Undertale

 PC
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 5370 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4,431 out of 5370
  2. Mixed: 330 out of 5370
  3. Negative: 609 out of 5370

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  1. technocrow
    Jan 21, 2016
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. There is nothing to say...............................................................................................................................… Expand
  2. TitaniumDragon
    Nov 6, 2018
    10
    In recent years, there have been a few things which have been widely adored for their wholesomeness. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic set the Internet on fire with its brony fandom, attracted to it by its positive message and general wholesomeness. Steven Universe likewise inspired many people.

    This is the world that Undertale entered, and brought into the world a very wholesome    In recent years, there have been a few things which have been widely adored for their wholesomeness. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic set the Internet on fire with its brony fandom, attracted to it by its positive message and general wholesomeness. Steven Universe likewise inspired many people.

    This is the world that Undertale entered, and brought into the world a very wholesome roleplaying game.

    There’s one central conceit, upon all the rest of which the edifice is built – Undertale is a turn-based RPG where no one has to die. Every single enemy in the game – from random encounters to boss monsters – can be spared. You don’t have to kill anyone, and indeed, can befriend almost everyone you meet if you work at it hard enough.

    The game, then, is a very wholesome thing – it’s a game where you have the choice to be a good person or a terrible, murderous one. And if you choose to be a bad person – if you choose to murder the many goofy monsters that inhabit its world… well, it will be merciless in showing you just what an awful person you are, and how hurt everyone is by what you’re doing.

    This is a game which is on its surface very light and cheerful – there’s a large number of goofy characters, and indeed, almost everyone in the game is quite silly when you get down to it. You’ve got Toriel, a goat monster who tells corny jokes. You’ve got Alphys the hapless shut-in otaku scientist who is deeply socially inept but who tries to help you anyway. You’ve got Papyrus the skeleton, who speaks in the titular font and who has no idea how funny he is, and who gives you his phone number to try and help you out, but who mostly instead just makes terrible jokes about the areas you’re in.

    But there’s a disturbing undertone to it all. Toriel doesn’t want you to leave, and apparently has left the rest of the monsters for some reason. Alphys is depressed and not only unable to come to grips with her feelings, but has apparently failed in some disastrous way that has led her to shut herself off from the rest of society – and the further you go, the more you learn about just what happened. And Papyrus… okay, he’s just a goof. But the further you go, the more obvious that there is just something OFF about the world you’re exploring.

    There’s some real darkness lurking under the surface, with some monsters wanting to steal your powerful soul to use it to break the monsters free and overrun the human world, a talking flower who keeps encouraging you to become a murderer, and the whole fact that you *can* kill everyone in the game… if you’re a terrible person. There’s something fundamentally wrong with the world of Undertale, and yet, the people in it manage to be surprisingly wholesome anyway, with everyone having some core of goodness to them, no matter how far lost they might seem at first glance.

    This balance of humor, wholesomeness, and disturbing darkness all works together to create a very compelling package. Combined with a highly novel system where you defend yourself in the turn-based combat by dodging enemy attacks in a sort of shoot-em-up type thing that turns into something bordering on bullet hell by the end of it, and the game feels very fresh, despite being what appears to be on the surface a simple retro 8-bit turn-based RPG.

    This is a game that breaks its own rules, which integrates story and gameplay, which makes the player laugh but also makes the player love the characters and want to protect them and keep them from harm. It’s a game that makes the player CARE.

    That’s why people love it so much. The gameplay, without everything else, would only be okay. But the way that everything in this game is so tightly tied together – and the way that the game deliberately both helps and misguides the player to put them at risk of hurting the goofy inhabitants of the world – makes Undertale an experience that many people won’t want to miss.

    That isn’t to say it is perfect – it has some issues with pacing here and there, especially in the pentultimate portion of the game, where things start to drag with a long series of repetitive puzzles, and in a game as short as this is, the weak portion of the game is all the more prominent.

    But by the end of Undertale, I was filled with warm and fuzzy feelings. I felt good about completing this game – indeed, in my whole time playing video games, I think I’ve only felt this good about a game a handful of times. Portal and Portal 2. The Talos Principle. Chrono Trigger. And now this.

