Undertale

About

Undertale is a unique RPG where you can experience a soulful story with memorable characters, featuring a battle system that allows you to spare enemies or engage in action-packed combat. The game is mostly created by one person and offers humor, skeleton dating, and a challenge to find all the dogs within the game. However, player discretion is advised due to potential images that may trigger photosensitive epilepsy.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 145,251 reviews

story15.1k positive mentions

grinding606 negative mentions

The music in Undertale is universally praised, enhancing the game's emotional depth and atmosphere with memorable tracks.
The story is widely acclaimed for its emotional depth, humor, and unique narrative structure, allowing players to influence outcomes through their choices.
The game is celebrated for its integrity in design, being free from microtransactions and DLC, focusing instead on creativity and meaningful player experiences.

The graphics received mixed reviews, with some players finding them simplistic or unattractive, detracting from the overall experience.
Some players found the gameplay to be simplistic or repetitive, particularly in non-boss encounters, leading to a lack of engagement.
The game has been reported to have stability issues, including frequent bugs and glitches that can detract from the overall enjoyment.

story
28,326 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
45%
2%
The story of Undertale is widely praised for its emotional depth, humor, and unique narrative structure, which allows players to influence the outcome through their choices. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke strong feelings, with memorable characters and multiple endings that enhance replayability. The combination of a charming soundtrack and engaging storytelling makes Undertale a standout title in the indie gaming scene, often described as a masterpiece that resonates with players long after they finish the game.
- “Best RPG I've ever played; I highly recommend it for anyone into story-rich gameplay and beautifully built worlds.”
- “The story is amazing, the gameplay is phenomenal, and the true ending made me cry a bit.”
- “The storytelling and world-building are simply phenomenal, with a perfect balance between serious emotional storytelling and lighthearted humor.”
- “The story is very breath-taking at moments, along with that can be very sad.”
- “The story is light-hearted and more interested in being interesting and fun than to amount to anything great with the exception of the 4th wall breaks, which tackles meta topics that I won't spoil to you if you are genuinely reading this review in an informative way.”
- “The story is pretty straightforward, and while there are a couple of interesting characters, they're really front-loaded, and the character that you interact with most during the game is unlikable and constantly interrupts your ability to walk with poorly written dialogue.”
music
21,965 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
37%
1%
The music in Undertale is universally praised, with many reviewers calling it one of the best video game soundtracks of all time. Composed by Toby Fox, the soundtrack enhances the game's emotional depth and atmosphere, featuring memorable tracks that resonate with players long after they finish the game. From upbeat battle themes to haunting melodies, the music is integral to the overall experience, often evoking strong feelings and nostalgia.
- “The soundtrack is god tier; as someone who hasn't heard from Toby Fox before this game came out, I just went in blind, without any expectations for the soundtrack.”
- “The music is sublime; the 5-year anniversary concert is still on my playlist and still brings me to tears regularly.”
- “The soundtrack is a masterpiece that I listen to often.”
- “While I love the song that plays there (another medium), it's kind of annoying to hear it over 20 times because the biggest part of Hotland seems to be the air vents.”
- “The music is the biggest thing that Undertale is famous for, and for a good reason.”
- “The music is very catchy and well-made, and gameplay is balanced between cutscenes and puzzle-solving.”
gameplay
11,198 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
55%
4%
The gameplay of Undertale is characterized by its unique blend of traditional RPG mechanics and bullet-hell elements, allowing players to choose between combat and non-violent interactions with enemies. While many players appreciate the innovative mechanics and emotional depth of the story, some find the gameplay simplistic or repetitive, particularly in non-boss encounters. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging narrative, memorable characters, and exceptional soundtrack, making it a standout title despite its mixed reception regarding gameplay complexity.
- “Best RPG I've ever played, I highly recommend it for anyone into story-rich gameplay and beautifully built worlds.”
- “The story is amazing, the gameplay is phenomenal, and the true ending made me cry a bit.”
- “The gameplay, the story, the characters, the humor - everything in the world of Undertale fits perfectly together.”
- “The gameplay is quite unique for every enemy you encounter, ranging from a simple puzzle to dancing with your enemy.”
- “The gameplay is mostly tame, excluding certain bosses, but other than that, the game is fairly easy.”
- “The gameplay is simple, but in exchange, you'll get unique characters, an interesting story, great humor, and an unforgettable experience with some twists.”
humor
10,181 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in Undertale is widely praised for its cleverness and charm, often blending absurdity with heartfelt moments. Players appreciate the quirky characters, witty dialogue, and the game's ability to evoke laughter and tears in equal measure. While some find the humor dated or overly simplistic, many agree that it contributes significantly to the game's emotional depth and overall enjoyment.
- “Even if you don't like RPGs in general, Undertale has something for everyone, whether it be a humorous or suspenseful experience. Thank you, Toby Fox, for creating one of the greatest games of all time!”
