On Sept. 15, 2025, “Undertale” turned 10 to much fanfare from old and new fans alike.
“Undertale,” hailed as one of the most influential games of all time by numerous gaming journals, has left an indelible mark on popular culture. Its influence extends far beyond the gaming community, permeating into music and other forms of entertainment. This little game, kickstarted in 2015, has become a cultural phenomenon, uniting fans from all walks of life. It’s a testament to the power of gaming and the impact it can have on our culture.
The retro-style RPG unfolds a unique narrative where a human child, empowered by determination, can either free a mountain of monsters or unleash genocide on the underground. What sets it apart is its innovative approach that allows players to spare characters, adding a layer of complexity to the story. This choice-based gameplay, where you can choose to befriend or fight enemies, is a refreshing departure from the typical RPG formula. Along with its incredible soundtrack and laugh-out-loud humor, it has stood the test of time.
Due to its immense popularity online, especially with young people on the internet, “Undertale” became one of those popular games that it was embarrassing to be a fan of. But nostalgia makes everything look rosy, and these days I can’t help but look back on it with some fondness. The memories of playing it late into the night, the excitement of discovering its unique narrative and the friendships it fostered — these are the things that make me nostalgic.
I saw several posts from people returning to the franchise for its 10th anniversary, and it’s clear that I’m not the only one sharing this sentiment. As all the young people who enjoyed it when it first came out have matured and calmed down a bit, they’ve started to reassert that it was actually that good.
The fandom has also seen a resurgence, partially because people are revisiting and reevaluating their middle school interests, as well as the staggered release of the semi-sequel “Deltarune,” which Toby Fox has been working on since 2018.
I have seen so many people come back to the game, making comics, redrawing art they made in the months after the original game came out and reflecting on how it had affected them over the past 10 years.
“Undertale” arrived at a pivotal moment in my life, when I was in fifth grade. The relationship between Alyphs and Undyune, one of the first sapphic relationships I encountered (that I can remember), played a significant role in my journey to understand my own bisexuality. Seeing this nerdy girl get the cool captain of the Royal Guard made me think that even with all my self-loathing and incredibly nerdy interests, I could one day get the girl.
It was the glue that brought my middle school friend group together, and even though that group fell apart, those early years of sleepovers and taking turns playing it late into the night will always hold a special place in my heart. It was a significant part of my childhood and a truly remarkable piece of art.
If you’ve somehow avoided it for 10 years, I’d recommend playing it yourself (the PC version is only $10) or watching one of the many playthroughs that are available on the internet. I recommend Jacksepticeye’s play though; he does the best voices.
“Undertale’s” influence on my personal identity is profound. Even though I haven’t talked to any of my middle-school friends in several years, I still have this game, and maybe that’s enough. Despite everything that’s happened in the last ten years, it’s still me.
