8 Best Games Like Undertale

Undertale is one of the most delightful, heartbreaking, and intriguing games ever made, and it's pretty natural to want more of that after you feel satisfied and hopefully haven't killed all your friends.

While Deltarune is certainly great for helping fulfill the need for another RPG with Toby Fox's excellent storytelling style, we've got massive wait times between chapters, which isn't helping.

The thing is, these games aren't the only quirky Earthbound-inspired RPGs out there, and there are plenty of ways to get your fix while you wait for whatever Deltarune chapter isn't out yet.

I'll be covering many games that can scratch that same itch as Undertale and Deltarune, whether it's for a similar gameplay style, charming characters, a well-done metanarrative, or all of the above.

8 Cave Story+

Respect Your Elders

While Cave Story isn't an RPG, and it's not exactly about choosing who lives and dies, it's one of the biggest inspirations behind Undertale, so much so that the names are synonyms of each other.

It's got an incredibly similar approach to character design, with the Mimigas being incredibly similar to the Dreemurrs. On top of being Toby's direct inspiration, Cave Story is also just a great game.

Running and jumping through caverns in a Metroidvania-ish format while upgrading your weapons through killing enemies has always been an incredibly fun gameplay loop, and it still holds up 20 years later.

It's super charming, the music is all bangers, and it's practically required reading if you want to understand how Undertale was made, as you can find things that were clear inspirations all over this game.

7 Everhood

Bounce To It

If you're just looking for top-down RPGs with a unique battle system that makes things more unique than just pressing a single button to do damage, then Everhood is up your alley (as long as you're into weird stuff).

It's part psychedelic bullet hell, part rhythm game, and full-on funky. It's an incredibly trippy experience where you'll be constantly bombarded with battles where you need to weave through music notes for your life.

The characters are incredibly weird, and if you're a fan of Undertale having strange encounters with weird frogs, then Everhood will appeal to you with even more strange frogs, among other creatures that should not speak.

It's really just a game you sign up for and go along with the ride the entire way through, and even if you have a terrible sense of rhythm, its combat system isn't going to be super difficult for you.

6 Omori

Signs of Sadness

Omori is likely a game you've heard of as an Undertale fan, and that's because it's similarly a pretty meta RPG, but far heavier on the themes of depression and loss, as a bit of a warning.

It has a great OST, which Toby Fox contributed a single song to for what it's worth, and it feels similarly Earthbound-inspired, with pretty trippy environments and characters that don't make much sense.

Don't go into it expecting to be primarily having a great time with only the occasional bouts of horrific or depressing elements. The entire story is about overcoming trauma and exploring your rather unpleasant mind.

That said, it's got an only slightly infuriating battle system where your mental state directly affects your combat prowess, and if you're looking for a game to make you feel every emotion while having banger battle music, this is the one.

5 To The Moon

Prepare To Cry Edition

If you're simply looking for a story-heavy game where you walk around, inspect everything, and end up a sobbing mess of tears by the end, getting invested in To The Moon should be your priority.

As someone who played this game when they were pretty young, the story of this game has permanently impacted me, and it sure did the same for Toby Fox, considering Laura Shigihara is featured prominently in similar roles for both games.

I can't say much without spoiling things, but I can say that the premise of exploring someone's memories and attempting to alter them so they can die peacefully is an incredible premise, and leads to great emotional impact.

There's no battle system, there are very few characters, and yet I'd still say it's 100% worth your time if you loved the narrative of Undertale, and want another game to explore and feel things by the end.

4 In Stars And Time

Reset The Timeline

One of the most underrated games ever made, In Stars and Time, hits all the same notes as Undertale and then some, with a similar character-focused RPG structure, but with you stuck in a time loop.

The monochrome style manages to be extremely expressive within its limitations, and the story is so engaging that you'll probably be locked in playing more and more till your eyes start burning.

The premise of being trapped in a time loop that keeps you feeling stuck while also granting you plenty of ways to move forward has you constantly experimenting and interacting with everything you can find, and it's wonderful.

If you just want an RPG that'll keep you sticking around for its lovely characters and incredibly interesting premise, and want to enjoy one of the best games you've never heard of, you should absolutely pick this game up.

3 OFF

Batter Up

While it's a bit difficult to play currently, OFF is getting a full-on remake and re-release soon, and it happens to feature a redone soundtrack by Toby Fox, so that might pique your interest.

It was another big inspiration to Undertale, and a great RPG that's very psychedelic, constantly throwing new gameplay styles and art directions at you, just enough so you don't get a headache.

It's filled to the brim with tiny little details you either have to scavenge the world to figure out, or just watch lore summary videos, as most people do. Either way, it's going to be a great time.

If you're okay with mildly scary elements in a game where you explore, talk to a ton of characters, and attempt to purify the world in a combat system that feels only a little bit incredibly frustrating at times, this game is a surefire home run.

2 OneShot

Light It Up

While OneShot is a game with zero combat whatsoever, it has one of the most engaging metanarratives, making you, the person currently reading this, a character that plays a crucial role in the story.

It's reminiscent of Deltarune, where the story directly acknowledges the player controlling the character without ever coming off as annoying or cringe, and instead making you feel incredibly attached to the protagonist.

It has you guiding Niko, and once you've reached the ending, there's no going back. The game has permanently changed, no matter what, and it's so short you might as well play through everything in one shot.

It's super character driven, it has some of the most creative meta puzzles I've ever seen, and it pulls off everything it tries to do with such excellence that I think any Undertale enjoyer owes it to themselves to play this.

1 Earthbound

Quite Quirky

Of course, it wouldn't be a complete list if I didn't mention the game that absolutely inspired Toby Fox the most, that being Earthbound, which still holds up as a great game even 30 years after release.

You'll find similarities all over, from the super-unique and strange dialogue from characters that you'll quickly begin to love, to the music having a similar flavor and soundfont to Toby's tracks.

Even aside from the context of being Undertale's ancestor, Earthbound is really enjoyable for its unique battle mechanics, lovely spritework, and backgrounds that are mind-meltingly good for the SNES.

Exploring all around these quirky little towns and eventually going to fight god as per JRPG tradition is all great stuff, and as long as you can actually get your hands on it, it's a really easy recommendation.