Deltarune Chapter 5 Guide: How To Unlock The Secret Balloon Ending
Toby Fox finally abandoned his strict single-ending rule, and triggering Chapter 5's unsettling alternate finale only requires two specific dialogue choices.
Up until now, Deltarune refused to let you alter the conclusion of a chapter. Even after defeating the Roaring Knight back in Chapter 3, the narrative funneled you straight into the exact same cutscene. Chapter 5 finally introduces a true branch in the story. The most elusive option is the Balloon Ending, mostly because it hinges on a completely mundane conversation that happens after the main adventure is over.
Skipping The Sequence Breaks
You don't need to hunt down secret items, spare specific enemies, or locate hidden bosses in the Dark World to set this up. If you're trying to manipulate the game in much darker ways, you might want to read my Deltarune Chapter 5 Guide: Surviving the Weird Route instead. For this specific ending, you just need to play the game normally.
Start Festival Day with Kris, Susie, and Noelle, fall into the Flower Shop Dark World, and beat the final boss as usual. The actual divergence point doesn't happen until Kris and Susie return to the Light World.
The Dialogue Triggers
Once you're back in Hometown, the story starts wrapping up. Susie will turn to you and ask if you want to walk home together. This is where you have to reject the standard path. Instead of agreeing to tag along, select the following prompts:
When Susie asks to walk home, choose "Not Now".
On the follow-up prompt, choose "I have other things to do".
Once you lock in that second choice, Kris walks off the screen entirely. When they return, they're holding a bright orange balloon. Susie makes a brief comment about the new accessory, and the ending sequence continues.
The Loss Of Control
The normal ending gives you total freedom to roam around Hometown once the festival concludes. You can revisit old spots, check out the school, and eventually head to the closet to return to Castle Town and trigger the credits.
The Balloon Ending revokes all of that freedom. The moment Kris comes back holding that orange balloon, you completely lose control of the character. The rest of the Hometown sequence plays out as a lengthy, unplayable cutscene.
If you look closely at the balloon Kris hauls around during this forced cinematic, you'll notice a familiar shape trapped inside the rubber. It's your SOUL. Kris's vessel has completely taken over their own body, and you're literally just a passenger floating along on a string watching them walk around. I have no idea how Toby Fox plans to resolve this terrifying little hostage situation, but handing over your only method of physical control for a cheap carnival prize guarantees the final two chapters are going to be chaotic.
