Undertale

File:Undertale Combat Example.png/turn-based combat system in which the player controls the heart, avoiding attacks from enemies in between fighting, acting and sparing enemies, or healing.|alt=Fighting Toriel in Undertale. Toriel attacks a red heart, controlled by the player, with fire magic.]]

Undertale is a role-playing video game that uses a top-down perspective. In the game, the player controls a child and completes objectives in order to progress through the story. Players explore an underground world filled with towns and caves, and are required to solve numerous puzzles on their journey. The underground world is the home of monsters, many of whom challenge the player in combat; players decide whether to kill, flee from, or befriend them.{{cite news |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/10/15/conversations-with-myself-on-undertales-universal-appeal/ |title=Conversations With Myself: On Undertale{{'s}} Universal Appeal |author=Smith, Adam |date=October 15, 2015 |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |publisher=Gamer Network|access-date=May 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160516012147/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/10/15/conversations-with-myself-on-undertales-universal-appeal/ |archive-date=May 16, 2016 |url-status=live}} Choices made by the player radically affect the plot and general progression of the game, with the player's morality acting as the cornerstone for the game's development.{{Cite web |last=Couture |first=Joel |date=October 27, 2015 |title=How Undertale makes you think hard before killing monsters |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/how-i-undertale-i-makes-you-think-hard-before-killing-monsters |access-date=November 12, 2023 |website=Gamasutra |language=en |archive-date=November 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112215104/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/how-i-undertale-i-makes-you-think-hard-before-killing-monsters |url-status=live }}

When players encounter enemies in either scripted events or random encounters, they enter a battle mode. During battles, players control a small heart which represents their soul, and must avoid attacks unleashed by the opposing monster similar to a bullet hell shooter. As the game progresses, new elements are introduced, such as colored obstacles, and boss battles which change the way players control the heart. Players may choose to attack the enemy, which involves timed button presses. Killing enemies will cause the player to earn EXP (in turn increasing their LOVE) and gold. They can use the ACT option to check an enemy's attacking and defending attributes as well as perform various other actions, which vary depending on the enemy. If the player uses the right actions to respond to the enemy, or attacks them until they have low HP (but are still alive), they can then choose to spare them and end the fight without killing them. For some boss encounters to be completed peacefully, the player is required to survive until the character they are facing has finished their dialogue. The game features multiple story branches and endings depending on whether players choose to kill or spare their enemies; and as such, it is possible to clear the game without killing a single enemy.

Monsters will talk to the player during the battle, and the game will tell the players what the monster's feelings and actions are. Enemy attacks change based on how players interact with them: should players choose non-violent options, enemy attacks are comparatively easy, whereas they become less easy if players choose violent options. The game relies on a number of metafictional elements in both its gameplay and story.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2016/01/metafiction-games/ |title=The Best New Videogames Are All About … Videogames |first=Jack |last=Muncy |date=January 18, 2016 |access-date=January 18, 2016 |magazine=Wired |publisher=Condé Nast |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327004328/http://www.wired.com/2016/01/metafiction-games/ |archive-date=March 27, 2016 |url-status=live}} When players participate in a boss battle on a second playthrough, the dialogue will be altered depending on actions in previous playthroughs.

{{See also|Characters of Undertale and Deltarune|l1=Characters of Undertale and Deltarune}}

Undertale is set in the Underground, a realm where monsters were banished after war broke out with humans. The Underground is sealed from the surface by a magic barrier with a singular gap at Mount Ebott.{{cite video game |title=Undertale |developer=Toby Fox |date=September 15, 2015 |version=0.9.9.5 |scene=Intro}} A human child falls into the Underground from Mount Ebott and encounters Flowey, a sentient flower who teaches the player the game's mechanics and lies about "LV", or "LOVE", in an attempt to kill them. The human is rescued by Toriel, a motherly goat-like monster, who teaches them how to survive conflict in the Underground without killing. She intends to adopt the human, wanting to protect them from Asgore, the king of the Underground.

The human eventually leaves Toriel to search for Asgore's castle, which contains the barrier to the surface world. They encounter several monsters, such as the skeletons Sans and Papyrus, two brothers who act as sentries for the Snowdin forest; Undyne, the head of the royal guard; Alphys, the kingdom's royal scientist; and Mettaton, a robotic television host Alphys created. Most of the monsters are fought, with the human choosing whether to kill them or to spare and possibly befriend the monster. During their travels, the human learns that many years ago, Asriel, the son of Asgore and Toriel, befriended the first human who fell into the Underground. When the child abruptly died, Asriel used the child's soul to pass through the barrier, intending to return the body to the surface. The humans living there attacked and killed Asriel, causing Asgore to declare war. In the present day, Asgore has collected six souls from fallen humans, of which he needs one more to destroy the barrier.

The game's ending depends on how the player handles encounters with monsters.{{efn|The three endings are referred to as, respectively: the "neutral run"; the "pacifist run"; and the "genocide run" (less commonly known as the "no mercy run").}} If the player completes a playthrough without killing any monsters (or killed some but not all of the monsters) they experience the "Neutral" ending. The human arrives at Asgore's castle and is forced to fight him. Sans stops the human before their confrontation, revealing that the human's "LOVE" and "EXP" are acronyms for "level of violence" and "execution points", respectively.{{efn|In role-playing games, "LV" and "EXP" are abbreviations for "[experience] level" and "experience points", respectively, and are desirable to increase.{{cite book |last=Moore |first=Michael E. |date=2011 |title=Basics of Game Design |publisher=A K Peters, Ltd. |page=142 |isbn=978-1-56881-433-9}}}} Sans judges the human based on their accumulated "LOVE" and "EXP". The human then fights Asgore, but Flowey interrupts, killing Asgore, stealing the human souls and transforming into a more powerful form with their power. During this battle, the human calls the souls for help in weakening Flowey. After the battle, the human leaves the Underground. They then receive a phone call from Sans, detailing the state of the Underground after the human's departure, with the specifics depending on who was killed or spared.

If the player kills no monsters before completing a "Neutral" ending, they can reload their saved game to complete the "Pacifist" ending.{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/undertale-dares-players-to-make-a-mistake-they-can-neve-1798287299 |title=Undertale dares players to make a mistake they can never take back |first=William |last=Hughes |date=December 9, 2015 |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=The A.V. Club |publisher=The Onion |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325162749/http://www.avclub.com/article/undertale-dares-players-make-mistake-they-can-neve-228716 |archive-date=March 25, 2016 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Hughes |first=William |date=July 14, 2017 |title=A speedrunner is getting every Undertale ending — for 34 hours straight |url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/7/14/15971422/undertale-all-endings-100-percent-speedrun |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210720140604/https://www.polygon.com/2017/7/14/15971422/undertale-all-endings-100-percent-speedrun |archive-date=July 20, 2021 |access-date=July 20, 2021 |work=Polygon}} Flowey is revealed to be a reincarnation of Asriel accidentally created by Alphys's experiments. During the fight with Asgore, Toriel stops the battle and is joined by the other monsters the human befriended. Flowey ambushes the group, absorbing the souls of all the humans and monsters in order to take an older Asriel's form. During the ensuing fight, the human manages to connect with the souls of their friends, and eventually defeats Asriel: He reverts to his child form, destroys the barrier, and expresses remorse for his actions before leaving, revealing the human's true name as Frisk. The human falls unconscious and is awoken to see their friends surrounding them. The monsters peacefully reintegrate with the humans, while the human has the option of accepting Toriel as their adoptive mother.

A third ending, known by fans as the "No Mercy" or "Genocide" ending, ensues if the player kills every single monster in the game that can be fought. This involves continuously triggering random encounters in each area until no more monsters remain. Going down this route changes many aspects of the game: the game's soundtrack becomes more ominous, and most other characters are absent from the Overworld, having evacuated to escape the player's rampage. The few remaining characters that can be interacted with have changed dialogue, reflecting the impact the player's actions are having on the game's world.{{Cite news |last=Hall |first=Mat |date=September 22, 2018 |title=Undertale Genocide run explained: How to play the game in the most evil way possible |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/undertale-genocide-run-4873 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728031142/https://www.eurogamer.net/undertale-genocide-run-4873 |archive-date=July 28, 2023 |access-date=July 28, 2023 |work=Eurogamer}} When the human reaches Asgore's castle, Sans attempts to stop them, but fails and is slain. Flowey kills Asgore in an attempt to obtain mercy, but is killed by the human. Chara, the first fallen child who befriended Asriel, then appears and erases the world. To enable further replays of the game, the player must give their soul to Chara, restoring the world and causing a permanent alteration to the Pacifist ending.

Undertale was developed by Toby Fox across 32 months. Development was financed through a crowdfunding campaign on the website Kickstarter. The campaign was launched on June 25, 2013, with a goal of US$5,000; it ended on July 25, 2013, with US$51,124 raised by 2,398 people. Fox had little experience with game development; he and his three brothers often used RPG Maker 2000 to make role-playing games, though few were ever completed. Fox also worked on several EarthBound ROM hacks while in high school. Before the release of Undertale, he was best known for composing music for the webcomic Homestuck, starting in 2010.{{Cite web |date=August 2, 2017 |title=初見プレイは驚きの連続。本日発売となった「Undertale」のプレイレポートをToby Fox氏のメールインタビューと共にお届け |url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/384/G038441/20170802059/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112191524/https://www.4gamer.net/games/384/G038441/20170802059/ |archive-date=November 12, 2023 |access-date=November 12, 2023 |website=4Gamer.net |language=ja}} Undertale was the first full game that he wrote.

According to Fox, he was casually reading Wikipedia in December 2012 when he found its article for array data structures, something Fox did not have knowledge of. After reading the page, he thought about how he could use it to create a text system for an RPG. After completing it, he came up with the idea of creating a battle system. This system, which was created using the game creation system GameMaker: Studio, informed how Fox wrote the story, as both are intertwined. He wanted to develop a role-playing game that was different from the traditional design, which he often found "boring to play". He set out to develop a game with "interesting characters", and that "utilizes the medium as a storytelling device ... instead of having the story and gameplay abstractions be completely separate".

