How to make a game like Undertale

Borrow the design question, not the game

Undertale is a recognizable reference point for a role-playing game where dialogue, encounters, and player choices are closely connected. Treat it as a prompt for design questions: What makes a character worth listening to? Can a tense encounter also reveal personality? Does the player's response change how the next scene feels? Your answers should lead to original characters, writing, visual design, music, and worldbuilding, rather than reproducing protected content or assets. If you are looking for games similar to Undertale and Deltarune, compare how each story uses character dialogue and player choices.

Choose one emotional idea to anchor a small prototype. Maybe the hero is trying to return a lost object, settle a misunderstanding, or get through a guarded place without escalating a conflict. Keep the goal concrete. A few characters with distinct points of view give dialogue a reason to exist, while a single encounter can show how the player acts under pressure. A focused scene is easier to judge than a large plot synopsis with no playable moment.

Example prompt: Create an original pixel-art RPG scene about a traveler asking a shy cave keeper for directions. Include short, expressive dialogue with two response choices, then a non-lethal dodge encounter where the keeper tests whether the traveler can stay calm. Use a warm, quirky musical mood and original character designs.

A five-step workflow

1. Write a compact story premise

   Create an original character, a clear problem, and a meaningful choice that can be understood in a short scene. Avoid beginning with a long lore document. State what the player wants, who complicates that goal, and what might change after the conversation. A well-bounded premise gives the game a direction while leaving room for discovery.

2. Build dialogue with personality

   Give each character a distinct voice, short lines, and responses that make the player feel heard. Describe whether the person speaks formally, nervously, or with dry humor, and let word choice carry that identity. A dialogue scene can offer two responses with different tones, then show a small reaction. Keep the exchange brief enough to test in play.

3. Design a readable bullet-hell encounter

   Create a contained dodge pattern with clear hazards, safe movement, and a meaningful outcome. Start with one attack shape and a generous pause, then add variation only when the player understands how to respond. Consider what the encounter says about the opponent. A short pattern can feel tense without becoming visually noisy or demanding unexplained precision.

4. Choose pixel art and music direction

   Define an original pixel palette, character shapes, and a musical mood that supports the story. You can select an art style, provide reference images, use stylized fonts, and paint over concept art. Give characters readable silhouettes and reserve strong colors for important objects. Describe music by mood and pace, then adjust after hearing it alongside the scene.

5. Play, revise, and share

   Test the browser build, improve one story or encounter detail at a time, and share its URL. A first playable typically takes 10 to 15 minutes. Check whether the dialogue is easy to follow, the hazard pattern is fair, and the outcome feels connected to the player's choice. Ask for targeted changes and play the revised version rather than adding several new systems at once.

Make dialogue part of the game

Dialogue can do more than explain where to go. It can reveal what a character wants, change the player's understanding of a problem, or set expectations for the next encounter. Give each exchange a job. A line might introduce a rule, hint at a fear, or create a small comic pause before action. If every sentence explains history, players may skim; if every sentence is a joke, emotional moments can lose their weight.

Use concise choices with clear differences. One response might show patience while another signals impatience, and the character can answer in a way that reflects the tone. You do not need a sprawling branching narrative to make a choice feel present. A changed line, a character's posture, or a later acknowledgment can show that the conversation mattered. Keep the first scene small, then expand only after you know which choices players notice.

Tune bullet-hell encounters for clarity

A bullet-hell style encounter depends on readable motion. Tell the studio what the player controls, where hazards appear, how long each pattern lasts, and what signals the pattern is about to change. Leave enough open space for a new player to understand the safe route. Begin with one attack, play it several times, and adjust speed or density only after the basic rule is clear.

Connect the encounter to the character rather than treating it as an unrelated obstacle. A cautious opponent might use slow patterns with obvious gaps; a playful rival could test timing with a repeating rhythm. If the game allows a peaceful or nonviolent outcome, show how conversation relates to it. The important design move is to make the interaction legible and purposeful, not to copy a specific battle or pattern from an existing game.

Give pixel art and music a shared identity

Pixel art is a visual method, not a fixed look. Decide whether your world uses bright, compact shapes, muted colors, or sharp silhouettes against simple backgrounds. Keep proportions consistent across characters and environments. If you use reference images, use them to communicate broad visual qualities and make sure the resulting designs are original. A limited palette can help important characters and interactive objects stand out.

Music can introduce a place before a character speaks and can change the emotional reading of a scene. Describe the feeling you want, such as awkward warmth, quiet suspense, or an energetic encounter. Ask for a short musical direction that fits the game's original identity. Add simple feedback sounds only where they help an action read. Play the sequence with sound and without it to check that dialogue and hazards remain understandable.

Use the first playable to find the game

Chatforce can create 2D or 3D browser games; choose the dimension at creation because it cannot be changed later. For a compact RPG with pixel characters and expressive text, explain the view and interaction style in your opening brief. Describe what the player can do in the first minute, what changes by the end of the scene, and what the encounter contributes. This gives the AI team a clear slice to build. If you are comparing tools, the RPG Maker alternative page covers the classic editor route.

Once the game is playable, revise with observations. Say that a character's response feels too formal, the safe gap is hard to see, or the music overwhelms the dialogue. Specific feedback points toward useful changes. Then add the next scene or an additional choice. Published games are available at a shareable browser URL, and friends can play without an account. The creator owns the work and published games have no watermark.

For a purpose-built workflow, visit the AI RPG maker. For more starting points, browse games like Undertale or the guide to making a game with AI. Keep the first build deliberately small, and let actual play tell you which characters, systems, and scenes deserve more attention.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make a game like Undertale with AI?

Yes. You can create an original story RPG with character dialogue, bullet-hell style encounters, pixel art, and music. Use Undertale as a genre reference, not a source of characters, story, art, music, or assets.

Can I make a bullet-hell encounter?

Describe a short dodge encounter with readable hazards and a clear goal, then play it in the browser and refine the pacing.

Can I make the game in pixel art?

Yes. Choose an original pixel art direction and describe its palette, shape language, and character designs.

Where can I learn about making an AI RPG?

Visit the AI RPG maker page to explore a workflow for creating an original browser-playable role-playing game.

Related pages:AI RPG maker · Games like Undertale · How to make a game with AI · Visual novel maker · 2D game maker