10. Undertale
Developer: tobyfox | Release date: September 15, 2015 | Steam page: Undertale
What is Undertale? It is a 2D indie game with pixel graphics, in which you embark on a fantastic journey. You play as a child who falls into the underground through a magical barrier. Now you must find a way back to the surface.
Along the way, you encounter various monsters that you face in boss battles. In Bullet Hell fashion, you navigate through a plethora of attacks to ultimately defeat the opponent and gain additional rewards like money and XP – or not.
Because you can also choose against the loot and spare your enemies. And that’s precisely what makes Undertale special. You encounter various beings and have the power to decide how to deal with them. Every NPC has a character that they reveal to you in your encounters.
Simultaneously, your decisions influence the way your game progresses. You can emerge as a gracious pacifist in the end or obliterate everything that stands in your way.
As the game unfolds, it also becomes increasingly clear that behind Undertale lies a complex, profound game. There is much more than what the little pixel figures might suggest.
Undertale is undoubtedly one of the best indie gems that have emerged in the past 10-15 years. One should not be misled by the pixel graphics of the game. It delivers both story-wise and gameplay-wise.
The amount of influence players have on the outcome of the story blew me away. Although it’s not particularly long, you should definitely play it several times to experience the different endings. They range from incredibly sweet and heartwarming to bleak, disturbingly so, and heartbreaking.
It’s also fascinating how the developers managed to creatively combine narrative and gameplay in the battles. Give Undertale a try and see if you can finish the genocide run. I couldn’t.
For whom is Undertale worth it? The game is best suited for those who enjoy deep stories with creative ideas but can overlook the presentation.
Many users write in reviews of the game that they experienced a rollercoaster of emotions on their journey. The story and the encounters with the monsters have reportedly moved many.