Fox worked on the entire game independently, besides some of the art; he decided to do so to avoid relying on others. Temmie Chang worked as the main artist for the game, providing most of the sprites and concept art. Fox has said that the game's art style would likely remain the same if he had access to a larger team of artists. He found that "there's a psychological thread that says audiences become more attached to characters drawn simply rather than in detail", particularly benefiting from the use of visual gags within the art. Retrospectively, Fox described Undertale as "a huge katamari of things that [he likes] that [he] combined arbitrarily", adding that part of the story "was almost written improvisationally at the last minute".

The defensive segment within the battle system was inspired by the Mario & Luigi series, as well as bullet hell shooters such as the Touhou Project series. When working on the battle system, Fox set out to create a mechanic that he would personally enjoy. He wanted Undertale to have a battle system equally engaging as Super Mario RPG (1996) and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (2003). Fox did not want grinding to be necessary at any point in the game, instead leaving it optional to players. He also did not wish to introduce fetch quests, as they involve backtracking, which he dislikes. In terms of the game's difficulty, Fox ensured that it was easy and enjoyable. He asked some friends who are inexperienced with bullet hell shooters to test the game, and found that they were able to complete it. He felt that the game's difficulty was optimal, particularly considering the complications involved in adding another difficulty setting.{{cite AV media |last1=Scarnewman |first1=Bobby |last2=Aldenderfer |first2=Kris |last3=Fox |first3=Toby |title=Toph & Scar Show S1 SEASON FINALE – ft. Creator of Undertale, Toby Fox, and Storm Heroes |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U0vagkvUV4 |website=YouTube |date=December 15, 2015 |access-date=January 21, 2016 |time=41:54 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171217012850/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U0vagkvUV4 |archive-date=December 17, 2017}}

The game's dialogue system was inspired by Shin Megami Tensei (1992), particularly the gameplay mechanic whereby players can talk to monsters to avoid conflict. Fox intended to expand upon this mechanic, as failing to negotiate resulted in a requirement to fight. "I want to create a system that satisfied my urge for talking to monsters", he said. When he began developing this mechanic, the concept of completing the game without killing any enemies "just evolved naturally". However, he never considered removing the option to fight throughout development. When questioned on the difficulty of playing the game without killing, Fox responded that it is "the crux of one of the major themes of this game", asking players to think about it themselves. Despite not having played it, Fox was inspired by the concepts of Moon: Remix RPG Adventure (1997), which involved the player repairing the damage of the "Hero" and increasing their "Love Level" by helping people instead of hurting them. Fox also cited Cave Story (2004) as a general inspiration for the game.

According to Fox, the "idea of being trapped in an underground world" was inspired by the video game Brandish. Fox was partly influenced by the silliness of internet culture, as well as comedy shows like Mr. Bean.{{rp|at=1:27:30}} He was also inspired by the unsettling atmosphere of EarthBound. Fox's desire to "subvert concepts that go unquestioned in many games" further influenced Undertale{{'}}s development. Fox found that the writing became easier after establishing a character's voice and mood. He also felt that creating the world was a natural process, as it expressed the stories of those within it. Fox felt the importance to make the game's monsters "feel like an individual". He cited the Final Fantasy series as the opposite; "all monsters in RPGs like Final Fantasy are the same ... there's no meaning to that".

The character of Toriel, who is one of the first to appear in the game, was created as a parody of tutorial characters. Fox strongly disliked the use of the companion character Fi in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, in which the answers to puzzles were often revealed early. Fox also felt that role-playing video games generally lack strong mother characters; in the Pokémon series, as well as Mother and EarthBound, Fox felt that the mothers are used as "symbols rather than characters". In response, Fox intended for Toriel's character to be "a mom that hopefully acts like a mom", and "genuinely cares" about players' actions. Initially, Toriel had to be killed in order to progress the game, but Fox changed it before the release of Undertale{{'s}} demo. He felt that it was wrong that the only way to progress was killing Toriel, this decision influenced Fox to implement the option to spare monsters as it made Fox understand what "Undertale was really about."{{pn|date=March 2025}}

Papyrus and Sans are named after the typefaces Papyrus and Comic Sans, and their in-game dialogue is displayed accordingly in their respective eponymous fonts.{{cite web |date=December 15, 2016 |title='Undertale': A Game That Is Still Amazing Today |url=https://comicsverse.com/undertale-still-amazing/ |access-date=February 13, 2021 |website=ComicsVerse |language=en-US |archive-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200507085356/https://comicsverse.com/undertale-still-amazing/ |url-status=dead }} Both characters are listed in the game's credits as being inspired by J. N. Wiedle, author of Helvetica, a webcomic series about a skeleton named after the font of the same name. Papyrus in particular was conceived as a sketch in Fox's notebook; he was originally a mean-spirited character named "Times New Roman" who wears a fedora.{{cite magazine |last=Hilliard |first=Kyle |title=Toby Fox Shares College Notebook Filled With Early Concept Art And Ideas That Eventually Became Undertale |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2017/01/09/toby-fox-shares-college-notebook-filled-early-concept-art-and-ideas-that-would-eventually-become-undertale.aspx |access-date=February 13, 2021 |magazine=Game Informer |language=en |archive-date=January 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170113045637/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2017/01/09/toby-fox-shares-college-notebook-filled-early-concept-art-and-ideas-that-would-eventually-become-undertale.aspx |url-status=live }} Sans originally ran poker at a casino and was going to tell more puns but Fox thought that it would not be funny as thought it would be.{{pn|date=March 2025}}{{huh|date=March 2025}} The idea of Sans with a casino would be revisited in the Xbox One port, where Sans runs a casino at his and Papyrus's house.{{Cite web |last=Baird |first=Scott |date=2021-03-16 |title=Why Undertale Has A Higher Age Rating On Xbox |url=https://screenrant.com/undertale-age-rating-teen-xbox-gambling-slot-machine/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Screen Rant}}{{rs?|reason=WP:VALNET|date=March 2025}}

Undyne was difficult for Fox to write as a character; he tried to give her various accents and hobbies. The only detail that stayed consistent was that Undyne was the first boss to actively want to kill the protagonist.{{pn|date=March 2025}} The final depiction of Undyne's character wasn't thought until Fox was writing Undyne's monologue before fighting the protagonist in her boss fight in the neutral and pacifist routes where Undyne became a natural character to write for.{{pn|date=March 2025}}{{huh|date=March 2025}}

Alphys was originally depicted as a man but Toby grew to dislike it, so Alphys ended up as a woman and had eyelashes added to her design.{{pn|date=March 2025}} Asgore was initially intended to be an intimidating character but was changed to be more goofy, inspired by his friend, Reid Young.{{pn|date=March 2025}}

{{Main|Undertale Soundtrack{{!}}Undertale Soundtrack}}

{{Listen

| filename = Undertale - Hopes and Dreams.ogg

| title="Hopes and Dreams"

| description="Hopes and Dreams", a song from one of the game's final boss fights, was praised for reintroducing many of the game's previous themes in a different style.

| pos = right

| type = music

| alt = An 18-second audio sample of the game's theme song.

}}

The game's soundtrack was entirely composed by Fox with FL Studio. A self-taught musician, he composed most of the tracks with little iteration; the game's main theme, "Undertale", was the only song to undergo multiple iterations in development. The soundtrack was inspired by music from Super NES role-playing games, such as EarthBound, bullet hell series Touhou Project, and the webcomic Homestuck, for which Fox provided some of the music. Fox also stated that he tries to be inspired by all music he listens to, particularly those in video games. According to Fox, over 90% of the songs were composed specifically for the game. "Megalovania", the song used during the boss battle with Sans, had previously been used within Homestuck and in one of Fox's EarthBound ROM hacks. For each section of the game, Fox composed the music prior to programming, as it helped "decide how the scene should go". He initially tried using a music tracker to compose the soundtrack, but found it difficult to use. He ultimately decided to play segments of the music separately, and connect them on a track.{{harvnb |Scarnewman |Aldenderfer |Fox |2015 |loc=1:15:10}} To celebrate the first anniversary of the game, Fox released five unused musical works on his blog in 2016. Four of the game's songs were released as official downloadable content for the Steam version of Taito's Groove Coaster.{{cite news |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/10/17/groove-coaster-undertale-music-dlc/ |title=Undertale DLC hits Taito rhythm 'em up Groove Coaster |first=Dominic |last=Tarason |date=October 17, 2018 |access-date=October 17, 2018 |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |archive-date=October 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018014313/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/10/17/groove-coaster-undertale-music-dlc/ |url-status=live }}

Undertale{{'}}s soundtrack has been well received by critics as part of the success of the game, in particular for its use of various leitmotifs for the various characters used throughout various tracks. In particular, "Hopes and Dreams", the boss theme when fighting Asriel in the Pacifist run, brings back most of the main character themes, and is "a perfect way to cap off your journey", according to USgamer{{'}}s Nadia Oxford. Oxford notes this track in particular demonstrates Fox's ability at "turning old songs into completely new experiences", used throughout the game's soundtrack. Tyler Hicks of GameSpot compared the music to "bit-based melodies".

