I'm always reluctant to play the latest chapters of Deltarune. Not because they're not great (they definitely are) but because they're over with so quickly and I'm always left wanting more of these wonderful adventures. In a way, though, I'm also glad they're as short as they are - you just know if this franchise was being released by a giant corporation they'd demand it be some super dry open world game with tons of collectibles and fifteen times as many fights; not because they further the story in an way, but because they need to fill out some publisher's arbitrary length quota. In addition to a fantastic and imaginative game designer, Toby Fox continues to be one of the most instinctively clever, funny and charming creative talents out there. His characters are consistently unique, memorable and funny; even when they're meant to be intentionally obnoxious they still get a ton of laughs from me. They also manage to be surprisingly touching during the more dramatic moments, which is no small feat considering how outlandish the whole scenario and many of the designs are. The game mechanics continue to surprise too, with Chapter 5 working in puzzle-platformer elements and even a clever parody of Phoenix Wright's trials during one memorable combat sequence. All that, plus the consistently beautiful 2D art (even a full-blown anime sequence at one point) and fantastic music make this yet another memorable entry in the episodic adventures of Deltarune. I'm still hooked, and the months or years it'll take to bring this story to its conclusion are going to pass really slowly.
Publisher: Toby Fox, 8-4
Released: 2026
Platform: PC, macOS Switch, Switch 2, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4