Toby Fox has a way of making us obsess over the smallest details, and honestly, the wait for the next installment of Deltarune has turned the community into a group of amateur detectives. We know Chapter 3 is coming. We know it takes place in Kris’s house. But the real question that keeps everyone up at night involves the Deltarune Chapter 3 recruits and how they fit into the growing roster of the Castle Town hub.
If you've played through the first two chapters, you already know the drill. You spare an enemy, they like you, and they move into Ralsei’s kingdom. It sounds simple. It isn't. Toby Fox has already hinted that the recruitment mechanic isn't just for fluff—it’s actually a core part of how the world evolves. If you miss a recruit in Chapter 2, your town feels empty. If you miss them in Chapter 3, who knows what kind of utility or lore you're flushing down the drain?
The Living Room Darkners We Expect to See
Since the fountain was opened in the middle of a messy living room, the Deltarune Chapter 3 recruits are going to be based on household objects. We’ve seen the teasers. We know about the TV. We know about the shadow of Mike (or whoever that grinning face belongs to). But think about the mundane stuff. A remote control. A discarded sock. A half-empty bag of chips. These aren't just background assets; they are the potential citizens of your new world.
The "TV World" theme suggests a heavy focus on entertainment tropes. We’re likely looking at enemies that represent weather reporters, cooking show hosts, or cheesy late-night infomercial stars. When you recruit a Weather Darkner, they don't just sit in a room. They change the "climate" of the Castle Town. That’s the level of detail people are expecting this time around.
Why Recruitment Matters More This Time
In Chapter 1, recruiting was barely a thing. In Chapter 2, it became a checklist. In Chapter 3, it feels like it’s going to be a requirement for the "Best Ending" or whatever Toby has planned for the final act. Look at the "Lost Girl" blog posts and the status updates on Undertale.com. There is a specific emphasis on the population of the Dark World.
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Basically, every time you spare a Darkner, you're building an army. Or maybe just a really big fan club. Either way, the Deltarune Chapter 3 recruits will likely inhabit the new floors of the castle that Ralsei mentioned. If you're doing a Snowgrave-style run? Well, you probably won't be recruiting much of anything except regret.
The Mystery of the "Shadowmen" and Stealth Mechanics
One of the most interesting things Toby Fox shared in his 2022 and 2023 status updates was the "Shadowmen." These guys look like noir-film henchmen. They fit the "nighttime TV" vibe perfectly. Recruiting them might not be as simple as "Act" and "Spare."
There’s been talk of stealth mechanics. Imagine having to sneak up on a recruit to convince them to join you instead of just beating them into submission. It adds a layer of complexity that Chapter 2 lacked. If the Deltarune Chapter 3 recruits require specific mini-games to win over, the "Mercy" run becomes a lot more than just clicking through menus. It becomes an actual challenge of skill.
Some fans speculate that the "Mike" character—referenced by Spamton in Chapter 2—will be the main antagonist or at least a high-tier recruit. Honestly, I'm skeptical. Toby rarely does exactly what the theories predict. But the presence of a "Tenna" or a "Mike" figure as a potential recruit (or a boss you can't recruit) is the kind of tension that makes these games work.
Managing Your Castle Town Population
When you bring back Deltarune Chapter 3 recruits, where do they go? The Castle Town is already getting crowded. We’ve got the baker, the music trio, the shopkeepers, and a literal dumpster-diver.
The Chapter 3 additions will likely populate a "Studio" area or a "Media Center" within the town. Think about it. You recruit a camera-headed enemy, and suddenly you can "record" your battles to watch them back. You recruit a chef-themed Darkner, and your healing items get a permanent buff. This isn't just about collecting sprites. It’s about building an ecosystem.
The Missable Recruits Problem
If you're a completionist, Chapter 3 is going to be a nightmare. In Chapter 2, if you didn't interact with certain NPCs before leaving the Cyber World, they were gone forever. The Deltarune Chapter 3 recruits will likely be even more tucked away.
