It’s no secret that Undertale is one of the most beloved indie games of all time, with its sister game Deltarune receiving similar praise as its slowly released short chapters over the past seven years, with each one sending Kris and their party members into a dark world where they’ll meet a colorful and fun cast of characters.
With every Chapter of the game entering the pantheon of the most beloved games of all time, an obvious question arises: which one is the best? While that question cannot be answered in full yet, as chapters 5-7 will likely be released within the next decade, if one were to judge the first few chapters based on their gameplay, story and other factors, then the ing list of the best Deltarune chapters can be formed.
4 Deltarune Chapter 1
Step Into a New World
Topping off the list is the very first chapter of the game. This chapter introduced players to the concept of playing an Undertale-like game with a party of characters and changed the gaming fandom forever with the introduction of party members like Ralsei and Susie. While there were some growing pains, such as a lack of meaningful difference between a genocide and a pacifist run, it was immediately a fantastic game.
While Deltarune Chapter 1 is undeniably a great time and introduced millions to the concept of what Deltarune would be and kept them on the edge of their seat with its fourth-wall breaking ending, but it must rank at the bottom of this list due to not having the same polish that later chapters would have (one notable example being a lack of item storage). This leaves Chapter 1 as an odd but charming stepping stone to greatness.
3 Deltarune Chapter 2
The Snowgrave Route
Three years after the release of Chapter 1, Deltarune Chapter 2 took the world by storm with multiple quality-of-life changes, an expanded cast of characters with fan favorites like Noelle, and some of the best comedic moments in any Toby Fox work. Throw in one of the best super bosses in gaming, and you’ve got a recipe for an unforgettable experience. This Chapter was so great that it only made the four-year wait for Chapters 3 and 4 all the more painful.
Chapter 2’s biggest improvement over the previous chapter was an actual difference between a pacifist and genocide run, or rather, its Snowgrave route, where the player forces their new party member Susie to do horrible deeds throughout the entire game. Noelle, and the effect she is sure to have on the game in later chapters, has been a big talking point among fans since the chapter was first released. While it’s not the best chapter in the game so far, Chapter 2 is what definitively made Deltarune the game it is.
2 Deltarune Chapter 4
An Epic Conclusion
After waiting for nearly half a decade, Delatrune fans were blessed with two entire chapters of the game releasing simultaneously to celebrate the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2. There is an undeniable joy that gamers around the world are feeling as they dip their toes into this world and characters once again. While one wouldn’t expect a game that isn’t even finished yet to bring on a feeling of nostalgia, that is exactly what this chapter is bringing out in the fandom.
Despite only being the halfway point of the game, Deltarune Chapter 4 has story and gameplay content that is truly worthy of a finale, including a fight against a large titan! With how Chapters 3 and 4 have taken the world by storm, one can only hope that the wait for Chapter 5 won’t be another half-decade. While it would be tempting to put Chapter 4 at the top of this list for its great story content, it is instead topped by the chapter that was released alongside it.
1 Deltarune Chapter 3
The Current Peak
Topping off the list is the recently released Delatrune Chapter 3. This chapter dragged players back into the Dark World for another humorous and emotional adventure with Kris and the gang. The gameplay improvements made to Chapter 2 of the game all remained here, making for a very polished turn-based RPG and enjoyable experience from start to finish.
While Chapters 3 and 4 are nearly equal in quality, there is just one element that puts Chapter 3 at the top of this list: minigames. The sequences in Chapter 3 where the player must serve food to customers or rock out in a gameshow before they can progress bring to mind sections of Undertale where the player must go on a date with Papyrus or participate in Metaton’s traps. These sections are sure to be among some of the most remembered in the game. While future chapters might top Chapter 3 in quality, for now, it is safe to say this is currently the best Chapter of Deltatrune.