    And in the end, it’s hard to say that a game that made me feel this good about having played it isn’t amazing.

    If all you’re looking for is challenging gameplay, this isn’t the game for you. But if you’re someone who does like being touched by a charming (if offbeat) story and characters, you shouldn’t miss out on this.    … Expand
  3. Amathev
    Sep 29, 2015
    10
    I was a bit worried with how weird the fanbases can be to some things, but this game is great. It constantly plays with your expectations and has fantastic dialogue with an original sense of humor.
  4. ThoughtWolf
    Nov 14, 2015
    10
    It creates in itself a whole new genre of game by at first pretending to be another genre, then pointing out all the flaws of that type of game, all while making you feel actually morally involved with the character and their decisions. It does this in a format that has never been proposed before, and while perfectly meeting the expectations of every action I had in the game. It is notIt creates in itself a whole new genre of game by at first pretending to be another genre, then pointing out all the flaws of that type of game, all while making you feel actually morally involved with the character and their decisions. It does this in a format that has never been proposed before, and while perfectly meeting the expectations of every action I had in the game. It is not like other games where you try to perform an action with an expected result, and are disappointed in the lack of developer foresight, rather this game does the opposite and exceeds expected design and foresight by meeting and beating my expectations every time I raised the bar. Every time I explored the game, I learned something else that was actually relevant and had meaning, rather than small details of little consequence. Everything in the story is so wrapped up in itself and is tied up in such a delicate manner that it seems as if there are absolutely no plot holes in the story at all.… Expand
  5. Honeybadgers
    Nov 3, 2015
    10
    I am not the type who thinks games can ever REALLY reach a ten. This one does. It's pure, delightful magic, with fascinating characters, brilliant writing, and real emotional pull. I won't spoil anything, but I killed someone early on and it was heart-wrenching. I reload the game and it lets me avoid killing that character, but it remembers that I did. The music is glorious. I am not a fanI am not the type who thinks games can ever REALLY reach a ten. This one does. It's pure, delightful magic, with fascinating characters, brilliant writing, and real emotional pull. I won't spoil anything, but I killed someone early on and it was heart-wrenching. I reload the game and it lets me avoid killing that character, but it remembers that I did. The music is glorious. I am not a fan of the art style, but it is perfectly serviceable, so I can't really complain about it either. I was unsure about this game right up until I beat the title sequence. This truly is one of the top ten games of all time, purely though subversion of what you think of a video game is supposed to be.… Expand
  6. explodr
    Jan 11, 2016
    10
    This game fantastically blends together the retro style and modern character development that so many others try to emulate. Rarely do I have a game that constantly has me smiling, actually laughing out loud, and replaying the entire campaign. Certainly worth the amount I paid and more!
  7. WildFire15
    Jan 11, 2016
    10
    I consider a score of 10 something special, something truly defining that stands out above a typical game and elevates the medium.
    Understand that Undertale, after appearing out of the blue, fully deserves a 10, as well as all the praise it gets. Under it's 8-bit skin is a well made game with a story that fully understands and embraces consequences of your actions, making sure you never    I consider a score of 10 something special, something truly defining that stands out above a typical game and elevates the medium.
    Understand that Undertale, after appearing out of the blue, fully deserves a 10, as well as all the praise it gets. Under it's 8-bit skin is a well made game with a story that fully understands and embraces consequences of your actions, making sure you never forget what you did.
    Dispute their simplicity the graphics still convey enough to get you invested in the characters, especially with their endearing personalities and they'll make you laugh and weep in equal measure. The music as well is stellar with some amazing tracks.
    For £7, you have no excuse not to play Undertale. At 6 hours long for a typical play through it's not the longest game, but you'll want to come back to the world as many times as you can.    … Expand
  8. 12ealDeal
    Oct 7, 2015
    10
    Excellently put together, flawlessly executed, and marvelous in its structural makeup; one man with a little help put this game together, people! This RPG is one of the richest experiences you will find in all of gaming and I applaud Toby Fox for his painstaking attention to detail. I have no problem including UnderTale on a short list alongside Chrono Trigger and Earthbound.
  9. LuksRokz
    Sep 29, 2015
    10
    I have never ONCE in my entire life EVER cared about characters in fiction. Yet, somehow, whether it be through writing or 4th wall breaking, by the end of the game i genuinely cared about the characters in this game. So much so that after getting the true ending i will not be restarting it to see the other bad endings. It sounds silly, but the game just touched me that much. It deserves aI have never ONCE in my entire life EVER cared about characters in fiction. Yet, somehow, whether it be through writing or 4th wall breaking, by the end of the game i genuinely cared about the characters in this game. So much so that after getting the true ending i will not be restarting it to see the other bad endings. It sounds silly, but the game just touched me that much. It deserves a 10 for that alone, not to mention the actual GAME itself is fantastic, mixing genres and changing the way I’ve been playing rpg's for the past 15 years. It may sound like blind praise to someone else but hey, that’s just how this game made me feel, that’s all i can say.

