Recently, the gaming community has been exploding with “indie games” – video games created by a small team or individual without a larger studio’s financial support. While many of these games clearly display their lack of funding, some are diamonds in the rough, attracting the love and admiration of many.

One such game is Undertale, created by Toby Fox. In Undertale, the player controls a human who has fallen underground into a world full of monsters. Finding your way out is the objective, as routine in these games, but there is a difference – the monsters are often kinder and more understanding than humans ever could be.

While other indie games often attempt to make something entirely fresh and unexplored, Undertale seems to be a loving callback to classics like Earthbound. The game has been well received – the game critic website Metacritic has given Undertale the current highest overall rating on the site.

As the game goes on, more and more of the backstory and history of the monsters’ world is revealed. As many players will tell you, learning of spoilers before playing the game kills the experience, as one of the game’s charms is its way of withholding information and raising new questions each time one is answered.

Along the journey of Undertale, the player encounters plenty of loving and humorous characters, making the prospect of leaving the dark underground seem like a loss in a way. The player will establish a love of the cast and their varying personalities, whether nervous, casual or joyful. The story dips between joyful, sad and stressful scenes, keeping it surprising and fun.

For some, however, Undertale has failed to produce the nostalgic, emotional experience that most enjoy. They claim that the game simply copies old classics and never truly becomes its own game. These claims are pessimistic at best and fail to accept Undertale’s classic charm.

Overall, Undertale is a love letter to past classics, but still clearly branches into its own unique self. Its blocky graphics and simple sounds remind the player of older games, but the story’s depth and lovable characters keep the game in the running with modern releases. The game may not be the prettiest game available, but Undertale is an experience that shouldn’t be missed.