The Undertale soundtrack has frequently been covered by various styles and groups. As part of the fifth anniversary of the game, Fox streamed footage with permission of a 2019 concert of the Undertale songs performed by Music Engine, an orchestra group in Japan, with support of Fangamer and 8-4.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/you-can-now-watch-the-undertale-orchestral-concert-free-on-youtube/1100-6482225/ |title=You Can Now Watch The Undertale Orchestral Concert Free On YouTube |first=Hayley |last=Williams |date=September 15, 2020 |access-date=September 16, 2020 |work=GameSpot |archive-date=September 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918064701/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/you-can-now-watch-the-undertale-orchestral-concert-free-on-youtube/1100-6482225/ |url-status=live }}

Undertale{{'s}} first demo was released on May 23, 2013,{{cite tweet |user=Undertale |title=Undertale.com The demo is out. |date=May 23, 2013 |number=337676405913571330 |access-date=November 12, 2023}} which at the time was said to account for about 25 percent of the full game. It had an initial release timeframe of Summer 2014.{{Cite web |last=Farokhmanesh |first=Megan |date=July 7, 2013 |title=Undertale combines classic RPG gameplay with a pacifist twist |url=https://www.polygon.com/2013/7/7/4497618/undertale-combines-classic-rpg-gameplay-with-a-pacifist-twist |access-date=November 12, 2023 |website=Polygon |language=en-US |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403145841/https://www.polygon.com/2013/7/7/4497618/undertale-combines-classic-rpg-gameplay-with-a-pacifist-twist |url-status=live }} The game was released on September 15, 2015, for OS X and Windows,{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/12/the-best-video-games-of-2015-as-picked-by-the-ars-editors/4/ |title=The best video games of 2015, as picked by the Ars editor |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=December 28, 2015 |website=Ars Technica |publisher=Condé Nast |page=4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160105125458/http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/12/the-best-video-games-of-2015-as-picked-by-the-ars-editors/4/ |archive-date=January 5, 2016 |access-date=January 21, 2016}} and on July 17, 2016, for Linux.{{cite tweet |user=Undertale |title=Undertale is now available for Linux on Steam! Also, the game's still on sale for the next 24 hours, so... |date=July 17, 2016 |number=754657063318454272 |access-date=July 17, 2016}} Fox expressed interest in releasing Undertale on other platforms, but was initially unable to port it to Nintendo platforms without reprogramming the game due to the engine's lack of support for these platforms. A patch was released in January 2016, fixing bugs and altering the appearance of blue attacks to help colorblind players see them better.{{cite web |url=http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/21/10808740/undertale-patch-update-new-content |title=Undertale{{'s}} first patch claims to fix bugs, but fans found hidden content |author=Frank, Allegra |date=January 21, 2016 |website=Polygon |publisher=Vox Media |access-date=May 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407080500/http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/21/10808740/undertale-patch-update-new-content |archive-date=April 7, 2016 |url-status=live}} Sony Interactive Entertainment announced during E3 2017 that Undertale would get a release for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita, and a retail version published by Fangamer. These versions were released on August 15, 2017.{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-06-13-undertale-is-coming-to-ps4-and-vita-this-summer |title=Undertale is coming to PS4 and Vita this summer |last=Matulef |first=Jeffrey |work=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |date=June 13, 2017 |access-date=June 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613061052/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-06-13-undertale-is-coming-to-ps4-and-vita-this-summer |archive-date=June 13, 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2017/07/18/undertale-coming-playstation-4-vita-august-15-2017/ |title=Undertale Coming To The PlayStation 4 And Vita On August 15, 2017 |author=Jenni |date=July 18, 2017 |access-date=July 18, 2017 |work=Siliconera |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808233144/http://www.siliconera.com/2017/07/18/undertale-coming-playstation-4-vita-august-15-2017/ |archive-date=August 8, 2017}}{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/8/15/16150618/undertale-trophies-achievements-ps4-vita |title=Undertale{{'s}} trophies are perfectly hilarious |first=Allegra |last=Frank |date=August 15, 2017 |access-date=August 15, 2017 |work=Polygon |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815212753/https://www.polygon.com/2017/8/15/16150618/undertale-trophies-achievements-ps4-vita |archive-date=August 15, 2017}}

A Nintendo Switch version was revealed during a March 2018 Nintendo Direct, though no release date was given at the time;{{cite web |url=https://www.destructoid.com/undertale-will-eventually-be-on-switch-493366.phtml |title=Undertale will 'eventually' be on Switch |first=Peter |last=Glagowski |date=March 8, 2018 |access-date=March 8, 2018 |work=Destructoid |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180309200705/https://www.destructoid.com/undertale-will-eventually-be-on-switch-493366.phtml |archive-date=March 9, 2018}} Undertale{{'}}s release on Switch highlighted a deal made between Nintendo and YoYo Games to allow users of GameMaker Studio 2 to directly export their games to the Switch.{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/3/9/17100548/gamemaker-studio-2-nintendo-switch-undertale |title=Undertale coming to Switch brings indie games' GameMaker Studio engine with it |first=Owen |last=Good |date=March 9, 2018 |access-date=March 9, 2018 |work=Polygon |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180309200705/https://www.polygon.com/2018/3/9/17100548/gamemaker-studio-2-nintendo-switch-undertale |archive-date=March 9, 2018}} The Switch version was released on September 15, 2018, in Japan,{{Cite web |last=Soejima |date=August 1, 2018 |title=記念すべき9月15日に『Undertale』発売へ！ |url=https://topics.nintendo.co.jp/c/article/0d8b4c6e-9164-11e8-b123-063b7ac45a6d.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191121150752/https://topics.nintendo.co.jp/c/article/0d8b4c6e-9164-11e8-b123-063b7ac45a6d.html |archive-date=November 21, 2019 |access-date=August 28, 2018 |website=Nintendo |language=ja}} and on September 18, 2018, worldwide.{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/a-ton-of-new-indie-games-are-heading-to-switch-soon-1828656011 |title=A Ton Of New Indie Games Are Heading To Switch Soon |first=Jason |last=Schreier |date=August 28, 2018 |website=Kotaku |access-date=August 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828163216/https://kotaku.com/a-ton-of-new-indie-games-are-heading-to-switch-soon-1828656011 |archive-date=August 28, 2018 |url-status=live}} The Xbox One version was released on March 16, 2021. As with the PlayStation 4 and Switch versions, the Xbox One version features unique content specific to that platform.{{cite web | url = https://www.ign.com/articles/undertale-comes-to-xbox-via-game-pass-includes-new-dog-slot-machine | title = Undertale Comes to Xbox via Game Pass, Includes New Dog Slot Machine | first = Rebekah | last = Valentine | date = March 15, 2021 | access-date = March 15, 2021 | work = IGN | archive-date = March 15, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210315183612/https://www.ign.com/articles/undertale-comes-to-xbox-via-game-pass-includes-new-dog-slot-machine | url-status = live }} All the console ports were developed and published by Japanese localizer 8-4 in all regions.

Other Undertale media and merchandise have been released, including toy figurines and plush toys based on characters from the game.{{cite web |url=http://www.destructoid.com/get-your-name-in-early-for-these-undertale-figures-340372.phtml |title=Get your name in early for these Undertale figures |author=Rowen, Nic |date=February 9, 2016 |website=Destructoid |publisher=ModernMethod |access-date=May 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310072257/http://www.destructoid.com/get-your-name-in-early-for-these-undertale-figures-340372.phtml |archive-date=March 10, 2016 |url-status=live}} The game's official soundtrack, Undertale Soundtrack, was released by video game music label Materia Collective in 2015, simultaneously with the game's release.{{cite web |url=http://store.steampowered.com/app/391570/ |title='Undertale' Soundtrack |website=Steam |publisher=Valve |access-date=May 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109184400/http://store.steampowered.com/app/391570/ |archive-date=January 9, 2016 |url-status=live}} Additionally, two official Undertale cover albums have been released: the 2015 metal/electronic album Determination by RichaadEB and Amie Waters,{{cite web |url=http://steamed.kotaku.com/undertale-has-an-officially-sanctioned-fan-album-and-i-1751497766 |title=Undertale has an officially sanctioned fan album, and it's awesome. |author=Grayson, Nathan |date=January 6, 2016 |website=Kotaku |publisher=Gawker Media |access-date=May 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331192340/http://steamed.kotaku.com/undertale-has-an-officially-sanctioned-fan-album-and-i-1751497766 |archive-date=March 31, 2016 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=https://determination-ut.bandcamp.com/album/determination |title=Determination |author1=RichaadEB |author2=Waters, Amie |website=Bandcamp |access-date=July 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204135856/https://determination-ut.bandcamp.com/album/determination |archive-date=December 4, 2020 |url-status=live}} and the 2016 jazz album Live at Grillby's by Carlos Eiene, better known as insaneintherainmusic.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2016/02/06/official-undertale-jazz-album-released.aspx |title=Official Undertale Jazz Album Live At Grillby's Released |author=Gwaltney, Javy |date=February 6, 2016 |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=GameStop |access-date=May 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160502123402/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2016/02/06/official-undertale-jazz-album-released.aspx |archive-date=May 2, 2016 |url-status=live}} Another album of jazz duets based on Undertale{{'}}s songs, Prescription for Sleep, was performed and released in 2016 by saxophonist Norihiko Hibino and pianist Ayaki Sato.{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/1789701441 |title=Undertale just got a nice new musical tribute |first=Kirk |last=Hamilton |date=December 5, 2016 |access-date=December 5, 2016 |work=Kotaku |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161206163614/http://kotaku.com/1789701441 |archive-date=December 6, 2016}}

A 2xLP vinyl edition of the Undertale soundtrack, produced by iam8bit, was also released in the same year.{{Cite web |last=Dornbush |first=Jonathon |date=August 26, 2016 |title=Undertale soundtrack Coming to Vinyl |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/08/26/undertale-soundtrack-coming-to-vinyl |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827204130/http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/08/26/undertale-soundtrack-coming-to-vinyl |archive-date=August 27, 2016 |access-date=August 26, 2016 |website=IGN}} Two official UNDERTALE Piano Collections sheet music books and digital albums, arranged by David Peacock and performed by Augustine Mayuga Gonzales, were released in 2017 and 2018 by Materia Collective.{{cite web |url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/undertale-piano/index.html |title=RPGFan Music – Undertale Piano Collections |website=RPGFan |access-date=July 26, 2019 |archive-date=July 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711000438/http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/undertale-piano/index.html |url-status=dead }}{{Cite magazine |date=March 3, 2018 |title=『Undertale』のピアノアレンジアルバム第2弾『Undertale Piano Collections 2』が発表。Bandcampで予約開始（試聴動画アリ） |url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201803/03153012.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711000435/https://www.famitsu.com/news/201803/03153012.html |archive-date=July 11, 2019 |access-date=July 26, 2019 |magazine=Famitsu}} A Mii Fighter costume based on Sans was made available for download in the crossover title Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in September 2019, marking the character's official debut as a 3D model. This costume also adds a new arrangement of "Megalovania" by Fox as a music track.{{cite web |url=https://www.destructoid.com/sans-from-undertale-is-getting-a-costume-in-smash-ultimate-565839.phtml |title=Sans from Undertale is getting a costume in Smash Ultimate |first=Peter |last=Glogowski |date=September 4, 2019 |access-date=September 4, 2019 |work=Destructoid |archive-date=August 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809184205/https://www.destructoid.com/sans-from-undertale-is-getting-a-costume-in-smash-ultimate-565839.phtml |url-status=live }} Super Smash Bros. director Masahiro Sakurai noted that Sans was a popular request to appear in the game.{{Cite web|url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=953dc07NMEk| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/953dc07NMEk | archive-date=November 17, 2021 | url-status=live | title = Sans Costume in Smash Bros. Ultimate! Version 5.0 Update: Home-Run Contest & More!| website=YouTube }}{{cbignore}} Music from Undertale was also added to Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum 'n' Fun! as downloadable content.{{Cite web |last=Doolan |first=Liam |date=October 13, 2019 |title=Undertale Song Pack Arrives In Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum 'n' Fun! As Paid DLC |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/10/undertale_song_pack_arrives_in_taiko_no_tatsujin_drum_n_fun_as_paid_dlc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115132924/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/10/undertale_song_pack_arrives_in_taiko_no_tatsujin_drum_n_fun_as_paid_dlc |archive-date=November 15, 2021 |access-date=November 11, 2019 |website=Nintendo Life}}