    Also, soundtrack is **** amazing.    … Expand
  10. Marcthe1
    Mar 28, 2016
    10
    This game is a breath of fresh air, it's a new take on RPGs. The music is awesome and the dialogue is really great. Don't pay attention to the hundreds of trolls who give this game a zero.
  11. Plaster
    Nov 21, 2015
    10
    Honestly I fail to understand the negative and mixed reviews. This game is absolutely amazing and it would be REALLY hard for me to say otherwise. Judging this game because of graphics? Sound? Puzzle solving? Are some of these people serious? Did they even play games in the NES, SNES era? I honestly cant understand why people keep atributting so much importance to graphics and completelyHonestly I fail to understand the negative and mixed reviews. This game is absolutely amazing and it would be REALLY hard for me to say otherwise. Judging this game because of graphics? Sound? Puzzle solving? Are some of these people serious? Did they even play games in the NES, SNES era? I honestly cant understand why people keep atributting so much importance to graphics and completely miss other points in the game. The focus clearly wasn't in any of that but mostly in the fighting mehanics and story, not to mention the characters and humor which are all amazing. Heck, I bet most of the people that wrote the really bad reviews haven't even played through the true ending of the game and just decided to give up on it after they completed it for the first time. These people missed the whole fun factor because they were too set on other things that shouldn't have importance in the experience in my opinion. And I gotta say many of the people that read those reviews are probably never gonna give the game a chance which saddens me because it's a really great piece of work. And I gotta remind you this was practically a one man work, sure he was helped by some people but the project was mostly his so you there is no need to be so harsh when reviewing this game.

    Anyway this game is completely worth it's price. Like I said in my Steam review I felt I got way more than what I paid for.

    You will definitely feel sad if not even tear up at the end of this game. So i definitely reccomend this for everyone.

    The only bad thing that I think it's worth pointing out is some of the menu systems but that is just a small point in the game that doesn't break it at all.

    Overall if I could I'd give a 9.9/10 here in Metacritic but since that's not possible I'm giving it a 10.

    And remember that this game... it will fill you with DETERMINATION!    … Expand
  12. xxAcesHighxx
    Jan 16, 2016
    10
    Absolutely stunning in every possible way. I don't want to spoil a thing... just play Undertale as soon as possible, before some jerk spoils it for you!

    [NOTE TO DEVELOPER]: Mr. Fox, please bring Undertale to as wide an audience as possible. Personally speaking, I'd love to play your wonderful RPG again on PS Vita and iPhone/iPad in particular. PS4, too!
  13. ShadowKnight
    Mar 5, 2016
    10
    Fantastic game there's really nothing else to say about it.

    Like the only issues you could probably complain about would be the fact that the game runs in 4:3 but fit on 1080p which is a good thing but a bit of a shame. The game is also running at 30 fps. This is mostly due to the fact that it was built in game maker apparently and that thing is as unstable as spaghetti on a plate so    Fantastic game there's really nothing else to say about it.

    Like the only issues you could probably complain about would be the fact that the game runs in 4:3 but fit on 1080p which is a good thing but a bit of a shame. The game is also running at 30 fps.

