With less than two weeks left before "Deltarune" Chapter 5 drops, fans are once again pulled into one of gaming's strangest mysteries. The ARG connected to Toby Fox's RPG has resurfaced, opened for a short time, and then vanished again. Only a small group of players are still in it, trying to figure out what it all means.
While most of the community is simply counting down to the new chapter, a smaller group is deep in theory-crafting. They're digging through old clues that have been building quietly for years.
How the 'Deltarune ARG' Started
The "Deltarune ARG" reportedly began in 2022, but things really picked up in 2025. A hidden page appeared on the official website with a simple but weird question:
"How long did it take her to smile?"
Most players immediately linked it to Noelle, one of the most important characters in the game, especially in the darker "Weird Route" storyline.
The page asked users to enter an email address and submit a number as an answer. Then it disappeared.
Some players who responded in time received strange confirmation emails. They didn't explain much. They just hinted that something was going on. Months later, the page returned, and the puzzle continued.
Cryptic Emails and Strange Instructions
In the second wave of the ARG, players started experimenting. They tried numbers, patterns, and even abstract answers.
Some inputs triggered follow-up emails. These messages didn't give clear answers. Instead, they included strange phrases and one recurring line:
"Move forward with this answer."
This single sentence became one of the most important clues in the entire mystery.
After the announcement of "Deltarune" Chapter 5, the ARG shifted again. A new page appeared. This time, it asked players where an upcoming event would take place and included extra fields to fill in.
But something stood out. Only players who had previously received the "Move forward" email seemed to continue getting updates.
Why Only 1,229 Players Are Left
According to Kotaku, the latest ARG page showed three numbers:
- Available entrants: 1,571
- Total received: 1,229
- Next correspondence: When less than 24 hours are left
Fans believe this means 1,571 players moved forward from the earlier stage. But only 1,229 completed the latest step.
If that's true, a portion of players may have been filtered out along the way.
This has led to even more speculation. Many think a new clue will drop within 24 hours of the "Deltarune" Chapter 5 release.
Toby Fox has confirmed the launch time as 11 a.m. ET on June 24, which makes the countdown even more intense for ARG followers.
The ARG Fits Deltarune's Bigger Themes
Beyond the puzzles, many fans think the ARG is connected to the core ideas of "Deltarune" itself.
The game often explores destiny, control, and choice. Players constantly question how much freedom they really have.
The "Weird Route" pushes this even further. It forces players into uncomfortable decisions and makes them think about consequences in a different way.
The ARG seems to echo that. It makes players wonder what choices actually matter. It also opens a mystery as to who is guiding the story.
Why Fans Keep Following the Mystery
The good thing is, you don't need to understand the ARG to enjoy "Deltarune." The story, characters, and emotional moments still stand on their own.
But for dedicated fans, the ARG is another puzzle to be solved. It turns the wait for Chapter 5 into something more interactive. Something uncertain.
With only 1,229 participants still in the system, the final answers might be close. Or they might just lead to more questions.