After Undertale{{'}}s release, a small Japanese fan community slowly emerged, leading to an unofficial fan localization patch being released in early 2016. Since Fox had envisioned a Japanese translation as an eventual goal while working on the game, he consulted a number of different companies, eventually choosing 8-4, which had previously translated Aquaria and Shovel Knight.{{cite web |last1=Ricciardi |first1=John |title=Breaking Down Borders: Undertale{{'s}} Journey to Japan and Back |url=https://blog.playstation.com/2017/08/08/breaking-down-borders-undertales-journey-to-japan-and-back/ |website=PlayStation.Blog |access-date=September 23, 2023 |date=August 8, 2017 |archive-date=September 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230924210256/https://blog.playstation.com/2017/08/08/breaking-down-borders-undertales-journey-to-japan-and-back/ |url-status=live }}{{cite book |last=Mandelin |first=Clyde |author-link=Clyde Mandelin |date=November 16, 2022 |title=UNDERTALE |series=Legends of Localization |language=English |volume=3 |edition=1st |publication-place=Tucson |isbn=9781945908019}}

To ensure a consistent voice for the game, 8-4 chose to employ only one primary translator, Keiko Fuchicho, even though it would lead to the Japanese version taking longer to release. She was supported by a small team of editors and proofreaders, and a programmer which modified the game to work with Japanese writing systems. Before the translation began in early 2016, Fox provided development notes and annotated dialogue to the team, and he continued to support and advise them throughout its creation. As PC gaming is less prominent in Japan, they concurrently made the decision to release Undertale for consoles, with the porting also being handled by 8-4.{{cite web |last1=Fox |first1=Toby |title=Undertale is Coming to PlayStation! |url=https://blog.playstation.com/2017/06/13/undertale-is-coming-to-playstation/comment-page-2/ |website=PlayStation.Blog |access-date=September 23, 2023 |date=June 13, 2017 |archive-date=October 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010222829/https://blog.playstation.com/2017/06/13/undertale-is-coming-to-playstation/comment-page-2/ |url-status=live }} After the localization's announcement, many fans were surprised by the decision to use the Japanese pronoun {{nihongo||おいら|oira}} for Sans due to its connotation with rural life, leading to the term oira shock.{{cite web |last1=Ashcraft |first1=Brian |title=Undertale{{'s }} Japanese Localization Is Causing A Fan Frenzy |url=https://kotaku.com/undertales-japanese-localization-is-causing-a-fan-frenz-1796085385 |website=Kotaku |language=en |date=June 14, 2017 |access-date=September 23, 2023 |archive-date=October 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004154318/https://kotaku.com/undertales-japanese-localization-is-causing-a-fan-frenz-1796085385 |url-status=live }} The localization was released for PS4 and Vita on August 16, 2017, and for PC on August 22.{{cite tweet |user=UndertaleJP | title= お待たせしました！PS4/Vita向け日本語版UNDERTALEは、8月16日(水) 1,620円で配信開始です。クロスバイ対応で1度の購入で2機種分をゲット。8月31日までに購入いただくとダイナミックテーマ「いせき」をプレゼント！ |number= 890805668927619072 |date= July 28, 2017 | access-date=September 25, 2023 |language=en}}{{cite tweet |user=UndertaleJP |title= UNDERTALEのPC/Mac向け日本語対応版がSteamで配信開始となりました！ | number= 899817931369963520 |access-date=September 25, 2023 |language=en |date=August 22, 2017}}

{{Video game reviews

| MC = (PC) 92/100
(PS4) 92/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/undertale/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 |title=Undertale |work=Metacritic |access-date=October 16, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911115518/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/undertale |archive-date=September 11, 2017}}
(NS) 93/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/undertale/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |title=Undertale |work=Metacritic |access-date=October 31, 2018 |archive-date=November 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191128103418/https://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/undertale |url-status=live }}

| Destruct = 10/10{{cite web |url=https://www.destructoid.com/review-undertale-ps4--454842.phtml |title=Review: Undertale (PS4) |last=Peterson |first=Joel |work=Destructoid |date=August 15, 2017 |access-date=August 16, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171217012851/https://www.destructoid.com/review-undertale-ps4--454842.phtml |archive-date=December 17, 2017}}

| GB = 5/5

| GI = 9.5/10

| GSpot = 9/10

| IGN = 10/10

| PCGUS = 91/100

| USG = 5/5

}}

Undertale received "universal acclaim" from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic. There, it is the third-highest rated Windows game released in 2015, and among the top 50 of all time. It was temporarily the highest-rated PC game of all time on Metacritic after release.{{Cite web |date=October 5, 2015 |title=Undertale is the highest rated PC game on Metacritic right now |url=https://www.destructoid.com/undertale-is-the-highest-rated-pc-game-on-metacritic-right-now/ |access-date=January 24, 2024 |website=Destructoid |language=en-US |archive-date=January 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124140039/https://www.destructoid.com/undertale-is-the-highest-rated-pc-game-on-metacritic-right-now/ |url-status=live }} Praise was particularly directed at the game's writing, unique characters, and combat system. GameSpot{{'s}} Tyler Hicks declared it "one of the most progressive and innovative RPGs to come in a long time", and IGN{{'}}s Kallie Plagge called it "a masterfully crafted experience".

Daniel Tack of Game Informer called the game's combat system "incredibly nuanced", commenting on the uniqueness of each enemy encounter. Giant Bomb{{'}}s Austin Walker praised the complexity of the combat, commenting that it is "unconventional, clever, and occasionally really difficult". Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw of The Escapist commended the game's ability to blend turn-based and live combat elements. IGN{{'}}s Plagge praised the ability to avoid combat, opting for friendly conversations instead. Jesse Singal of The Boston Globe found the game's ability to make the player empathize with the monsters during combat if they opted for non-violent actions was "indicative of the broader, fundamental sweetness at the core" of Undertale. Games and Culture{{'s}} Gabriel Elvery believed the general appeal of Undertale{{'s}} pacifist route was the facilitation of parasocial interactions with its monsters, which was attributed to their simplicity and representation of daily human life, constrasted to the genocide route, where such interactions cannot happen, as the monsters have either fled or were killed by the player.{{cite journal |publisher=Sage|last1=Elvery |first1=Gabriel |title=Undertale{{'s}} Loveable Monsters: Investigating Parasocial Relationships with Non-Player Characters |journal=Games and Culture |date=June 2023 |volume=18 |issue=4 |pages=475–497 |doi=10.1177/15554120221105464 |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/15554120221105464 |access-date=11 January 2025}}

Essayist Sean Travers in the Journal of Popular Culture described Undertale as a critique of the violent nature of mainstream role-playing video games, where players kill enemies in exchange for experience points. She noted the game's rather punitive nature towards those who choose to play through the Genocide route and ignore warnings, citing its progressive change in tone and disturbing imagery. Travers interprets this as the player becoming the antagonist or a "postmodern psychopath", which is described as a character who commits immoral actions for the sole reason being their consequences. She believed that Undertale is innovative in such games, due to the player's "degree of choice."{{cite journal |last1=Travers |first1=Sean |title=Nihilism, Violence, and Popular Culture: The Postmodern Psychopath in Toby Fox's Undertale |journal=The Journal of Popular Culture |date=April 2022 |volume=55 |issue=2 |pages=411–431 |doi=10.1111/jpcu.13120 |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jpcu.13120 |url-access=subscription }} Kevin Vale of Convergence compared Undertale{{'s}} management of accountability to that of Night in the Woods, citing the central role the player has in them, while contrasting their use of gameplay elements.{{cite journal |last1=Veale |first1=Kevin |title='If anyone's going to ruin your night, it should be you': Responsibility and affective materiality in Undertale and Night in the Woods |journal=Convergence|date=1 April 2022 |volume=28 |issue=2 |pages=451–467 |doi=10.1177/13548565211014434 |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/13548565211014434 |access-date=9 January 2025 |language=en |issn=1354-8565|url-access=subscription }}

Reviewers praised the game's writing and narrative, which IGN{{'}}s Plagge labeled it as "strong" and "consistently funny" and noted how it "[built] on" Undertale{{'s}} themes of humanity and morality. The Escapist{{'s}} Croshaw considered Undertale the best-written game of 2015, writing that it "is on the one hand hilarious... and is also, by the end, rather heartfelt". Destructoid{{'}}s Ben Davis praised the game's characters and use of comedy, and compared its tone, characters, and storytelling to Cave Story (2004). PC Gamer{{'}}s Richard Cobbett provided similar comments, writing that "even its weaker moments... just about work". Undertale{{'}}s absurd humor attracted praise; Kill Screen considered absurdity a signature quality of Fox's humor.

The game's visuals received mixed reactions. Giant Bomb{{'}}s Walker called it "simple, but communicative". IGN{{'}}s Plagge wrote that the game "isn't always pretty" and "often ugly", but felt that the music and animations compensate. The Escapist{{'s}} Croshaw remarked that "it wobbles between basic and functional to just plain bad". Other reviewers liked the graphics: Daniel Tack of Game Informer felt that the visuals appropriately match the characters and settings, while Richard Cobbett of PC Gamer commended the ability of the visuals to convey emotion.

