11 Best Games Like Undertale That You Should Know Update 04/2024

Games Like Undertale

There aren’t many games like Undertale out there. Why? Because it’s difficult to categorize Undertale (sometimes labeled an anti-RPG) because it defies assumptions and surprises you at every turn. Earthbound fans will enjoy this homage to their favorite classic games, and if they do, they’ll be looking for more games like Undertale when they finish it.

If you’re looking for a replacement for Undertale, we’ve scoured the internet and our own game libraries to find more titles that are similar to Toby Fox’s entertaining 2015 release. There are a number of games like Undertale on the list, each with their own distinct take on the genre and cast of characters.

1. Pony Island

Pony Island

This game claims to be “as indie as can be,” which is a perfect fit for Undertale, which is already an excellent indie game. Pony Island, like Undertale, is all about breaking the fourth wall. To begin, it’s a game that has been created by none other than the devil himself. In contrast to Undertale, which borrows heavily from JRPGs, Pony Island is more of a platformer with puzzles, and it does it with a lighthearted, affectionate tone. Those who are looking for surprises (and ponies) will not be let down.

2. Lisa The Painful

When it comes to darkly funny and thought-provoking games, this is the one for you. Known colloquially as “Lisa the Painful,” this role-playing game takes the form of a side-scrolling side-scrolling game. Like Undertale, it presents you with difficult moral choices, but it does not allow you to avoid confrontation by embracing each other. Rather, in order to advance, you must routinely indulge the most heinous desires of your character at the expense of the other members of your group. This is a terrific game for Junji Ito lovers, too.

3. Deltarune

Deltarune

It’s a no-brainer that Toby Fox, the creator of Undertale, has released a new game. For anyone who missed it when it came out last year, Deltarune has made Chapter 1 available for free on their website and on consoles. Though billed as a title for “those who have completed Undertale,” it’s easy to assume that this is a follow-up to the critically acclaimed indie hit, but that isn’t the case. Deltarune, on the other hand, is a turn-based RPG in the style of its predecessor, but with true turn-based combat.

5. Cave Story

Cave Story is a tough 2D platformer and combat game in the vein of Mega Man or Castlevania that was primarily produced by a single developer. Undertale’s retro-style bullet-hell action and shooter battles are examples of this. With no recall of your past to guide you, it’s impossible to know who to trust or what actions to take. You have a direct impact on the outcome of the game because you have a voice in the latter.

6. Persona 5

Persona 5

Thematically, Undertale and Persona 5 share a lot in common, despite the fact that the two games seem very different stylistically. How we treat others and whether or not justice exists are two major themes in Persona 5’s plot. Defeating and capturing different Persona is part of the game’s fighting, but you may also bargain with them to save their lives. Another theme that comes up regularly in this game is finding the right balance between punishing individuals you regard as monsters and giving pity to them.

7. To The Moon

To the Moon asks you to fabricate memories for a dying patient in order to help them cope with their final days. It’s an RPG Maker-based narrative-driven game with a similar appearance to Undertale. In this novel, you get a glimpse into the personal lives of the individuals who surround your client Johnny, and the amazingly realistic writing lets you see people fall in love, dispute, ponder the meaning of life, and much more. That’s why you’ll fall in love with Johnny and the scientists you control so quickly.

8. Rakuen

Rakuen

Undertale manages to strike a good balance between levity and heart. Your task is to help the inhabitants of a fantastical world so that a little boy may let go of his bitterness over his own tragic past in Laura Shigihara’s stunning game, which she created entirely on her own. While he aspires to be a great fighter, he helps out wherever he can. His new acquaintances include a very stylish onion and a bear. If you don’t cry at least a little bit when playing Rakuen, you’re probably as cold as a cod.

9. Nier: Automata

Combat in which bullets fly like confetti? Check. Is there a deep understanding of its own style? Check. How could a tale about morality and agency take such unexpected and exciting turns? Indeed! Nier: The best RPG of recent years, if not one of the best JRPGs of all time, isn’t Automata by accident or coincidence. The purpose of the androids 2B, 9S, and A2 appears to be crystal clear: struggle for earth supremacy. It’s all they have to do. As time passes, it becomes more and more difficult to believe that the fight is one that can be won in the first place.

It’s ideal if you’re seeking for something epic and engrossing to the very end, with constantly shifting combat and a tale that may not be suited for chuckles. Even if you’ve seen it, it’s hard to convey the full impact of Nier: Automata.

10. OFF

Fun, well-thought-out puzzles and turn-based combat make this game from a French developer pair known as Unproductive Fun Time a superb RPG. OFF’s simplistic 2D aesthetic immediately brings to mind Undertale, but the game was launched in 2008, years before that. In OFF’s strange world, whether or not a hero is needed is a question that must be answered.

11. Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward

Zero Escape Virtue’s Last Reward

It’s time for the final recommendation on this list, which is a visual novel series called Zero Escape. Zero Escape 999 is the first game in the Zero Escape series, while Virtue’s Last Reward is the follow-up to that title (for Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors). You’ll have to solve a series of puzzles to get out of these escape rooms. The non-interactive visual novels are interlaced with riddles in The Room.

As with earlier Kotaro Uchikoshi games, you can expect a twisted Battle Royale storyline with many endings that will require you to make difficult decisions (not like Epic’s mega hit Battle Royale). That being said, the AB (Ambidex) games are the ultimate achievement in that sense. The only decision you and your companion must make is whether or not to betray or align with a member of the opposing squad. It all depends on what your opponent chooses, and you don’t want to loose those precious points, so be careful! Of course, this raises a number of interesting questions. In the opposite room, or even just next door, can you rely on the other person? The suspense is palpable.

As a freelance video game journalist for publications such as Eurogamer, PLAY, PCGamer, and Edge Magazine, Malindy works on the design and localization of video games on the side when she has time to spare. Japanese pop culture fascinates her, and she’s always looking for the next Japanese video game. Additionally, she appreciates narrative-based games and charming indies, and is always interested in the financial aspect of gaming.