- “The combat is fun, the jokes are hilarious, and the story is one of the best I've ever experienced.”
- “The characters somehow manage to be both hilarious and heart-wrenching at the same time.”
- “Music is great, UI is great, but it's all set back by cheesy, unfunny dialogue from cheesy, unfunny characters.”
- “The jokes were extremely unfunny; I didn't even smile at a single one.”
- “The humor in this game is garbage; it's not funny and the characters are so dumb.”
emotional
7,525 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Undertale is widely praised for its emotional depth, with players frequently expressing how the game made them cry, laugh, and feel deeply connected to its characters. The narrative's ability to shift from heartwarming to heartbreaking, combined with a unique gameplay style that emphasizes player choices, creates a powerful emotional experience that resonates long after the game is completed. Many players highlight the impact of the soundtrack and character interactions, which enhance the overall emotional journey, making Undertale a standout title in the gaming landscape.
- “The story is amazing, the gameplay is phenomenal, and the true ending made me cry a bit.”
- “I have no words to express how genuinely touching this game is.”
- “The true pacifist ending is something to behold; it is such a powerful and heartfelt conclusion to this story.”
- “I thought it was going to be great, but I just found a game with a boring story and not that much fun RPG mechanics and battle system.”
- “Shitty graphics (mixture of several sizes of pixel art), incredibly linear boring story, large amount of boring and similar fights, choices don't really matter (the typical: either character is dead, or the character will live but stay at the same spot from now on...)”
- “Just kind of a boring story and gameplay.”
graphics
6,032 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
61%
8%
The graphics of "Undertale" have received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the retro 8-bit pixel art style as charming and nostalgic, while others criticize it as simplistic or unattractive. Despite the graphical limitations, most reviewers agree that the game's storytelling, character development, and innovative gameplay more than compensate for any visual shortcomings, proving that compelling narratives can thrive without cutting-edge graphics. Overall, the graphics are seen as a stylistic choice that enhances the game's unique atmosphere rather than detracting from it.
- “It's a beautiful story put together in a choice-based game with a fun art style and banger music. Toby really made a masterpiece with this one.”
- “The pixel graphics are a nice aesthetic, and the game actively tries to stop you from going down the wrong path. There's a huge story, and the game knows it's a game in some cases.”
- “The art style and music create a nostalgic atmosphere that complements the game’s tone perfectly.”
- “The graphics might have been fine if this game was published in the mid-90s, but the graphics are very bad by the standards of its publish date.”
- “The graphics are so bad I can't see anything because of my constant stream of tears!!!”
- “Its graphics look like they were drawn by a four-year-old, with the talent of Pablo Picasso in his prime... which is what I would have said if I liked the graphics, which I do not.”
replayability
1,734 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
52%
3%
The replayability of "Undertale" is highly praised, with many players noting its multiple endings and branching story paths that encourage exploration of different choices and outcomes. While some reviews mention a decline in replay value after experiencing all major routes, the game's unique mechanics and character interactions provide enough incentive for multiple playthroughs, making it a standout title in terms of replayability. Overall, it is regarded as a game that offers significant replay value, especially for those interested in uncovering all its secrets and variations.
- “This game is so fun but still very challenging and it has many endings and routes which give it really good replayability.”
- “A game which has so much depth when it comes to story, offers so much replayability, is incredibly funny and simply makes you feel good overall deserves nothing less than 10/10.”
- “The game's emphasis on player choice and consequence made every decision feel impactful, leading to multiple endings that encouraged replayability.”
- “I personally feel it lacks strong replayability afterwards though.”
- “This game for me has almost zero replayability factor after the first playthrough.”
- “After you've finished the 3 endings, replay value is zero (hence why I haven't played it in years).”
grinding
857 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
25%
71%
The aspect of "grinding" in the game has received mixed feedback from users. Many players find the grinding, particularly in the genocide route, to be tedious and time-consuming, often describing it as requiring "a second life" to complete. However, others appreciate that the game allows for minimal grinding, especially in pacifist runs, and emphasizes skill over traditional RPG mechanics, making the experience less monotonous compared to typical RPGs. Overall, while some players enjoy the unique combat system and narrative focus, others feel that the grinding can detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “This game is probably one of the best RPGs ever, with no grinding involved (except in genocide), but the pacifist route is so good and the attention to detail is wonderful.”
- “There is no grinding (except in one route, but the grinding is up to you) and there is one optional grinding sequence mid-game in which you can come across good armor at a high price.”
- “Little-to-no grinding, which is a fresh breath of air apart from traditional RPG and RPG-like games.”
- “The gameplay, combat, and boss fights become frustratingly difficult and tedious at times, which I interpret to be part of the game's commentary.”
- “The notion of experiencing the same tedious battles and dialogue again was unappealing.”
- “The requirements to get the 'true ending' are tedious.”
atmosphere
629 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
