5 Shocking Ways Deltarune Is Connected To Undertale (And 1 Way It's Not)
The question of whether *Deltarune* is a sequel, prequel, or alternate reality to *Undertale* has been one of the biggest mysteries in gaming lore since the first chapter's surprise release. As of December 2025, the creator, Toby Fox, has provided a clear, official answer: the two games are set in "different worlds" and are "parallel stories," meaning they do not share the exact same universe or timeline. Everything you did in *Undertale* is canon and has no influence on the events of *Deltarune*.
However, simply calling them "parallel" drastically understates the deep, unsettling, and intentional connections that link the two narratives. From shared characters with drastically different lives to a sinister overarching entity pulling the strings, the relationship between *Deltarune* and *Undertale* is the key to understanding the entire mythology. The most recent updates, including Toby Fox's confirmation of Chapters 3 and 4 releasing in 2025, keep the fan theories and lore analysis fresh and relevant.
Toby Fox’s Official Stance: The Parallel Universe Theory
The core relationship between the two games is best understood through the lens of a Parallel Universe or Alternate Timeline. This is the definitive answer provided by developer Toby Fox himself.
In the official FAQ, Fox explicitly stated that *Deltarune* is not the world of *Undertale*. This means that the world you saved (or destroyed) in *Undertale* remains exactly as you left it. *Deltarune* is a completely new story with a new cast of characters who have lived different lives, even if they share names and appearances with their *Undertale* counterparts.
This distinction is crucial because it allows *Deltarune* to explore new themes without being shackled by the consequences of *Undertale*'s multiple endings. The relationship is less about a direct timeline connection and more about a thematic mirror, allowing the creator to revisit beloved concepts with a fresh narrative perspective.
Entity Deep Dive: The Shared Cast with Different Lives (10+ Entities)
The most immediate and obvious link between the two games is the shared cast of characters, although their roles, relationships, and histories are dramatically altered in the *Deltarune* universe. This is a foundational element of the parallel world concept.
- Toriel and Asgore Dreemurr: In *Deltarune*, they are divorced, and Toriel works as a teacher. Asgore is a florist who has lost his job as the head of the Royal Guard. Their son, Asriel Dreemurr, is alive and attending college, a stark contrast to his tragic fate in *Undertale*.
- Sans and Papyrus: Sans is a quirky neighbor who has just moved to town, and he seems to have no memory of the Player or the events of *Undertale*. Papyrus is still his enthusiastic, puzzle-loving self, though his presence is less central in the early chapters.
- Undyne and Alphys: Undyne is a police officer who doesn't seem to know Alphys, who is a nervous teacher. This is a major departure from their close relationship in *Undertale*.
- Kris: The protagonist, Kris, is the human child of Toriel and Asgore, who is controlled by the Player's Soul (or Vessel). Kris is heavily implied to be the Knight—or at least capable of creating the Dark Fountains—and acts independently when the Player's control is severed.
The W. D. Gaster Connection: The True Architect of the Link
If the characters are the body of the connection, then W. D. Gaster is the mysterious soul. Gaster, the former Royal Scientist of *Undertale* who was shattered across time and space, is widely believed to be the entity responsible for creating the link between the two worlds and initiating the events of *Deltarune*.
This theory is supported by several key elements:
The Opening Sequence and Voice:
The game begins with a cryptic character creation sequence, in which a distorted voice—heavily implied to be Gaster—asks the player to create a "Vessel." The voice then rejects the creation, stating, "Your creation... will now be discarded. No one can choose who they are in this world."
The Sound and Music:
Gaster's leitmotif, a recurring musical theme, is woven into the soundtrack of *Deltarune*. Additionally, the unsettling, deep-voiced narration that appears in certain hidden files and the game's introduction is musically and stylistically linked to Gaster's presence in *Undertale*’s hidden lore.
The Player's Role:
The theories suggest Gaster brought the Player, who is familiar with the concept of determination and resets from the *Undertale* universe, into *Deltarune* to "make a change." The entire narrative framework of *Deltarune* seems to be an experiment orchestrated by a powerful, unseen entity.
Thematic and Lore Connections: Choice, Fate, and The Roaring
Beyond the characters and Gaster, the most profound connections lie in the thematic structure and shared mythology, which are crucial for understanding the overall lore.
The Prophecy of The Roaring (5 Entities)
Both games deal with prophecies, but *Deltarune*'s central conflict revolves around the Dark World and its ancient prophecy. This prophecy foretells a cataclysmic event known as The Roaring, where titans will rise and destroy the world if the balance between the Light World and the Dark World is broken by the creation of too many Dark Fountains.
The role of the protagonist trio—Kris, Susie, and Ralsei (the Prince from the Dark)—is to seal these fountains. This apocalyptic threat is a far more immediate and grand-scale danger than the underground conflict of *Undertale*, providing a higher-stakes mirror to the original game's lore.
The Shocking Subversion of "Choice"
The most significant thematic difference, which ironically connects them, is the subversion of Player Choice. *Undertale* famously centered on the consequence of every choice, from sparing a monster to committing genocide.
*Deltarune* immediately and brutally strips the player of this power. In Chapter 1, Ralsei explicitly tells the Player, "Your choices don't matter." The character you create is discarded, and you are forced to possess Kris. This thematic shift suggests that while *Undertale* was about the power of the player's Determination, *Deltarune* is about the powerlessness of the player in a world controlled by a higher, unseen force—likely Gaster.
The One Way They Are Definitely NOT Connected: A Single Timeline
Despite the overwhelming evidence of shared elements, the one definitive line drawn by Toby Fox is that the games do not exist on a single, continuous timeline. *Deltarune* is not a prequel where the monsters are still on the surface before the war, nor is it a sequel that follows a specific *Undertale* ending.
The relationship is one of Alternate Reality or Mirror Universe. Think of it less like a linear story arc and more like two separate plays being performed on parallel stages, using the same actors (characters) to tell fundamentally different stories about fate, control, and the nature of the soul. This parallel structure is what makes the lore so rich and allows fans to endlessly theorize about every subtle musical motif and character change, knowing that the ultimate answer lies in a cosmic connection, not a simple historical one.
Conclusion: The Future of the Parallel Worlds
The relationship between *Deltarune* and *Undertale* is intentionally complex. It is a parallel universe confirmed by its creator, but one that is deliberately riddled with deep, unsettling connections. The shared entities like Sans, Toriel, and Asriel serve to ground the new story while the mysterious entity of W. D. Gaster acts as the bridge between the two realities.
As the development of Chapters 3, 4, and 5 continues, with a confirmed release window for the next two chapters in 2025, fans eagerly await the final reveal. The ultimate goal of the Dark Fountains and the identity of the Knight will likely be the final pieces of the puzzle that fully explain why these two worlds, though separate, are cosmically bound by a force far greater than the player's control.
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