18. (tie) Undertale (2018*)
- * released on the Nintendo Switch in 2018; original PC release in 2015
- Final score: 22 points
- Total placements: 3 lists
- Highest placement: #11, Joe
Casey writes:
Tying with Theatrhythm is something Toby Fox, creator of the next game, would probably appreciate. Undertale, a bizarre indie RPG that’s equal parts inspired by classic JRPGs like Final Fantasy or Earthbound and internet-first media like the webcomic Homestuck, is packed with alternate endings, unique game mechanics that still fit within the known structure of turn-based JRPG gameplay, and what feels like fanservice for an audience that didn’t even know it was a fan until suddenly… they were obsessed. Undertale technically came out on PC in 2015, shortly followed by some other platforms, but seeing it come out on the Switch in 2018 and how Nintendo embraced it and Toby Fox’s other games within its indie game promotional strategy felt all-too appropriate. Toby Fox is a Nintendo fan like us. Undertale belongs on Switch.