8 Best Games Like Undertale - Investment Policy

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.

This game is incredibly captivating, the music is fantastic, and it’s highly recommended if you want to grasp the creation process of Undertale. You can spot numerous influences scattered throughout the game.

7. Everhood

Bounce To It

If you prefer role-playing games with an unconventional battle system that goes beyond simply pressing a button to inflict damage, then Everhood might be right up your street (provided you’re fond of peculiar things).

This game is a lively blend of psychedelic bullet-hell chaos and rhythm game excitement, all wrapped up in a funky package. It offers a wildly trippy journey, filled with intense battles that require you to dance around musical notes to survive.

If you enjoy the peculiarity of characters in Undertale and relish unexpected interactions with quirky frogs, then Everhood offers a similar charm with an array of additional oddball creatures that defy conventional speech.

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 , as a bit of a warning.

This soundtrack is outstanding, with Toby Fox contributing one track as a notable addition. The game carries a vibe reminiscent of Earthbound, featuring vividly surreal landscapes and characters that can seem rather inexplicable at times.

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.

In essence, this game has a somewhat frustrating combat mechanism that links your emotional state with your fighting abilities. If you’re seeking a title that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride, complete with pulse-pounding battle tunes, then this is just what you need!

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.

Without giving too many details away, let me tell you that this concept is fascinating: delving into someone’s recollections and trying to modify them so they can pass away serenely has a powerful emotional resonance.

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 .

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’re seeking a Role-Playing Game with captivating characters and a thought-provoking plot that will draw you in, and if you’d like to discover one of the top games that hasn’t yet gained widespread recognition, then I wholeheartedly recommend giving it a try.

3. OFF

Batter Up

Hey there! I’m excited to share some news with you as a fellow fan. Although it’s a bit challenging to play it right now, the classic game OFF is getting an amazing full-on remake and re-release soon! And

As a gamer, I found myself deeply inspired by another epic RPG – one that’s not only mind-bendingly psychedelic but also keeps me on my toes with its innovative gameplay styles and artistic directions. It’s a rollercoaster ride of creativity that challenges me just enough to keep things interesting, yet never gives me a migraine!

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.

Once Niko is being guided by you, when you reach the end, there’s no turning back. The game will have been altered permanently, regardless of any choices made, and it’s quite brief, making it advisable to play through all parts in one go.

This game is heavily character-focused, featuring some of the most imaginative brain teasers I’ve encountered. It executes everything so flawlessly that anyone who enjoys Undertale should consider giving it a try.

1. Earthbound

Quite Quirky

Naturally, my list wouldn’t be comprehensive without acknowledging the game that had the most significant impact on Toby Fox – Earthbound. Remarkably, it continues to resonate 30 years after its initial release.

You’ll notice similarities everywhere, starting with the one-of-a-kind, peculiar dialogues of the characters that you’re bound to grow fond of, and extending to the music, which shares a comparable style and sound quality with Toby’s compositions.

Besides its connection to Undertale, Earthbound is a fun game due to its distinctive battle system, charming pixel art, and stunning SNES backgrounds.

Discovering various charming small towns and ultimately engaging in combat with a deity, as customary in JRPGs, sounds fantastic! If you can manage to obtain this experience, I wholeheartedly recommend it without hesitation.

2025-03-17 18:13