Undertale is the best game to come out in 2015. Period.
Recommended for you
I don’t even need to qualify that statement. It is. You should go buy it right now.
Who would have thought that in the best game of the year would a be a little RPG made by pretty much one guy? And that’s saying something, because this year had a lot of really good games.
Undertale is witty, charming, humorous, tragic, and thought-provoking. It’s one of the most intelligently designed games I’ve played in years, and it’s really hard to say why succinctly. (A big part of that is my concern that I’ll spoil the game.) So instead, I’ll try to break down my argument into four reasons why Undertale is the best game to come out this year and why you should buy it right now.
1. Undertale has an outstanding soundtrack.
The game’s main developer, Toby “Radiation” Fox, also arranged the game’s soundtrack. Situated firmly in between the 8-bit game soundtracks of yesteryear and the more intricately composed scores of today’s games, it’s brimming with personality and is entirely too catchy for its own good. I could describe it to you, but why not let it speak for itself?
2. Undertale’s ensemble of characters is memorable and delightful.
One of the big draws of Undertale is its cast of characters, who range from an anime obsessed lizard to an internet DJ ghost to a cat named Burgerpants. It’s hard to pick favorites, but I came away from the game particularly fond of a skeleton named Papyrus, who is a precious cinnamon roll that is too pure for this world.
You can date the skeleton. Game of the year.
But don’t let my vague description make you think that all of these characters are strictly silly. There’s an air of tragedy around each of them. Each touched by tragedy, they cope with sadness in their own ways. Seeing how the characters play off each other and off of you as a player is fascinating, and it showcases the game’s brilliant writing.
Prepare for feels.
In fact, on the note of tragedy…
3. Undertale has a surprisingly complex story.
This is a little difficult to talk about without delving into spoiler territory, so I’ll try to keep it brief. The initial premise is pretty simple: a thousand years ago, monsters were sealed underground after a war with humanity. In the present day, a child accidentally falls into their underground kingdom, and they must find their way out.
Following so far? Good. That was the easy part.
Here’s the clever bit though: there’s a much deeper narrative lying under the surface of the game, which has to be largely pieced together by the player. Undertale rewards players for exploring thoroughly. The game is full of little easter-eggs and small clues that suggest a much larger story, but it’s up to the player to put the pieces together.
Because things can never be simple, can they?
But all of this is just skirting around the point. See, what makes the game really great is that…
4. Undertale makes your choices matter. All of them.
Many games tout choice as a mechanic, but Undertale takes it a step further. It’s the “friendly RPG where no on has to die,” but that’s a choice limited to you the player. There’s no reason that you have to show mercy to the monsters in the game, but the game will track each choice you make. And make no mistake, your choices will have consequences.
Do you can feel your sins crawling on your back?
But the game isn’t content to stop there. The game keeps tracking your choices, even into new save files. Choices you made two games ago can influence how things play out in your present game. Every single decision you make has some kind of weight, and it will influence the game in the future.
No pressure.
And therein lies the true brilliance of Undertale. Your choices mean something in game, and you have to live with the consequences of your actions. Undertale doesn’t want you to think of it solely as a game, even if it does break the fourth wall frequently.
Undertale is fantastic. It has charming writing, clever mechanics, and a glorious soundtrack. It’s gaming as art at its finest. So, even if video games aren’t your thing, consider taking the time to sit down with this little gem. It’s absolutely worth your time and money.
Reading this review fills you with DETERMINATION.