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- Check behind every "curtain" or TV screen.
- Talk to NPCs multiple times; their dialogue changes after certain plot beats.
- Don't forget the kitchen! If Chapter 3 spans the whole house, the kitchen Darkners are going to be hidden in the "fridge" area.
The Semantic Reality of "Recruiting" vs "Sparing"
There’s a nuance here people miss. Sparing someone just ends the fight. Recruiting them means they actually move in. To get the Deltarune Chapter 3 recruits to commit, you usually need to reach 100% mercy. If you end a fight early by using Sleep or a similar move, they might not show up in town. This was a huge point of confusion for players in the Cyber World, and it's definitely going to be a factor in the TV World.
You have to be thorough. It’s not enough to be "nice." You have to be "persuasive."
What We Know From the Screenshots
Toby released a few teaser images showing Kris and Susie in what looks like a green-room or a backstage area. There are chairs, makeup mirrors, and some weird-looking silhouettes. Those silhouettes? Those are your future neighbors.
One of them looks suspiciously like a pair of dancing shoes. Another looks like a microphone stand. If these become Deltarune Chapter 3 recruits, the music in Castle Town is going to get a massive upgrade. We already saw how the music changed in Chapter 2 based on who you brought back. Chapter 3 will likely double down on that "dynamic soundtrack" feature.
The Theory of the "Secret Boss" Recruitment
Everyone wants to know if you can recruit the secret boss. Jevil stayed in your pocket as a weapon. Spamton became a deal in your inventory. Will the Chapter 3 secret boss actually walk around your town?
Probably not.
The secret bosses are "broken" Darkners. They don't fit into society. But, their essence usually recruits a new shopkeeper or a new item. When looking for Deltarune Chapter 3 recruits, don't just look for the enemies on the path. Look for the broken things in the corners. They usually provide the most value.
How to Prepare for the Chapter 3 Drop
Since we're all playing the waiting game, the best thing you can do is polish your Chapter 1 and 2 save files. Why? Because the number of recruits you have now might affect your ability to get certain Deltarune Chapter 3 recruits later.
Ralsei mentions that the town grows stronger with more people. If your town is currently a ghost town because you decided to be "edgy" in Chapter 2, you might find that Chapter 3's recruitment options are limited. Some Darkners might only join you if they see their friends are already there. It’s all interconnected.
Actionable Steps for the Next Release
First, go back and check your Recruit list in the Key Items menu. If you’re missing anyone from the Cyber World, specifically the Swatchlings or the Tasques, go back and get them. You want a "Full House" before you enter the TV World.
Second, pay attention to the "Shadow Crystals." We have two so far. If you're aiming to understand the lore behind the Deltarune Chapter 3 recruits, those crystals are the key. They show a different reality. Maybe the recruits aren't just "objects"—maybe they're something much more sentient that's being suppressed by the Light World's perspective.
Finally, keep an eye on the official Undertale/Deltarune newsletter. Toby Fox has moved away from Twitter for major updates, preferring the direct "Fangamer" style emails. That’s where the real info on the Deltarune Chapter 3 recruits will surface first.
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The TV World is going to be chaotic. It’s going to be loud. It’s probably going to have a lot of "commercial breaks." But as long as you keep your Mercy button ready and your eyes open for household objects that look a little too alive, you’ll have a thriving metropolis in no time. Just don't let the remote control boss win. That guy looks like a jerk.
Next Steps for Players:
- Complete a "Pacifist" run of Chapter 2 to ensure your Castle Town population is at maximum capacity.
- Locate both Secret Bosses (Jevil and Spamton Neo) to secure the Shadow Crystals, as these may trigger unique dialogue with new recruits.
- Review the "Chapter 3 Status Updates" on the official Deltarune website to familiarize yourself with the new "Shadowmen" enemy designs.