    This is mostly due to the fact that it was built in game maker apparently and that thing is as unstable as spaghetti on a plate so that is one hell of a achievement. Not to mention how the save file can remember even the tiniest of details that happen during your playthrough, even when closing the game without "saving" will still remember it is beyond anything else for sure.    … Expand
  14. Androu
    Oct 1, 2015
    10
    THIS IS NOT A GAME, THIS IS NOT A WORK OF ART EITHER, THIS "THING" IS THE BEST CATARSIS ANYONE COULD FEEL. IT SHOULD HAVE A WHOLE NEW CATEGORY JUST FOR ITSELF. Really, the emotions of fear, laugh, mercy and lots and lots of happyness I had with this masterpiece of 8-bit design will probably never get reached with anyother creation in my life. This is for real, I mean it.
  15. Gwyndolin
    Jan 3, 2016
    10
    I'm not going to talk about the game, it's best for you to go into it blind.
    If you like story-driven RPGs and can look past 8bit graphics. This game is an absolute must play.
    It has all of the successful elements of a good story driven RPG, but condenses it into a 10~15hr game. (8hr per playthrough for me) The ability to marathon through it in 1 to 2 days is actually a key reason that    I'm not going to talk about the game, it's best for you to go into it blind.
    If you like story-driven RPGs and can look past 8bit graphics. This game is an absolute must play.
    It has all of the successful elements of a good story driven RPG, but condenses it into a 10~15hr game. (8hr per playthrough for me) The ability to marathon through it in 1 to 2 days is actually a key reason that it is so memorable.
    I went into this game with skepticism, now that I've played it twice I regretted not playing it sooner. So much love was put into the creation of this game, you can feel it from the moment you begin until you see the short credit list after the ending.

    Masterpiece.    … Expand
  16. otakon17
    Jan 2, 2016
    10
    This is a game that draws heavily from the Earthbound school of RPGs with strong characterizations, interesting looking character designs and a LOT of well written humor. The graphics, while simple are very well animated and expressive with a few surprises.
    The REAL draw of this game is the surprising depth which the game treats morality of the player themselves. Really if you're any kind    This is a game that draws heavily from the Earthbound school of RPGs with strong characterizations, interesting looking character designs and a LOT of well written humor. The graphics, while simple are very well animated and expressive with a few surprises.
    The REAL draw of this game is the surprising depth which the game treats morality of the player themselves. Really if you're any kind of fan of Earthbound or RPGs in general, you owe yourself to give this game a shot. Oh and the OST is completely fantastic, I've been humming many of the tunes months after beating the game.    … Expand
  17. LoneDutyer
    Sep 29, 2015
    10
    Very rarely has a game made me laugh, feel and empathise as much as Undertale, and for only ten bucks! GOTY. Don't judge this one based on the graphics alone.
  18. adam000
    Nov 21, 2015
    10
    Do yourself a favor and play this game without knowing anything about it. This game is a whole other experience. This isn't just a simple rpg, Undertale has created its own genre.
  19. Fliff
    Jan 24, 2016
    10
    There are a lot of troll reviews, let that be a testament to how incredible this game is. Of the indie darlings it is easily the most unique in story and character.
  20. Bearpowers
    Sep 26, 2015
    10
    Fun game, I cannot find a single thing to complain about. the way the battles play it is always interesting and fresh, little secrets hidden everywhere and choices changing things make replays feel more fresh.
  21. Riflenator1234
    Sep 25, 2015
    10
    This is honestly one of the best games ever made. Everyone should play it because you only needs a keyboard and speakers for it. If you have ever enjoyed any single-player video game experiences, you will enjoy this game. There's nothing else to say really.
  22. Malprodigy
    Aug 19, 2016
    10
    It's been a very long time since I've played a game that has so genuinely touched me. It strikes up a lot of emotions. The battle system is very unique. The characters are great, the interactions are great, the music is great, everything is great about it. And what's most amazing is that it was developed by one person! Thanks Toby Fox for this awesome game!
  23. EvilBagel
    Dec 30, 2015
    10
    This game is genius. It is meant to be experienced as a game without critical acclaim or hype. For those who know nothing about this game yet, and you want the experience to be as pure as possible, stop reading reviews and buy the game. The only thing you should know is that you have to be patient. If you're expecting the brilliance and payoff from playing the game to be experiencedThis game is genius. It is meant to be experienced as a game without critical acclaim or hype. For those who know nothing about this game yet, and you want the experience to be as pure as possible, stop reading reviews and buy the game. The only thing you should know is that you have to be patient. If you're expecting the brilliance and payoff from playing the game to be experienced immediately, then you're going to be disappointed. If you're willing to have that patience, then I promise you that the game is worth the cost.

