Undertale,Deltarune, and Homestuck share a history of having been conceived and written around the same time. While the webcomic author Andrew Hussie created Homestruck, a story about games, apocalypses, timelines, and other shenanigans, Toby Fox worked in the basement on his own magnum opus, Undertale and Deltarune.
Toby Fox went on to compose music for Homestuck, and some of the influences can still be seen in Deltarune. There are characters with similar plot threats, concepts that bring back old memories, and musical cues you cannot fail to pick out once you notice them. Prepare to enter Incipisphere with these Homestuck references in Deltarune.
10A Jester Who Knows Too Much
Do You Believe In Miracles?
Gamzee is an interesting character in Homestuck, since the villain of the webcomic reveals the true origin of his juggalo religion as well as the nature of his existence within the context of the story. This fourth wall-breaking revelation twists his mind as he becomes a villain with a purpose.
Deltarune also has such a character in the form of Jevil, the secret boss from chapter one. He, too, has been given truths from a villainous character. Like Gamzee, he understands that he exists within a video game and that drives him mad.
9Big Shot Is Bro Strider
The Intro To Big Shot Is An Homage To Beatdown
Now’s your chance to be a big shot. If you manage to unlock the secret Spamton Neo boss fight, the theme that plays starts off with a bang. However, if you noticed that these sounds have a familiar beat to them, it might be because you remember the iconic Beatdown track from Homestuck.
Both songs have identical intros you won’t be able to miss once you notice them. This fight between Dave Strider and Bro also features a puppet known as Little Cal, which Bro uses in the fight, moving so fast that his own actions become invisible.
8The Kismisis Bucket
Horrible Things To Do With A Bucket
Many terrible things have been done using buckets in the name of Homestuck. With four different quadrants of romance to explore on the Troll planet, Alternia, each one is labeled after a different card suit. These include Spades, Clubs, Hearts, and Diamonds.
Buckets are often used as a form of reproduction on Alternia as a tool to collect DNA for the Mother Grub. When Lancer brings out a bucket with the Spades symbol on it to collect all the blood, Homestuck fans can’t help but get convention flashbacks.
7Berdly And Eridan
Welcome Back Eridan
The more you describe Berdly, the more he starts to resemble a certain violet-blooded sea dweller from Homestuck. Berdly has a massive ego, gets hopelessly attached to those around him, and will do anything to impress those he looks up to for approval.
This is the fictional reincarnation of Eridan Ampora, a Troll at the top of the Alternian hemospectrum that finds himself desperate for a relationship and approval. Even their themes sound similar once you start listening carefully.
6Ralsei Is A Kernel Sprite
Game Knowledge From An Unexpected Ally
The worlds of the Dark World and Sburb work in the same way as video games. Both allow you to harness magic powers, become stronger, and make use of commands that aretreated as mechanics within their reality.
Ralsei plays a very similar role to the Sprites from Homestuck from a meta context. Raslei is a character that understands the rules, nature, and destiny of the Dark World as he explains them to Kris and Susie. This same role applies to the Sprites, which are meant to guide the Beta Kids in Homestuck through their role in the game.
5Susie Eats Chalk Like A Certain Troll
A Taste For The Finer Things
There is a certain little quirk that Susie displays at the start of Deltarune: Chapter One. This is where she can be found eating the chalk in the school hallway after Alphys sends her and Kris out to fetch some more.
If you’ve read Homestuck in the past, then eating chalk will instantly remind you of Terezi Pyrope, the teal-blooded Troll who can lick things to taste color. She is often mentioned as having a fond taste for chalk, especially the ones with the color red.
4A Hidden Troll
Trolls Make A Sneaky Appearance In Deltarune
Trolls have an iconic silhouette due to the horns they have. These candy-corn horns take many different shapes and often complement the Troll’s designs. They are also instantly recognizable by anyone that has ever gone to a convention.
There is a secret Troll Silhouette that can be spotted on the cross-walk signs in Chapter Two. This sign features what looks to be a Troll, horns and all. It’s a sneaky little inclusion you might miss if you aren’t paying attention. However, that’s what makes a good Easter egg.
3John Egbert And Kris Play The Organ
A Blue Character Playing An Organ?
There are many references to Homestuck hidden throughout Deltarune, but some feel more like their own thing. That’s the beauty of Deltarune, as you don’t need prior knowledge to fully enjoy the other. It simply enhances the experience.
Kris can play the piano, a trait that John Egbert has. It may seem unimportant, but the fact that two blue characters share the same trait, and end up playing the organ surrounded by a similar landscape is no coincidence. It’s subtle and doesn’t feel forced.
2Noelle Keeps Making Homestuck References
Noelle Says Some Interesting Things
Noelle isa particularly funny characterif you’ve read Homestuck. This is because she shares plenty of traits with many of the characters from the webcomic. She mentions the term “going grimdark”, but she also mentions that her mother got some items in the house “bronzed”.
These are Rose Lalonde traits shining through, but there are other characters too. She also has a quote about licking computer screens, a trait that Terezi Pyrope has. She also has a not-so-healthy relationship with her mother who also happens to have katanas laying around. Bro Strider much?
1Themes Of Self, Freedom, And An Unseen Player
Boxes Of Text And A Controlling Player
The overall structure of Deltarune has some interesting parallels to the narrative style of Homestuck. Both feature characters that exist in worlds that follow video game mechanics, have characters controlled by the reader/player, and explore themes of the self.
Deltarune explores its meta context through Kris who is literally under the control of the player. Choices can be made on their behalf and at times, even has them trying their hardest to defy your playstyle. This trait can also be seen in Homestuck in scenes where the characters don’t want to do what the control panel tells them they’re going to do.
