Toby Fox could barely have imagined the phenomenon he had on his hands when he completed Undertale. This one-man passion project is one of the snarkiest, most unique and unmissable RPGs of recent years, chock-full of fascinating hidden details and secrets that would put a lot of AAA RPGs to shame.
This Steam Greenlight masterpiece has inspired a lot of designers in the genre since its release and took huge cues from other titles in return.Moon is considered a major inspiration, but which other retro titles give off a very Undertale vibe?
10 EarthBound
One aspect of Undertale that is absolutely central to the game is its commitment to tempering its silly sense of humor and general eccentricity with a powerful, emotional story. Does that sound like a cult classic Nintendo franchise you might know?
That’s right, the EarthBound/Mother titles wear these traits on their sleeves as well. As mystifying as the plots of the games may be at times, at their core they tell coming-of-age stories that many fans will be able to relate to. If Undertale fans only know Ness and co. from their representation in the Super Smash Bros. series, they owe these titles a try.
9 Contact
If it’s quirky RPGs that gamers are in the market for (that’s a bit of a prerequisite to being an Undertale fan, after all), the rather obscure Contact gets a huge recommendation.
This 2006 Nintendo DS title from Grasshopper Manufacture kicks off with a professor crashing his spacecraft on an unknown planet. He finds help in the form of a boy named Terry, who is tasked with retrieving scattered elements of the ship. Contact had a lot of fascinating ideas, from its real-time battle system to the stark contrast in graphical styles between the action on the DS’s two screens, but the most important element was the constant breaking of the fourth wall: the Professor speaks directly to the player, with Terry himself serving as more of a lackey for both. Undertale players will get a huge kick from Contact’s unusual vibe.
8 Chrono Trigger
When it comes to iconic RPGs, Chrono Trigger is up there with the very, very best. This masterpiece needs no introduction, and there’s really no saying why it hasn’t been remastered yet.
This Square masterpiece isn’t as tongue-in-cheek and eccentric as Undertale, but certain areas, elements of the soundtrack and the variety of available endings definitely smacks of Chrono Trigger. Players who appreciated the ambience and aesthetic of Undertale would do well to visit or revisit this one.
7 Paper Mario
As is the case with many titles on this list, Paper Mario and its various sequels have never been afraid to play with genre conventions. Undertale’s battle system is like nothing else in RPGs, and Paper Mario adds an action element to combat that also makes things feel a little more interactive.
Aside from that, Paper Mario established its silly, fourth-wall-breaking attitude right from the first outing. Again, though, these titles are equally adept at producing heart-warming and devastating moments that truly make the player feel something.
6 Final Fantasy VI
As any Final Fantasy fan will attest, Undertale shows due deference to one of the titans of the genre, in certain scenes. Scenes that only those familiar with the sublime Final Fantasy VI will really appreciate.
In the closing moments of Hotland, Mettaton sings “Oh! One True Love” in a fake opera. This is a reference to Celes’ “Aria di Mezzo Carattere” in Final Fantasy VI. The soundtrack of Undertale contains subtle nods and similarities to the game, as well as similar visual flair and a balance of comical and tragic moments.
5 The Secret Of Monkey Island
There are several traits that define Undertale. Its quirky nature, sense of humor, Deadpool-esque references to the real world, and emotive/imaginative writing style that really draws players in. The Monkey Island franchise has a lot of these traits in abundance too.
Inept pirate Guybrush Threepwood and his adventures are familiar to players around the world, but their point and click nature is often a little too archaic to draw the attention they deserve today. Regardless, Undertale enthusiasts looking for a series with a lot of its own unique brand of humor will find a lot to enjoy here.
4 Comix Zone
Comix Zone isn’t an RPG, but an action title for the Sega Genesis. The system is renowned for its fantastic platformers and brawlers, and this 1995 effort from Sega themselves is one of the very best.
Sketch Turner, a comic book artist working on his latest alien invasion story Comix Zone, is mysteriously sucked into the pages of his own comic book one night. The villain of the story, Mortus, escapes its pages in turn, and sends hordes of lackeys after Sketch in an attempt to make his escape to the real world permanent. As Turner brawls his way through the panels of the story, the fourth-wall-breaking humor and snarky style shines bright. This retro classic is an easy recommendation for anybody and Undertale players will surely appreciate its style.
3 Parodius
One aspect of Undertale that throws even seasoned RPG fans off their stride is the famous battle system. Enemy attacks can be actively dodged in the manner of a bullet hell shooter, in stark contrast to the far more passive battles of many RPGs.
Of course, this jarring mechanic didn’t strike a chord with every Undertale fan, but those who enjoyed the combat are sure to have a lot of fun with the Parodius games. These super fun shoot ‘em ups pay silly homage to genre great Gradius, with everything from the sound effects to the enemies playing into the comical feel.
2 Shin Megami Tensei
As high-octane and challenging as Undertale’s battles can be, it’s important to remember that the party doesn’t necessarily have to leave a trail of grisly, defeated monsters behind them wherever they go.
In Undertale, pacifist runs are possible, focusing on mercy and negotiation with enemies. In this way, the game’s very reminiscent of the Shin Megami Tensei series, the first of which arrived in Japan in 1993 (itself the third in the Megami Tensei franchise). In battles, the player could talk with monsters rather than attacking, procuring items and even teaming up with the foe (as Nintendo Everything reports, Toby Fox has stated that his love for this feature inspired the creation of Undertale’s battles). The game’s morality system would be affected by such decisions, another interesting twist on genre norms that Undertale players will appreciate.
1 Metal Gear Solid
To close things out, here’s another title that Fox has personally referenced as an inspiration for his work on Undertale: the Metal Gear Solid series (and the Metal Gear series prior to that by extension).
“I really liked how Metal Gear Solid had all these strange, game-breaking moments within the series,” he told Nintendo Everything. “It feels like it’s saying, “You don’t have to follow the rules… actually, it’s more interesting when you don’t.” And, “The game design can be part of the story, too.”” With this in mind, it’s clear to see where Metal Gear Solid’s attitude crept in. Here, too, is a game that tempers its silliness with some very earnest moments (and vice versa), with countless different approaches to take and decisions to make.
NEXT: Metal Gear Solid V: Phantom Pain: 10 Wackiest Mods