46%
2%
The atmosphere of Undertale is widely praised for its ability to evoke a range of emotions, seamlessly blending humor with darker themes. The game's soundtrack, composed by Toby Fox, is noted for its exceptional quality, enhancing the emotional depth and nostalgic feel of the game. Players appreciate how the atmosphere shifts based on their choices, creating a unique and immersive experience that resonates long after gameplay.
- “The art style and music create a nostalgic atmosphere that complements the game’s tone perfectly.”
- “The music perfectly complements the game's atmosphere, creating a nostalgic and enchanting experience.”
- “The atmosphere the game creates is incredible, not to mention the fun mechanics of this seemingly simple game.”
- “Everywhere you go looks the same; the atmosphere and visuals are repetitive.”
- “The atmosphere, characters, and story just weren't there.”
- “The only gripe I had was how speech bubbles would disrupt the atmosphere and force you to stop sometimes every couple of seconds.”
character development
598 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
45%
2%
Character development in "Undertale" is widely praised for its depth and emotional impact, with players noting that even minor characters possess rich backstories and unique personalities. The game's narrative intricately ties player choices to character arcs, enhancing the emotional weight of interactions and fostering strong attachments to the cast. Despite its simplistic graphics, the character designs and writing effectively convey humor and depth, making the characters memorable and relatable.
- “The character development in this game is overwhelmingly good.”
- “What a story with such depth... the character development is unlike anything I have ever seen before.”
- “The character development is absolutely genius, making it unmatched when compared to any other game in history.”
- “At a certain point, character development turns into filler dialogue, and it’s a line Undertale does cross every once in a while.”
- “The characters are witty, but the game is so short to the point where it's trying to cram in as much character development as possible over the course of three hours, which ends with the game lacking any real gameplay or difficulty.”
- “Character development is very complicated and difficult to explain without spoiling the game.”
stability
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
1%
86%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent bugs and glitches, including freezing issues and audio problems. While some users experienced a relatively smooth gameplay without significant issues, others noted that the game can be quite buggy, particularly in certain modes or on specific platforms. Overall, while there are instances of stability, the consensus leans towards the game being prone to various glitches that can detract from the experience.
- “The game is perfect, no glitches at all.”
- “Story, characters, dialogue, script, gameplay, puzzles, hidden secrets, replayability, jokes, bug free and all those extra hidden little details - everything about this game is just beyond perfect!”
- “As far as gameplay is concerned, all the mechanics run smoothly and the game is mostly bug free.”
- “It freezes every 5 to 10 seconds for around 2 to 3 seconds.”
- “This game always freezes at startup.”
- “The fullscreen didn't work, the audio spazzed out for half an hour at a time, the controller support was buggy....”
optimization
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
46%
28%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its smooth performance even on low-end PCs, while others report significant issues such as bugs, stuttering audio, and low frame rates. Overall, while many aspects of the gameplay run well, there are notable performance problems that detract from the experience, indicating that the game could benefit from further optimization.
- “The game is a very small game and runs smoothly on low-end PCs.”
- “The art style and music are amazing, and the game can run smoothly even on a potato.”
- “As far as gameplay is concerned, all the mechanics run smoothly and the game is mostly bug-free.”
- “It is just a poorly optimized game.”
- “The game is so unoptimized it only runs at 30fps.”
- “There are plentiful bugs to be encountered in the overworld, mostly having to do with how the player moves (stuttering, getting stuck, moonwalking, etc.), all of which could be fixed within a couple of minutes by a novice programmer.”
monetization
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
22%
70%
The monetization model of the game is highly praised, with users noting the absence of microtransactions, DLC, and in-game purchases, which contrasts sharply with many contemporary titles that rely on aggressive monetization strategies. Players appreciate the game's focus on creativity and meaningful choices rather than profit-driven mechanics, highlighting its success as a heartfelt indie title that thrives on word-of-mouth rather than traditional advertising. Overall, the game is celebrated for its integrity in design and player experience, free from the pitfalls of cash-grab tactics.
- “10/10 no in-game purchases!”
- “This is potentially my game of the year for 2015. It's ironic really how all these $60 - $120 (collector's edition) games come out and try to impress us, and here comes this sweet little game that just takes Steam by storm, no DLC, no microtransactions, no pretentious indie stuff, just a sweet game that's really nice to play.”
- “This is a game made with heart, creativity, and a sheer passion one doesn't often see in a medium slowly filling with loot boxes and microtransactions.”
- “The big companies have convinced us it's all about multi-platform, multi-million dollar franchises you sell season passes and microtransactions and pre-order bonuses for, and many of them are being trounced by a $10 PC-only release by someone who doesn't even know how to code.”
- “It's ironic really how all these $60 - $120 (collector's edition) games come out and try to impress us, and here comes this sweet little game that just takes Steam by storm, no DLC, no microtransactions, no pretentious indie stuff, just a sweet game that's really nice to play.”