    From a first glance, Undertale looks like a mediocre jrpg. Through the first couple of hours, the only things that are reasonably engaging are the promise of drama ahead and witty humor for the time-being. But the game hints at having far more depth than anyone could've originally expected, and the world around the player is beautifully exposed as the plot progresses.

    By the end of the game, the player has an entirely new understanding of the world that they worked their way through. They understand that actions have consequences, and that assuming Undertale should be played like other games (and specifically, other jrpgs) is a misconception. Depending on a final decision, the game may prompt the player to try again with a specific goal in mind.

    And that's my favorite thing about Undertale. You're meant to try again. And when you go through the game again, while there is some repetition, you'll notice that things are different. There will be new characters, new dialogue, and the surroundings and world around you will be changed because of the different decisions that you've made. And you're not replaying the game, you're continuing with the playthrough that you've already done. The game remembers.    … Expand
  24. meshpet
    Sep 30, 2015
    10
    this game is so good that people are starting rumors and bs about negative reviews being mysteriously deleted. it's just people trying to be hipster and fight the power. honestly just get the demo and try it for free. if it's not for you then don't bother with it. the game does get much more deep and rich as you go on thou. it's not an 'over hype because of crazy fans' sort of thing. andthis game is so good that people are starting rumors and bs about negative reviews being mysteriously deleted. it's just people trying to be hipster and fight the power. honestly just get the demo and try it for free. if it's not for you then don't bother with it. the game does get much more deep and rich as you go on thou. it's not an 'over hype because of crazy fans' sort of thing. and if you are still unsure watch some of Joel's playthrough on vinesauce. he plays through it blind and just watching the first 2 parts should be enough for you to see if it's something you'd be into or not. the game also has secrets and replay ability. i am giving it a 10 because it's everything i could have wanted from an rpg. but like i said don't listen to what any one is saying about, just try the demo.… Expand
  25. 113mac113
    Dec 18, 2015
    10
    One of the best games I've ever played. The story was gripping and the writing was hilarious, Love-able characters and top tier music really shine too, The graphics are akin to Mother/Earthbound and it plays very similarly to them. Save Scumming is done in a really cool way and choices throughout the game actually matter. The game makes you question your morality in a unique way as well.One of the best games I've ever played. The story was gripping and the writing was hilarious, Love-able characters and top tier music really shine too, The graphics are akin to Mother/Earthbound and it plays very similarly to them. Save Scumming is done in a really cool way and choices throughout the game actually matter. The game makes you question your morality in a unique way as well. Tons of easter eggs are hidden around as well which are a real joy to find. The game made me feel Joy,Sadness and all sorts of emotions and It made me feel the way I never thought a game would make me feel again. A big surprise of 2015, Just remember by "You don't have to kill anyone", You literally don't! I reccomend going into the game without knowing much about it. You'll have a better experience that way.

    Also don't listen to the 0/10's, They're made by salty Melee and Ocarina of Time nostalgia driven fans (Yeah, Arguing with a person driven by Nostalgia is like arguing with a brick wall.) Getting whiny over a poll on GameFAQs. Like, Its just a poll guys. Get over yourselves.    … Expand
  26. sethleslee
    Sep 25, 2015
    10
    Undertale mixes humor, an emotional story, and rewarding gameplay together perfectly into a short but satisfying RPG.

    To get the best ending you should play the game once the way you would normally play an RPG and then when you start the second playthough you'll know what to do. Going in blind and playing through twice was very satisfying and because the game it short, it never feels    Undertale mixes humor, an emotional story, and rewarding gameplay together perfectly into a short but satisfying RPG.

