Manual
The manual, also known as the instruction manual, is a detailed guide to the game's mechanics featured in the Undertale Demo.
The manual is 20 pages long. After completing the demo, Flowey's note changes depending on the protagonist's actions.
This section features credits for Undertale developers. It features a drawing of the protagonist in the Ruins by Temmie Chang.
This section describes the main story shown in the introduction slideshow of the game. It features a drawing showing Toriel reading a book to the protagonist.
This section introduces Flowey, Napstablook, and Toriel.
Flowey is described as a friendly flower and the protagonist's best friend. Napstablook is described as a humorless monster who is good at pretending to sleep, to which they respond, "i'm not even very good at that either... sorry...".
Toriel is introduced on the following page, where she is described as the guardian of the Ruins. She also volunteered to provide helpful Gaming Tips throughout the manual. Napstablook can be seen on the bottom right corner of the page, wondering if they're on the wrong page. This page features an unique snail background.
This section explains the functions of Undertale's controls. Toriel also tells the reader to wash their keyboard and mouse frequently.
This section introduces the main menu and SAVE Points, describing the latter as the manifestation of the protagonist's determination.
Undertale's gameplay is described as being split in two sections: the UNDERWORLD, which refers to the overworld sections of the Underground, and COMBAT.
This section introduces items, the Cell Phone, and stats, all of which are explained in more detail in later sections. Toriel also recommends the reader to play in a well-lit room, with ample distance from your monitor and to take breaks every thirty minutes.
This section explains Hit Points, Attack, Defense, Ex. Points, and LOVE. Toriel appears at the bottom of the page, asking the reader if they are hungry and telling them she is going to cut up some fruit for them.
The manual describes combat as the section where you can show the true nature of your SOUL.
It first talks about the protagonist's turn, introducing the options to FIGHT, ACT, use an item, and spare an enemy. The latter is further explained on the following page as an aura of peaceful determination that exudes from your body.
The manual then describes the enemy's turn. The words "friendliness pellets" can be seen scratched out in the center of the page, with Flowey claiming the page was being vandalized by some "artless hooligans".
The next page introduces some enemies, these being Froggit and Whimsun. Toriel appears holding with a bowl of fruit, telling the reader she will put it on the next page.
This section features the Monster Candy, Toy Knife, Faded Ribbon, and the Cell Phone. The bowl of fruit left by Toriel can be seen at the bottom of the page.
The legal notice encourages the reader to play the demo, share it with friends, and not sell the game or any products related to it. It features a drawing of the protagonist in Toriel's Home's guest room.
The troubleshooting section gives advice on how to deal with bugs. Toriel appears at the bottom of this page, telling readers who do not know how to set up the game to ask their parents for help, or, if they do not live with their parents, to call them and say they love them.
The final section features a note from Flowey, in which he says he is really looking forward to meeting the protagonist, and already feels they will become good friends.
The note changes depending on the actions taken throughout the demo:
- Spared Toriel: Right after the start of the second interaction with Flowey, he disappears from the final page of the instruction booklet, which simply says "Don't get too cocky."
- Killed Toriel: The final page displays a picture of Flowey grinning, and the message "Hahaha... You didn't even try to spare her. You murderer." It also changes when starting the second Flowey encounter. If the Genocide Route has been completed, this page changes a second time as described below.
- Genocide Route: At the very end of the demo, all pages except the last and the first change to the last screen with the Undertale logo and the red words. The first page remains normal, and the last page displays a faceless Flowey with no dialogue, hinting at his fate in the full game's Genocide Route.
Although the $7,500 stretch goal for the Undertale Kickstarter was intended to allow for the addition of an expanded manual in the final game, it was ultimately removed entirely because the version of GameMaker Studio used for the final game has more restrictions on editing external files. Toby Fox sees the absence of the manual in the final game as making the demo even more special.[1][2]
Cover of the manual
Page 1 of the manual
Page 2 of the manual
Page 5 of the manual
Page 7 of the manual
Page 8 of the manual
Pages 9 and 10 of the manual
Pages 12 and 13 of the manual
Pages 14 and 15 of the manual
Page 16 of the manual
Pages 17 and 18 of the manual
Page 19 of the manual if the protagonist killed Toriel
Page 19 of the manual if the protagonist spared Toriel
Pages 1-18 of the manual if the protagonist followed the Genocide Route
Page 19 of the manual if the protagonist followed the Genocide Route
- 1 2 "Unfortunately, GM:Studio lacks some features GM8 has (which is why I didn't convert earlier...). One of these is that it cannot deal with external files very well. This means that I can't do anything with the instruction manual anymore. So, I've opted to have no instruction manual at all. Well, at least the DEMO is really special now." — Toby Fox. "UnderTale by Toby Fox". Kickstarter's website. June 30, 2015. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ↑ "! NOTE: DEMO was created on older software with different capabilities.
Therefore, may not be 100% indicative of full game.
However, it's slightly special in some respects..." — Toby Fox. "UNDERTALE - Delicious Free Sample". Undertale's official website. Archived from the original on June 17, 2017. Retrieved March 17, 2026. - ↑
it's a beautiful day outside.
— Sans
birds are singing, flowers are blooming...
on days like these, kids like you...
Should be burning in hell.