By the end of 2015, according to a preliminary report by Steam Spy, Undertale was one of the best-selling games on Steam, with 530,343 copies sold. By early February 2016, the game surpassed one million sales, and by July 2018, the game had an estimated total of three and a half million players on Steam.{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/07/steam-data-leak-reveals-precise-player-count-for-thousands-of-games/ |title=Valve leaks Steam game player counts; we have the numbers |author=Orland, Kyle |date=July 6, 2018 |website=Ars Technica |access-date=July 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710173043/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/07/steam-data-leak-reveals-precise-player-count-for-thousands-of-games/ |archive-date=July 10, 2018 |url-status=live}} [https://arstechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/games_achievements_players_2018-07-01.csv Complete list]. {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711204821/https://arstechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/games_achievements_players_2018-07-01.csv |date=July 11, 2018}} Japanese digital PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita sales surpassed 100,000 copies sold by February 2018.{{cite web |url=https://gematsu.com/2018/02/undertale-ps4-ps-vita-sales-top-100000-japan |title=Undertale PS4 and PS Vita sales top 100,000 in Japan |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=February 15, 2018 |website=Gematsu |access-date=February 15, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215143737/https://gematsu.com/2018/02/undertale-ps4-ps-vita-sales-top-100000-japan |archive-date=February 15, 2018}} By March 2019, Undertale was one of the ten best-selling indie games on the Switch.{{Cite web |date=March 21, 2019 |title=Nintendo Reveals The 10 Current Best-Selling Indie Games On Switch |url=https://kotaku.com/nintendo-reveals-the-10-current-best-selling-indie-game-1833472265 |access-date=November 12, 2023 |website=Kotaku |language=en |archive-date=November 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112184926/https://kotaku.com/nintendo-reveals-the-10-current-best-selling-indie-game-1833472265 |url-status=live }} As of August 29, 2024, Steam Spy estimates that Undertale has sold between 5 and 10 million copies on Steam.{{Cite web |title=Undertale |url=https://steamspy.com/app/391540 |access-date=August 29, 2024 |website=SteamSpy - All the data about Steam games}}{{efn|This figure only includes sales on Steam.}}

File:Undertale cosplay at Tsunacon 2016.JPGers portraying (from left to right) Sans, Undyne, Papyrus, Toriel, Grillby, and Napstablook at Tsunacon in Rotterdam]]

Undertale quickly developed a cult following. About a year after release, Fox commented that he was surprised by how popular the game had become and though appreciative of the attention, he found it stressful. Fox said: "It wouldn't surprise me if I never made a game as successful again. That's fine with me though".{{cite web |last=Wawro |first=Alex |date=September 14, 2016 |title=Undertale dev reflects on what it's like to have your game become a phenomenon |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/281395/Undertale_dev_reflects_on_what_its_like_to_have_your_game_become_a_phenomenon.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803052141/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/281395/Undertale_dev_reflects_on_what_its_like_to_have_your_game_become_a_phenomenon.php |archive-date=August 3, 2017 |access-date=September 14, 2016 |work=Gamasutra}} Ana Diaz of NPR stated that Undertale "shaped the entertainment tastes of an entire generation", and that it "took on a new life through memes". Reid Young, CEO of Fangamer, said that the game became "an absolutely dominating force".{{Cite web |last=Diaz |first=Ana |date=October 17, 2020 |title=Make Love, Not War: Five Years Of 'Undertale' |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/10/17/924581553/make-love-not-war-five-years-of-undertale |access-date=November 12, 2023 |website=NPR |archive-date=October 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018051829/https://www.npr.org/2020/10/17/924581553/make-love-not-war-five-years-of-undertale |url-status=live }} The character Sans has been well received by players, being the subject of many fan works.{{cite web |date=August 19, 2016 |title=Undertale: 21 Creepy and Cute Sans Fan Art |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/08/19/undertale-21-creepy-and-cute-sans-fan-art |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160930085408/https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/08/19/undertale-21-creepy-and-cute-sans-fan-art |archive-date=September 30, 2016 |publisher=IGN}}{{cite web |last=Vas |first=Gergo |date=December 31, 2015 |title=Undertale{{'s}} Papyrus And Sans Have Dark Souls |url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2015/12/artist-meiura-venn-drew-a-pretty-cool-mash-up-of-papyrus-and-sans-from-undertale-and-dark-souls-sol/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612034829/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2015/12/artist-meiura-venn-drew-a-pretty-cool-mash-up-of-papyrus-and-sans-from-undertale-and-dark-souls-sol/ |archive-date=June 12, 2016 |website=Kotaku Australia}}{{cite news |last=Altland |first=Morgan |date=February 18, 2016 |title=Undertale still captivates audiences |work=The Oswegonian |url=https://www.oswegonian.com/2016/02/18/undertale-still-captivates-audiences/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170603162838/https://www.oswegonian.com/2016/02/18/undertale-still-captivates-audiences/ |archive-date=June 3, 2017}} Professional wrestler Kenny Omega has expressed his love of Undertale, dressing as Sans for the October 30, 2019, episode of All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite.{{cite web |last=Crosby |first=Jack |date=October 30, 2019 |title=AEW Dynamite results, recap: Inner Circle wreaks havoc, inaugural tag team champions crowned |url=https://www.cbssports.com/wwe/news/aew-dynamite-results-recap-inner-circle-wreaks-havoc-inaugural-tag-team-champions-crowned/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101135949/https://www.cbssports.com/wwe/news/aew-dynamite-results-recap-inner-circle-wreaks-havoc-inaugural-tag-team-champions-crowned/ |archive-date=November 1, 2019 |access-date=November 4, 2019 |work=CBS Sports}} Sans's addition as a Mii fighter costume in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate garnered positive feedback from fans, although The Commonwealth Times considered his addition to be a "potential problem" due to the decreasing nostalgia factor for each new character and ever-increasing size of the roster.{{cite news |last=Schuhart |first=Jonah |date=September 16, 2019 |title=Smash Bros. creates potential problem with new DLC characters |work=The Commonwealth Times |url=https://commonwealthtimes.org/2019/09/15/smash-bros-creates-potential-problem-with-new-dlc-characters/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200507092316/https://commonwealthtimes.org/2019/09/15/smash-bros-creates-potential-problem-with-new-dlc-characters/ |archive-date=May 7, 2020}} The Undertale fandom has also been noted for the creations of various fan games that offer unique stories and gameplay mechanics based on the Undertale world.{{cite web|last=Childers|first=Juliet|date=October 27, 2021|title=15 Undertale Fan Games Every Fan Should Know About|work=TheGamer|url=https://www.thegamer.com/undertale-best-fan-games/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104182818/https://www.thegamer.com/undertale-best-fan-games/|archive-date=November 4, 2021|access-date=April 22, 2024}} Among the most anticipated fangames was the spinoff Undertale Yellow, which after seven years of development was released in 2023 and met with immense popularity by fans on multiple social media networks.{{Cite web |last1=Nelson |first1=Will |date=December 10, 2023 |title=Steam's best indie game gets a colossal free prequel seven years in the making |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/undertale/yellow |access-date=December 12, 2023 |website=PCGamesN |language=en-US |archive-date=April 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417213055/https://www.pcgamesn.com/undertale/yellow |url-status=live }}

Undertale{{'}}s fanbase has also been subject to controversy, leading to it gaining a negative reputation. Part of it was due to the disagreement between fans over the correct way to play the game. After the game's release, some live streamers were harassed by fans of the game for killing in-game enemies and attempting the "genocide" route. YouTuber Markiplier refused to complete his initial play-through of the game, stating that he was "not having fun" due to fan demands.{{cite web|last=Spencer|first=Chloe|date=August 21, 2017|title=The Undertale Drama|url=https://kotaku.com/the-undertale-drama-1798159975|access-date=October 1, 2021|website=Kotaku|language=en-US|archive-date=December 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191201120241/https://kotaku.com/the-undertale-drama-1798159975|url-status=live}}

In July 2016, during a summit about the Internet held at the Vatican, YouTube personality MatPat gifted a copy of Undertale to Pope Francis. MatPat explained his choice of gift by referencing the year 2016's status as the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, and connecting this to Undertale{{'}}s overarching theme of mercy.{{Cite web|last=Good|first=Owen S.|date=July 6, 2016|title=Someone gave the pope a copy of Undertale|url=https://www.polygon.com/2016/7/6/12105428/pope-undertale-youtuber|access-date=January 5, 2022|website=Polygon|language=en-US|archive-date=January 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105051853/https://www.polygon.com/2016/7/6/12105428/pope-undertale-youtuber|url-status=live}} Later, in January 2022, a circus troupe performed in front of the Pope during his weekly audience at the Vatican to the tune of "Megalovania", drawing parallels with MatPat's symbolic gift of the game to Pope Francis.{{Cite web |last=Colp |first=Tyler |date=January 6, 2022 |title=The Pope started 2022 by blasting a song from hit RPG Undertale |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/the-pope-started-2022-by-blasting-a-song-from-hit-rpg-undertale/ |access-date=January 7, 2022 |website=PC Gamer |language=en |archive-date=January 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107022833/https://www.pcgamer.com/the-pope-started-2022-by-blasting-a-song-from-hit-rpg-undertale/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Diaz |first=Ana |date=January 6, 2022 |title=The Pope listening to Undertale{{'s}} 'Megalovania' is already 2022's weirdest video |url=https://www.polygon.com/22870441/pope-undertale-toby-fox-megalovania |access-date=February 19, 2022 |website=Polygon |language=en-US |archive-date=February 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219013700/https://www.polygon.com/22870441/pope-undertale-toby-fox-megalovania |url-status=live }} Christopher Cayari of the International Journal of Education & the Arts described Undertale{{'}}s popularity as an example of video game music serving as a medium that could serve a great utility to music educators, citing the fandom's participatory culture.{{cite journal |last1=Cayari |first1=Christopher |title=The Music of Undertale: Participatory Culture, Video Game Music, and Creating Covers for YouTube |journal=International Journal of Education & the Arts |date=2023 |volume=24 |issue=22 |doi=10.26209/ijea24n22}}

