
| Release Date | May 2024 (Chapters 1-4 Bundle) |
| Genres | RPG, Adventure, Indie |
| Platforms | PC (Steam), PS4, PS5, Switch, Switch 2 |
The numbers look impressive, but let’s take a minute to put this in context. Undertale was a once-in-a-generation anomaly—made with humor, weirdness, and heart, it defied years of RPG tropes and became a meme factory and community staple. Deltarune never pretended to be a straight sequel; Fox once called it ‘a parallel world.’ But the DNA is unmistakable: meta storytelling, subversive humor, and a bullet-hell-meets-traditional-battle system. If you’ve played the free Chapters 1 and 2, you know the charm isn’t just surface deep.
The big news is that Deltarune Chapters 1–4 are finally on all major consoles at a fair price (£23.99/€23.99). This isn’t one of those snide “pay-per-chapter” schemes either—buy now, get Chapter 5 free down the line, no microtransactions or “deluxe” edition shenanigans. That matters, especially as big publishers grind every penny out of nostalgia and indie logos get slapped on cookie-cutter RPGs. The Deltarune bundle feels refreshingly old-school in a good way—you buy a game; you get the game.
Fox and his micro-team, against all logic, have kept the vibe intact. I’m still blown away that a crew this small can pull off this kind of polish, especially in an era when “indie” often means “unfinished and patch-incomplete for a year.” Deltarune’s world is even weirder and more heartfelt than Undertale’s. The character work—Kris, Susie, Ralsei, and the entire motley cast—is biting, funny, and occasionally tugs at you in that subtle Toby Fox way only he seems able to pull off. Say what you will about fourth-wall-breaking jokes, but here? They land. And the soundtrack—it’s up there with the best in gaming, not just for nostalgia but real, lasting quality.
But here’s what really stands out: That 133,000-player peak isn’t just loyal Undertale fans returning out of habit. It’s a rare feat for a non-multiplayer, story-driven, pixel RPG made by a tiny team. Big indies like Hades or Hollow Knight get those numbers, but Deltarune? It quietly proves there’s still room for games that are weird, personal, and unafraid to play with genre conventions.
Now, some caveats: as of now, there’s no word on an Xbox version. I wouldn’t be shocked if that follows, since Undertale eventually landed everywhere. But, for the moment, Switch, PlayStation, and PC are your only real options. And just to preempt the skeptics: yes, the fifth chapter is going to take time. The wait could be long. But with Fox’s track record, I’d bet the landing will stick—unlike a lot of crowdfunded episodics that fizzle with delays and broken promises.
This isn’t just a feel-good underdog story. In a landscape where indies increasingly borrow from each other and the big studios hoover up “quirky” for advertising campaigns, Deltarune is stubbornly genuine. No fake retro veneer slapped over shallow systems, no soulless references. Just character-driven, subversive writing delivered with care and confidence. Not every old-school RPG fan will vibe with the humor, but for players sick of formula, it’s a needed palette cleanser.
If you like games that mess with your expectations—where your decisions sorta matter but the rug gets pulled anyway—there’s nothing else out there quite like Deltarune right now. Sure, self-awareness and irony are everywhere, but Fox’s brand is weirdly sincere. That’s rare in 2024’s indie scene, where trying to be “meta” often just falls flat.
Deltarune’s console release isn’t just another nostalgia trip—it’s a testament to what one eccentric, passionate developer and a tiny team can pull off when they’re not beholden to trends or microtransactions. If you loved Undertale or just want an RPG that breaks the mold—without the corporate aftertaste—this is worth every bit of the hype. Don’t expect the next chapter tomorrow, but what’s here already proves some indie legends deserve their status.