Many gamers caught Deltarune fever in 2025, with the simultaneous release of Chapters 3 and 4 (of a planned seven total chapters). Personally, this game music fanboy had been waiting patiently for a Deltarune Piano Collections release from Materia Collective. After all, their official two-volume publication of piano arrangements for Toby Fox’s original Undertale has stood the test of time and remains some of the best VGM piano arrangements that don’t have the name Final Fantasy attached to them!
Only a few months after the Chapters 3+4 release, Materia dropped Deltarune Piano Collections: Volume 1. However, it seems we’re playing catch-up, because this volume only includes songs from Chapters 1 and 2 of Deltarune. One imagines that the upcoming Volume 2 will cover Chapters 3 and 4. More surprising for me, however, was the name of the arranger and performer attached to this project. I had expected the return of arranger David Peacock and performer Augustine Mayuga Gonzales. Their work on the Undertale Piano Collections (both volumes) floored me. I couldn’t imagine anyone holding a candle to this duo.
Then, along came Trevor Alan Gomes.
Gomes is an accomplished arranger and pianist. I had heard his work on a few projects in the past, mostly published by Materia Collective. Most recently, Gomes got my attention with his work on the self-titled album release for the VGM cover band Tournament Arc. Thus, before I even hit play on the first track, I had some faith that the Deltarune piano series was in good hands, even if it wasn’t with my favored artist duo.
Like the Undertale piano arrangements, Gomes is not playing fast and loose with the form and structure of Fox’s source compositions. Rather, we get a rich, full-bodied arrangement that takes advantage of the piano’s versatility and Gomes’ virtuosity. My ears are captivated by the quick tempo and heavy syncopation in “Rude Buster.” My mind struggles to wrap itself around the crashing chords and cascading arpeggios of “BIG SHOT.” And, I think, the star of the show is “Field of Hopes and Dreams,” a piece that wraps together important motifs across Undertale and Deltarune into one bright and spirited arrangement. Similarly, the brightness and heavy use of decoration in “THE WORLD REVOLVING” lifts my spirits!
I only have one critique for this album, and it’s one that surprises me, given so many piano arrange albums have the opposite problem. This collection is full of intense, fast-tempo tracks. Even tracks I expected to be more relaxing, like the mid-tempo “Scarlet Forest,” have moments of intensity. There isn’t much here that dares toward slow, soft, or relaxing. These are very busy arrangements.
Granted, there’s a part of me that doesn’t hate this approach. It absolutely keeps my attention. Perhaps I’m only complaining because I will eventually attempt to recreate these arrangements on my own piano, and with no slow, simple pieces, I am bound to fail! With that said, anyone keen on picking up sheet music should keep in mind that these are advanced-level arrangements through and through. Nothing ‘intermediate’ to be found.
At the time of writing this review, Deltarune Piano Collections: Volume 1 is available for free streaming and digital purchase. The sheet music is also available digitally. Coming in 2026? Physical versions galore! Materia has preorders available for CD and Vinyl versions, and a physical sheet music book is also available for preorder. I’ve already placed my sheet music preorder. Frankly, I think this is one not to miss. Even if you haven’t fallen in love with Deltarune (yet), you’re going to love these piano arrangements.