Undertale{{'s}} fandom has been among the most prone to fan theories due to the mysterious nature of many plot elements. A commonly proposed theory by the fandom is that Chara, the first human who fell into the underground and is credited to causing the destruction inflicted in the Genocide route, is the narrator of the game. Among all theories proposed by the fandom though, the story regarding the former royal scientist W. D. Gaster is often cited as the deepest rabbit hole in the story of the game. The Gaster story has very few pieces of evidence confirmed to have been known by the community outside of his association with the font Wingdings, his role as the royal scientist, and creating the CORE (a magical and technological power source for the Underground's monsters who live in the most populated areas) within Undertale only to "fall into his creation" and have his body shattered across time and space. Upon the release of Deltarune, players en masse speculated that Gaster played some role in the plot of the game and was an attempt to link both Undertale and Deltarune together aside from sharing the same characters.{{Cite news |last=Elker |first=Jhaan |date=September 23, 2021 |title=What the hell is going on in Deltarune? |language=en-US |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2021/09/23/deltarune-chapter-2-explained/ |access-date=July 15, 2023 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=March 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330185128/https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2021/09/23/deltarune-chapter-2-explained/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Grayson |first=Nathan |date=November 13, 2015 |title=Players May Never Solve Undertale{{'s}} Final Mystery |url=https://kotaku.com/players-may-never-solve-undertales-final-mystery-1742228039 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203152550/https://kotaku.com/players-may-never-solve-undertales-final-mystery-1742228039 |archive-date=February 3, 2023 |access-date=July 15, 2023 |website=Kotaku}}{{Cite web |last=Grayson |first=Nathan |date=November 2, 2018 |title=Undertale Fans Already Have Theories About What's Going On In Deltarune |url=https://kotaku.com/undertale-fans-already-have-theories-about-whats-going-1830165547 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200507081539/https://kotaku.com/undertale-fans-already-have-theories-about-whats-going-1830165547 |archive-date=May 7, 2020 |access-date=July 15, 2023 |website=Kotaku}}{{Cite news |last=Morrison |first=Angus |date=January 15, 2016 |title=Undertale turns 3D |language=en |work=PC Gamer |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/undertale-turns-3d/ |access-date=July 15, 2023 |quote=Undertale inspires strange behaviour in its players, from the half-imagined theories surrounding the unknowable W. D. Gaster ... |archive-date=July 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230715005320/https://www.pcgamer.com/undertale-turns-3d/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Schreier |first=Jason |date=January 7, 2016 |title=Undertale Has One Of The Greatest Final Boss Fights In RPG History |url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2016/01/undertalehas-one-of-the-greatest-final-boss-fights-in-rpg-history/ |access-date=July 15, 2023 |website=Kotaku Australia |language=en-AU |quote=The character W. D. Gaster (who is fan theorized to be a third skeleton) is a reference to the font Wingdings as he communicates in that font as well. Also, the Aster part of his name is yet ANOTHER font that is the same one used when Sans snores during his fight on the genocidal route. |archive-date=July 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230715005321/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2016/01/undertalehas-one-of-the-greatest-final-boss-fights-in-rpg-history/ |url-status=dead }}

The game appeared on several year-end lists of the best games of 2015, receiving Game of the Month and Funniest Game on PC from Rock Paper Shotgun,{{cite web |date=October 30, 2015 |title=Game of the Month: October – Undertale |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/10/13/undertale-game-of-the-month/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160526055443/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/10/13/undertale-game-of-the-month/ |archive-date=May 26, 2016 |access-date=January 21, 2016 |website=Rock Paper Shotgun}} Best Game Ever from GameFAQs,{{Cite web |last=Frank |first=Allegra |date=December 16, 2015 |title=Undertale wins GameFAQs' Best Game Ever contest |url=http://www.polygon.com/2015/12/16/10323192/undertale-gamefaqs-best-game-ever |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20151217013026/http://www.polygon.com/2015/12/16/10323192/undertale-gamefaqs-best-game-ever |archive-date=December 17, 2015 |access-date=January 21, 2016 |website=Polygon}} and Game of the Year for PC from Zero Punctuation,{{Cite web |last=Croshaw |first=Ben |date=January 7, 2016 |title=Top 5 Games of 2015 |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/116617-Top-5-Best-and-Worst-Games-of-2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160106183824/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/116617-Top-5-Best-and-Worst-Games-of-2015 |archive-date=January 6, 2016 |access-date=January 21, 2016 |website=The Escapist}} and IGN.{{cite web |title=PC Game of the Year |url=https://uk.ign.com/wikis/best-of-2015/PC_Game_of_the_Year |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203193939/https://uk.ign.com/wikis/best-of-2015/PC_Game_of_the_Year |archive-date=December 3, 2019 |access-date=December 3, 2019 |publisher=IGN}} It also received Best PC Game from Destructoid.{{cite web |date=December 22, 2015 |title=Destructoid's award for Best PC Game of 2015 goes to... |url=http://www.destructoid.com/destructoid-s-award-for-best-pc-game-of-2015-goes-to--328410.phtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20151222180544/http://www.destructoid.com/destructoid-s-award-for-best-pc-game-of-2015-goes-to--328410.phtml |archive-date=December 22, 2015 |access-date=January 21, 2016 |website=Destructoid}}

Undertale garnered awards and nominations in a variety of categories with praise for its story, narrative and for its role-playing. At IGN{{'}}s Best of 2015, the game received Best Story.{{cite web |date=January 12, 2016 |title=Best Story |url=http://au.ign.com/wikis/best-of-2015/Best_Story |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151217013930/http://au.ign.com/wikis/best-of-2015/Best_Story |archive-date=December 17, 2015 |access-date=February 17, 2016 |website=IGN}} The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Undertale for Role-Playing/Massive Multiplayer Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction, and the D.I.C.E. Sprite Award.{{Cite web |last=Frank |first=Allegra |date=January 13, 2016 |title=DICE Awards finalists include Fallout 4, Witcher 3, Life is Strange and more |url=http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/13/10760412/dice-awards-2016-nominees |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160113163015/http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/13/10760412/dice-awards-2016-nominees |archive-date=January 13, 2016 |access-date=January 21, 2016 |website=Polygon}} Undertale was nominated for the Innovation Award, Best Debut, and Best Narrative at the Game Developers Choice Awards. In 2016, at the Independent Games Festival the game won the Audience Award, and garnered three nominations for Excellence in Audio, Excellence in Narrative, and the Seumas McNally Grand Prize.{{cite web |title=Nominees for 2016 Independent Games Festival Awards Revealed |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nominees-for-2016-independent-games-festival-award/1100-6433578/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203195325/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nominees-for-2016-independent-games-festival-award/1100-6433578/ |archive-date=December 3, 2019 |access-date=December 3, 2019 |website=GameSpot}} The SXSW Gaming Awards named it the Most Fulfilling Crowdfunded Game, and awarded it the Matthew Crump Cultural Innovation Award. The same year at the Steam Awards the game received a nomination for the "I'm not crying, there's just something in my eye" award.{{cite web |last=Sarkar |first=Samit |date=December 20, 2016 |title=2016 Steam Awards finalists go all the way back to 2006 |url=https://www.polygon.com/2016/12/20/14027538/steam-awards-2016-finalists-voting |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221133243/http://www.polygon.com/2016/12/20/14027538/steam-awards-2016-finalists-voting |archive-date=December 21, 2016 |access-date=November 23, 2019 |website=Polygon}} In 2019, Polygon named the game among the decade's best.{{Cite web |last=Polygon staff |date=November 4, 2019 |title=The 100 best games of the decade (2010–2019): 100–51 |url=https://www.polygon.com/features/2019/11/4/20944265/best-games-2019-2010-ps4-switch-xbox-pc-100-51 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105015557/https://www.polygon.com/features/2019/11/4/20944265/best-games-2019-2010-ps4-switch-xbox-pc-100-51 |archive-date=November 5, 2019 |access-date=November 9, 2019 |website=Polygon}} In 2021, IGN listed Undertale as the 20th greatest game of all time, while in Japan, a nationwide TV Asahi poll of over 50,000 players listed Undertale as the 13th greatest game of all time.{{Cite web |last=IGN staff |date=November 1, 2021 |title=The Top 100 Video Games of All Time |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-best-100-video-games-of-all-time |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103160655/https://www.ign.com/articles/the-best-100-video-games-of-all-time |archive-date=January 3, 2022 |access-date=January 3, 2022 |website=IGN |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=December 27, 2021 |title=Over 50,000 Japanese users vote for their favorite console games in TV Asahi poll - Top 100 announced |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2021/12/over-50000-japanese-users-vote-for-their-favorite-console-games-in-tv-asahi-poll-top-100-announced |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103083040/https://www.gematsu.com/2021/12/over-50000-japanese-users-vote-for-their-favorite-console-games-in-tv-asahi-poll-top-100-announced |archive-date=January 3, 2022 |access-date=January 3, 2022 |website=Gematsu}}

{{main|Deltarune{{!}}Deltarune}}

After previously teasing something Undertale-related a day earlier, Fox released the first chapter of Deltarune on October 31, 2018, for macOS and Windows for free.{{Cite web |last=Hernandez |first=Patricia |date=October 31, 2018 |title=Cult RPG Undertale gets a surprise spinoff for Halloween |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/31/18047410/undertale-spinoff-sequel-deltarune-toby-fox |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031151031/https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/31/18047410/undertale-spinoff-sequel-deltarune-toby-fox |archive-date=October 31, 2018 |access-date=October 31, 2018 |website=The Verge}} Deltarune is "not the world of Undertale", according to Fox, though characters and settings may bring some of Undertale{{'}}s world to mind, and is "intended for people who have completed Undertale".{{cite web |url=https://www.deltarune.com/ |title=DELTARUNE |last=Fox |first=Toby |website=www.deltarune.com |language=en |access-date=November 2, 2018 |archive-date=November 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181102053706/https://www.deltarune.com/ |url-status=live }} The name Deltarune is an anagram of Undertale. Fox stated that this release is the first part of a new project, considering it a "survey program" to determine the project's future direction.{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/10/31/18044640/deltarune-free-download-undertale-game |title=Undertale creator's new game is Deltarune, a mysterious surprise |first=Allegra |last=Frank |date=October 31, 2018 |access-date=November 1, 2018 |work=Polygon |archive-date=November 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101015346/https://www.polygon.com/2018/10/31/18044640/deltarune-free-download-undertale-game |url-status=live }} Fox clarified that Deltarune will be a larger project than Undertale, stating it took him a few years to create the game's first chapter, much longer than it took him to complete the Undertale demo. Unlike Undertale, Deltarune is planned to have only one ending, regardless of what choices the player makes in the game.

