A small, funny and moving RPG in which you can spare every monster you meet. Its music, characters and twists made it one of the most loved indie games of all time.
L1What it is
A human child falls into the Underground, where monsters have lived since a war with humans long ago. You travel through it trying to get home, meeting skeletons, a fish warrior, a scientist and a goat mother. The less you know beforehand, the better it is.
L2How it plays
Encounters mix turn-based menus with short bullet-hell dodging. Instead of fighting, you can ACT: talk, joke, flirt or pet monsters until they want to stop fighting, then spare them. Every boss has its own mechanic. Your choices about who to spare change the story and ending.
L3Pixels & sound
The graphics are simple, but the soundtrack, written by the developer himself, is iconic: dozens of memorable themes that change with the story. The writing is the star: funny, kind and sometimes sad.
L4Coming back
Different routes lead to very different stories and endings, and the game remembers what you did, even across save files. Most players play at least twice.
L5Value & tech
At $9.99 it is excellent value. Runs on anything and is Playable on Steam Deck, where it works fine with minor control quirks. Keyboard or controller both work.
Power-ups
- Writing that is funny and moving
- Iconic soundtrack
- Mercy as a gameplay mechanic
- Remembers your choices
Game overs
- Simple visuals
- Some bullet-hell sections spike in difficulty
Score sheet
- Gameplay 30%
- 8.6
- Feel & controls 20%
- 8.0
- Pixels & sound 20%
- 9.4
- Replay 15%
- 9.0
- Value 15%
- 10.0
Weighted: 8.6 × 30% + 8.0 × 20% + 9.4 × 20% + 9.0 × 15% + 10.0 × 15% = 8.91, shown as 8.9.
The verdict
Verdict
Undertale is a small game with enormous heart. Its writing, music and choices make it one of the most memorable RPGs on Steam, and a bargain at its price.
By the Game Pick Review editorial desk · Updated 3 Oct 2026 · How we score · Spotted an error?