    To get the best ending you should play the game once the way you would normally play an RPG and then when you start the second playthough you'll know what to do.

    Going in blind and playing through twice was very satisfying and because the game it short, it never feels like a chore to play though everything a second time.    … Expand
  27. defendrojustice
    Jan 4, 2016
    10
    This game will touch your heart if you let it. There are some who don't even bother with this game because they say they hate the graphics. Those people are making a big mistake. Remember when LOZ Wind Waker came out and everyone said they hated it because of the cartoony graphics? They missed out, and now people realize it was a masterpiece. Undertale is a masterpiece, too.

    Undertale    This game will touch your heart if you let it. There are some who don't even bother with this game because they say they hate the graphics. Those people are making a big mistake. Remember when LOZ Wind Waker came out and everyone said they hated it because of the cartoony graphics? They missed out, and now people realize it was a masterpiece. Undertale is a masterpiece, too.

    Undertale is a game that any RPG fan or non-RPG fan will enjoy.    … Expand
  28. SmashLampJaw
    Oct 8, 2015
    10
    Essentially perfect.

    Clever gameplay, amazing writing, and masterfully scored, Undertale is a dark horse candidate for best game of 2015.

    I could say more, but it'd spoil the game, and why would I do that to you? At only 10 dollars, it's worth skipping a fast food lunch.
  29. Klonoa
    Oct 4, 2015
    10
    Fantastic game that deserves all the praise that it's getting. Music is stellar and despite the main character sprite being a little iffy, the rest of the art and design in the game is spectacular, as is the gameplay, which is classic earthbound-esc RPG with shin megami tensei style talking to monsters and touhou meets warioware defense.

    All around very entertaining, though I'll admit    Fantastic game that deserves all the praise that it's getting. Music is stellar and despite the main character sprite being a little iffy, the rest of the art and design in the game is spectacular, as is the gameplay, which is classic earthbound-esc RPG with shin megami tensei style talking to monsters and touhou meets warioware defense.

    All around very entertaining, though I'll admit it's not for everyone, as if the writing or characters doesn't appeal to you, much of the game will fall apart.

    Still, as someone who felt the opposite, this is easily one of my favorite games of this year.    … Expand
  30. kaspersky23
    Feb 21, 2016
    10
    This game totally just blew my mind..
    Just as i thought i had played every major retro JRPG-game i was totally shocked to see how original and heartfelt this game was.
    The fighting is groundbreakingly awesome, the characters so colorful and just a lot of awesome stuff packed in to this seemingly "simple" little rpg-game. Now, my favorite RPG of all time is Earthbound, but if i had not    This game totally just blew my mind..
    Just as i thought i had played every major retro JRPG-game i was totally shocked to see how original and heartfelt this game was.

    The fighting is groundbreakingly awesome, the characters so colorful and just a lot of awesome stuff packed in to this seemingly "simple" little rpg-game. Now, my favorite RPG of all time is Earthbound, but if i had not played that game, i would probably rank this game as my no.1
    It is just one these games that you don't want to end.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best PC Game of 2015
4
#4 Most Discussed PC Game of 2015
1
#1 Most Shared PC Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
92

Universal acclaim - based on 43 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 40 out of 43
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 43
  3. Negative: 0 out of 43
  1. GameStar
    Jan 16, 2017
    89
    Undertale is absolutely unique. It's a RPG masterpiece full of weird characters and a moving message.
    Read full review
  2. games(TM)
    Mar 4, 2016
    90
    With multiple endings based on how you choose to play out your run, set pieces that can play out very differently based on your actions and so many incredible moments that we’d love to share but daren’t do so for risk of spoiling anything, Undertale is easily one of the indie standouts of last year.
    Read full review
  3. DarkStation
    Feb 23, 2016
    100
    Through a combination of often relaxed but sometimes tense gameplay, a dreamy atmosphere, and genuine characters that feel like they’re actually alive and all living together in this isolated society of longing, Undertale transcends its medium and becomes a genuinely moving experience I would recommend to anyone who is open to a sometimes sorrowful, sometimes hilarious, always bizarre and engaging emotional journey.
    Read full review
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