Chapter 2 of Deltarune was released on September 17, 2021, after Fox acquired a team to help him with further development.{{Cite news|last=Bankhurst|first=Adam|date=September 15, 2021|title=Deltarune: Chapter 2 Arriving on PC and Mac This Week|work=IGN|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/deltarune-chapter-2-release-date-this-week-pc-mac|access-date=September 15, 2021|archive-date=September 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916033148/https://www.ign.com/articles/deltarune-chapter-2-release-date-this-week-pc-mac|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://deltarune.com/update-092021/|title=Deltarune Status Update - Sept 2021|date=September 17, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918141650/https://deltarune.com/update-092021/|archive-date=September 18, 2021|access-date=September 18, 2021}} Once all chapters are complete, the game will be released as a complete whole; Fox stated that he does not have an anticipated timetable for completion.{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-11-02-undertale-creator-says-the-rest-of-deltarune-has-not-been-made-yet |title=Undertale creator suggests it's going to be a while before we see more Deltarune |first=Emma |last=Kent |date=November 2, 2018 |access-date=November 2, 2018 |work=Eurogamer |archive-date=November 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181102141244/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-11-02-undertale-creator-says-the-rest-of-deltarune-has-not-been-made-yet |url-status=live }} Though the first two chapters were free, the rest of the game will cost money. Chapters 3 and 4 are set to be released on June 4, 2025, and a day later in Japan.{{cite news |last1=Nightingale |first1=Ed |date=May 9, 2025 |title=Deltarune available on Switch 1 and 2 through cross-buy, when it launches with new Nintendo console |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/deltarune-available-on-switch-1-and-2-through-cross-buy-when-it-launches-with-new-nintendo-console |access-date=May 9, 2025 |work=Eurogamer.net |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Valentine |first=Rebekah |date=2025-04-02 |title=Deltarune Chapters 3 and 4 Are Launching Alongside the Nintendo Switch 2 in June |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/deltarune-chapters-3-and-4-are-launching-alongside-the-nintendo-switch-2-in-june |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=IGN |language=en}} All future chapters will be released as free updates when they are completed.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-08 |title=DELTARUNE CHAPTERS 1-4 RELEASE TIME ANNOUNCEMENT |url=https://toby.fangamer.com/newsletters/release-time/ |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=Toby Fox |language=en}}{{cite web |last1=Lewis |first1=Catherine |date=3 April 2025 |title=Deltarune has finally been given a price tag, and Toby Fox says that future chapters beyond 4 "will be added as free updates" so "you only have to buy the game once" |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/games/rpg/deltarune-has-finally-been-given-a-price-tag-and-toby-fox-says-that-future-chapters-beyond-4-will-be-added-as-free-updates-so-you-only-have-to-buy-the-game-once/ |access-date=10 April 2025 |website=GamesRadar |language=en}}

{{Notelist}}

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{{cite web |url=https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/interview/181019 |title=『Undertale』トビー・フォックス×『東方』ZUN×Onion Games木村祥朗鼎談──自分が幸せでいられる道を進んだらこうなった──同人の魂、インディーの自由を大いに語る |language=ja |trans-title="Undertale" Toby Fox x "Touhou" ZUN x Onion Games Yoshiro Kimura ──This is what happened when I went on the path of being happy ── Talking about the soul of the same person, the freedom of indie |work=Den Famitsu Gamer |date=October 19, 2018 |access-date=August 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019030227/https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/interview/181019 |archive-date=October 19, 2018 |url-status=live }}

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{{cite web |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/v2/undertale-dev-every-monster-should-feel-like-an-individual/ |title=Undertale Dev: "Every Monster Should Feel Like an Individual" |last=Bogos |first=Steven |website=The Escapist |date=June 25, 2013 |access-date=January 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619153326/https://www.escapistmagazine.com/v2/undertale-dev-every-monster-should-feel-like-an-individual/ |archive-date=June 19, 2021 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/124536-Undertale-is-an-EarthBound-Inspired-Indie-RPG |title=Undertale is an EarthBound Inspired Indie RPG |last=Bogos |first=Steven |website=The Escapist |date=June 2, 2013 |access-date=January 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160514123829/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/124536-Undertale-is-an-EarthBound-Inspired-Indie-RPG |archive-date=May 14, 2016 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/columns/extra-punctuation/14860-Undertale-for-Best-Written-Game-2015 |title=Undertale May Be This Year's Best Written Game |last=Croshaw |first=Ben |author-link=Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw |website=The Escapist |date=October 28, 2015 |access-date=October 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20151030035712/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/columns/extra-punctuation/14860-Undertale-for-Best-Written-Game-2015 |archive-date=October 30, 2015 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=http://existentialgamer.com/interview-toby-fox-of-undertale |title=Interview: Toby Fox of Undertale |last=Feeld |first=Julian |website=Existential Gamer |date=October 9, 2015 |access-date=January 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20151117161517/http://existentialgamer.com/interview-toby-fox-of-undertale |archive-date=November 17, 2015 |url-status=dead}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/audio/an-examination-of-leitmotifs-and-their-use-to-shape-narrative-in-undertale---part-1-of-2 |title=An Examination of Leitmotifs and Their Use to Shape Narrative in Undertale – Part 1 of 2 |first=Jason |last=Yu |date=April 6, 2016 |access-date=April 21, 2016 |website=Gamasutra |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421131423/http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JasonYu/20160406/269573/An_Examination_of_Leitmotifs_and_Their_Use_to_Shape_Narrative_in_UNDERTALE__Part_1_of_2.php |archive-date=April 21, 2016 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/audio/an-examination-of-leitmotifs-and-their-use-to-shape-narrative-in-undertale---part-2-of-2 |title=An Examination of Leitmotifs and Their Use to Shape Narrative in Undertale – Part 2 of 2 |first=Jason |last=Yu |date=April 14, 2016 |access-date=April 21, 2016 |website=Gamasutra |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160415154558/http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JasonYu/20160414/270290/An_Examination_of_Leitmotifs_and_Their_Use_to_Shape_Narrative_in_UNDERTALE__Part_2_of_2.php |archive-date=April 15, 2016 |url-status=live}}

{{cite magazine |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/games/undertale/b/pc/archive/2015/10/01/an-enchanting-exhilarating-journey.aspx |title=An Enchanting, Exhilarating Journey – Undertale |last=Tack |first=Daniel |magazine=Game Informer |date=October 1, 2015 |access-date=January 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20151012005411/http://www.gameinformer.com/games/undertale/b/pc/archive/2015/10/01/an-enchanting-exhilarating-journey.aspx |archive-date=October 12, 2015 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/news/undertale-dev-celebrates-1-year-anniversary-with-unreleased-music-37581 |title=Undertale Dev Celebrates 1 Year Anniversary With Unreleased Music |last=Leack |first=Jonathan |work=Game Revolution |date=September 15, 2016 |access-date=September 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160914192756/http://www.gamerevolution.com/news/undertale-dev-celebrates-1-year-anniversary-with-unreleased-music-37581 |archive-date=September 14, 2016 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/04/13/stardew-valley-is-one-of-the-best-selling-pc-games-of-the-year-as-it-surpasses-1m-copies-sold/ |title=Stardew Valley is one of the best-selling PC games of the year as it surpasses 1M copies sold |last=Grubb |first=Jeff |website=GamesBeat |publisher=VentureBeat |date=April 13, 2016 |access-date=April 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160422185414/http://venturebeat.com/2016/04/13/stardew-valley-is-one-of-the-best-selling-pc-games-of-the-year-as-it-surpasses-1m-copies-sold/ |archive-date=April 22, 2016 |url-status=live}}

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{{cite web |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/podcasts/archive/2015/10/15/gi-show-%E2%80%93-yoshis-woolly-world%2C-star-wars%3A-battlefront%2C-undertale-toby-fox.aspx |title=GI Show – Yoshi{{'s}} Woolly World, Star Wars: Battlefront, Undertale{{'s}} Toby Fox |last=Turi |first=Tim |magazine=Game Informer |date=October 15, 2015 |access-date=January 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807210020/https://www.gameinformer.com/b/podcasts/archive/2015/10/15/gi-show-%E2%80%93-yoshis-woolly-world%2C-star-wars%3A-battlefront%2C-undertale-toby-fox.aspx |archive-date=August 7, 2019 |url-status=dead}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.giantbomb.com/reviews/undertale-review/1900-715/ |title=Undertale Review |last=Walker |first=Austin |website=Giant Bomb |date=September 25, 2015 |access-date=January 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150925203653/http://www.giantbomb.com/reviews/undertale-review/1900-715/ |archive-date=September 25, 2015 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=http://ign.com/articles/2016/01/13/undertale-review |title=Undertale Review |last=Plagge |first=Kallie |website=IGN |date=January 12, 2016 |access-date=January 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160113010016/http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/01/13/undertale-review |archive-date=January 13, 2016 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=http://indiegames.com/2015/09/guilt_friendship_and_carrot_mo.html |title=Guilt, Friendship, and Carrot Monsters — Undertale and the Consequences of Easy Violence |last=Couture |first=Joel |website=IndieGames.com |date=September 22, 2015 |access-date=January 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160514123637/http://indiegames.com/2015/09/guilt_friendship_and_carrot_mo.html |archive-date=May 14, 2016 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=http://indiegames.com/2015/10/thinking_for_ourselves_-_toby_.html |title=Thinking for Ourselves – Toby Fox on Fighting and Introspection in Undertale |last=Couture |first=Joel |website=IndieGames.com |date=October 27, 2015 |access-date=January 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20151103002946/http://indiegames.com/2015/10/thinking_for_ourselves_-_toby_.html |archive-date=November 3, 2015 |url-status=dead}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2013/07/29/crowdfund-bookie-july-21-27-terminator-2-undertale-last-dr/ |title=Crowdfund Bookie, July 21–27: Terminator 2, Undertale, Last Dream |last=Suszek |first=Mike |website=Engadget |date=July 29, 2013 |access-date=January 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20151012005417/http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/29/crowdfund-bookie-july-21-27-terminator-2-undertale-last-dr/ |archive-date=October 12, 2015 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1002143342/undertale/description |title=Undertale by Toby Fox |last=Fox |first=Toby |website=Kickstarter |date=June 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160317174547/https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1002143342/undertale/description |archive-date=March 17, 2016 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=https://killscreen.com/articles/behind-humor-toby-foxs-undertale/ |title=Behind the humor of Toby Fox's Undertale |last=Bennett |first=David |website=Kill Screen |date=October 22, 2015 |access-date=January 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160514123644/https://killscreen.com/articles/behind-humor-toby-foxs-undertale/ |archive-date=May 14, 2016 |url-status=dead}}

{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/undertale-has-one-of-the-greatest-final-boss-fights-in-1751201659 |title=Undertale Has One Of The Greatest Final Boss Fights In RPG History |last=Schreier |first=Jason |website=Kotaku |date=January 5, 2016 |access-date=April 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428031331/http://kotaku.com/undertale-has-one-of-the-greatest-final-boss-fights-in-1751201659 |archive-date=April 28, 2016 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=http://steamed.kotaku.com/players-still-havent-figured-out-all-of-undertales-secr-1733048190 |title=Players Still Haven't Figured Out All Of Undertale{{'s}} Secrets |last=Grayson |first=Nathan |website=Kotaku |date=September 28, 2015 |access-date=April 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160217190652/https://steamed.kotaku.com/players-still-havent-figured-out-all-of-undertales-secr-1733048190 |archive-date=February 17, 2016 |url-status=dead}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.themarysue.com/interview-undertale-game-creator-toby-fox/ |title=Interview: Undertale Game Creator Toby Fox |last=Isaac |first=Chris |website=The Mary Sue |date=December 10, 2015 |access-date=January 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20151210182140/http://www.themarysue.com/interview-undertale-game-creator-toby-fox/ |archive-date=December 10, 2015 |url-status=dead}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/undertale/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Undertale for PC Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=July 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20151012005405/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/undertale |archive-date=October 12, 2015 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/browse/games/score/metascore/all/pc/filtered?sort=desc |title=Best PC Video Games of All Time |website=Metacritic |access-date=July 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150807043134/http://www.metacritic.com/browse/games/score/metascore/all/pc/filtered?sort=desc |archive-date=August 7, 2015 |url-status=live}}

{{cite news |title=世界的な大ヒットタイトル『Undertale』がNintendo Switchで発売！ |url=https://topics.nintendo.co.jp/c/article/13c60c96-1d22-11e8-a129-063b7ac45a6d.html |access-date=March 11, 2018 |work=Nintendo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310011558/https://topics.nintendo.co.jp/c/article/13c60c96-1d22-11e8-a129-063b7ac45a6d.html |archive-date=March 10, 2018 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/03/indie_smash_undertale_is_coming_to_switch_eventually |title=Indie Smash Undertale Is Coming To Switch "Eventually" |last=McFerran |first=Damien |work=Nintendo Life |date=March 9, 2018 |accessdate=June 27, 2023 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20180309054839/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/03/indie_smash_undertale_is_coming_to_switch_eventually |archivedate=March 9, 2018 |url-status=live }}

{{cite web |url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/10/undertale-fan-makes-a-sequel-in-a-wrestling-game.html |title=Undertale Fan Makes a Sequel... In a Wrestling Game? |last=Allen |first=Eric Van |website=Paste |date=October 22, 2015 |access-date=January 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20151025033939/http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/10/undertale-fan-makes-a-sequel-in-a-wrestling-game.html |archive-date=October 25, 2015 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/undertale-review/ |title=Undertale review |last=Cobbett |first=Robert |website=PC Gamer |date=September 29, 2015 |access-date=September 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150929231231/http://www.pcgamer.com/undertale-review/ |archive-date=September 29, 2015 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.polygon.com/2013/7/7/4497618/undertale-combines-classic-rpg-gameplay-with-a-pacifist-twist |title=Undertale combines classic RPG gameplay with a pacifist twist |last=Farokhmanesh |first=Megan |website=Polygon |date=July 7, 2013 |access-date=September 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150926171853/http://www.polygon.com/2013/7/7/4497618/undertale-combines-classic-rpg-gameplay-with-a-pacifist-twist |archive-date=September 26, 2015 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=http://rpgamer.com/games/indie/undertale/reviews/undertalestrev1.html |title=Undertale – Review |last=Welhouse |first=Zach |website=RPGamer |date=October 8, 2015 |access-date=January 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160514123711/http://rpgamer.com/games/indie/undertale/reviews/undertalestrev1.html |archive-date=May 14, 2016 |url-status=dead}}

{{cite news |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/12/16/funniest-pc-game-2015/ |title=The RPS Advent Calendar, Dec 16th: Undertale |date=December 16, 2015 |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |access-date=May 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226135527/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/12/16/funniest-pc-game-2015/ |archive-date=December 26, 2015 |url-status=live}}

{{cite news |url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/09/21/undertale/ |title=The RPG Scrollbars: Undertale |last=Cobbett |first=Richard |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |date=September 21, 2015 |access-date=October 31, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150921204409/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/09/21/undertale/ |archive-date=September 21, 2015 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=https://seagaia.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/toby-foxs-undertale-dev-2-dev-interview-1/ |title=Toby Fox's Undertale – DEV 2 DEV INTERVIEW #1 |last=Hogan |first=Sean |website=Seagaia |date=May 25, 2013 |access-date=January 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150926171839/https://seagaia.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/toby-foxs-undertale-dev-2-dev-interview-1/ |archive-date=September 26, 2015 |url-status=dead}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/262548/GTA_5_leads_Steam_Spys_list_of_bestselling_2015_Steam_games.php |title=GTA 5 leads Steam Spy's list of best-selling 2015 Steam games |last=Wawro |first=Alex |website=Gamasutra |publisher=UBM TechWeb |date=December 22, 2015 |access-date=December 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20151222204636/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/262548/GTA_5_leads_Steam_Spys_list_of_bestselling_2015_Steam_games.php |archive-date=December 22, 2015 |url-status=dead}}

{{cite book |last=Fox |first=Toby |date=2016 |title=Undertale Art Book |url=https://www.fangamer.com/products/undertale-art-book |publisher=Fangamer |isbn=978-1-945908-99-6 |access-date=November 30, 2018 |archive-date=November 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130202038/https://www.fangamer.com/products/undertale-art-book |url-status=live }}

{{cite web |url=https://undertale.com/help/ |title=Undertale Help, FAQ and Troubleshooting |publisher=Fangamer |access-date=August 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170617211837/https://undertale.com/help/ |archive-date=June 17, 2017 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.usgamer.net/articles/note-block-beat-box-listening-to-hopes-and-dreams-from-undertale |title=Note Block Beat Box: Listening to 'Hopes and Dreams' from Undertale |last=Oxford |first=Nadia |website=USgamer |publisher=Gamer Network |date=April 21, 2016 |access-date=April 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160502124052/http://www.usgamer.net/articles/note-block-beat-box-listening-to-hopes-and-dreams-from-undertale |archive-date=May 2, 2016 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.usgamer.net/articles/undertale-pc-review-the-art-of-surprise |title=Undertale PC Review: The Art of Surprise |last=Mackey |first=Bob |website=USgamer |publisher=Gamer Network |date=September 30, 2015 |access-date=October 31, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20151031172027/http://www.usgamer.net/articles/undertale-pc-review-the-art-of-surprise |archive-date=October 31, 2015 |url-status=live}}

{{cite news |url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/the-story-of-moon-the-anti-rpg-that-inspired-undertale |title=The Story of Moon, the 'Anti-RPG' That Inspired Undertale |last=Oxford |first=Nadia |work=USgamer |publisher=Gamer Network |date=August 28, 2020 |access-date=September 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828234252/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/the-story-of-moon-the-anti-rpg-that-inspired-undertale |archive-date=August 28, 2020 |url-status=live}}

}}

• {{cite book |last=Bem |first=Caroline |title=Video Games and Comedy |chapter=Humour in Pornographic Browser Games: From Undertale to Uddertale, a Case Study |editor-last1=Giappone |editor-first1=Krista Bonello Rutter |editor-last2=Majkowski |editor-first2=Tomasz Z. |editor-last3=Švelch |editor-first3=Jaroslav |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |date=2022 |pages=307–324 |isbn=978-3-030-88337-9}}
• {{cite journal |last=Cayari |first=Christopher |title=The Music of Undertale: Participatory Culture, Video Game Music, and Creating Covers for YouTube |date=2023 |journal=International Journal of Education and the Arts |volume=24 |number=22 |issn=1529-8094 |doi=10.26209/IJEA24N22 |doi-access=free}}
• {{cite journal |last=Elvery |first=Gabriel |title=Undertale{{'s}} Loveable Monsters: Investigating Parasocial Relationships with Non-Player Characters |journal=Games and Culture |volume=18 |issue=4 |date=2023 |issn=1555-4120 |doi=10.1177/15554120221105464 |doi-access=free |pages=475–497}}
• {{cite book |last=Jagoda |first=Patrick |title=Experimental Games: Critique, Play, and Design in the Age of Gamification |publisher=University of Chicago Press |date=2020 |isbn=978-0-226-63003-8}}
• {{cite journal |last1=Kohlburn |first1=Joseph |last2=Cho |first2=Hyerim |last3=Moore |first3=Hollis |title=Players' Perceptions of Sexuality and Gender-Inclusive Video Games a Pragmatic Content Analysis of Steam Reviews |journal=Convergence |volume=29 |issue=2 |date=2023 |issn=1354-8565 |doi=10.1177/13548565221137481 |pages=379–399}}
• {{cite book |last=Lind |first=Stephanie |title=Authenticity in the Music of Video Games |publisher=Lexington Books |date=2023 |isbn=978-1-7936-2714-8}}
• {{cite conference |last=Seraphine |first=Frederic |title=Ethics at Play in Undertale: Rhetoric, Identity and Deconstruction |year=2018 |conference=DiGRA 2018 – The Game is the Message |publisher=Digital Games Research Association |url=https://dl.digra.org/index.php/dl/article/view/960 |access-date=2025-02-18}}
• {{cite journal |last=Veale |first=Kevin |title='If Anyone's Going to Ruin Your Night, It Should Be You': Responsibility and Affective Materiality in Undertale and Night in the Woods |journal=Convergence |volume=28 |issue=2 |date=2022 |issn=1354-8565 |doi=10.1177/13548565211014434 |pages=451–467}}
• {{cite book |last=Youngblood |first=Jordan |chapter='What Kind of Monster Are You...?': Undertale, Queer Play, and Horror(ific) Video Games via Critical Gaming Literacy |pages=157–170 |title=Horror Literature and Dark Fantasy |editor-last=Fabrizi |editor-first=Mark A. |publisher=Brill Publishers |date=2018 |isbn=978-90-04-36625-1}}

• {{Official website}}

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