A phenomenon in which a video game, movie, or other piece of media that was never intended to be perfect gets hyped up as such by its fan community, causing those diving in to have far too lofty expectations. This is followed first by disappointment when it fails to be perfect, then by backlash against the fans who hyped it up - and, inevitably, the game itself. This results in a cycle where the "fans" and "haters" become distinct groups who get increasingly vocal and vicious with each other, debates over its contents become less rational and more personal, until eventually all legitimate discussion about the original subject becomes impossible.
Popularized by the 2015 video game Undertale, as of this writing it is still extremely difficult to bring up the game in any context without getting attacked - either by diehard fans who refuse to recognize that the game has flaws, or diehard haters who refuse to recognize that the game has strengths.
Popularized by the 2015 video game Undertale, as of this writing it is still extremely difficult to bring up the game in any context without getting attacked - either by diehard fans who refuse to recognize that the game has flaws, or diehard haters who refuse to recognize that the game has strengths.
I once brought up Undertale in a conversation. I got told to kill myself, and then the conversation veered off-course into bickering between the fans and the haters. That's the Undertale effect for you.
by JonBon3311 December 19, 2016
A process in which an indie project (either show or game) grows so big to the point where people start hating it due to how big it is.
by Redsparrow09 October 22, 2023
The Undertale Effect is a cycle that any form of entertainment media community can fall into.
Essentially, the community will COMPLETELY over rate the show/game/book/movie/etc., and defend it as if it is their life. The community will almost always turn the lovable, funny characters into cringe, and rapidly spread throughout the internet.
The strange thing is that the only outlets to suffer from The Undertale Effect are those from something that by itself is great. The show/video game/movie/etc. is usually great, and has many redeeming qualities but it is overshadowed by the atrocious and toxic fanbase.
Quite obviously, this is based off of the worst case of this ever happening yet - Undertale. I won't get into it now, but the smallest peek into the (dead now) community will tell you.
This has infamously happened to: Steven Universe, Five Nights at Freddy's, Minecraft, and unfortunately even Rick and Morty.
Essentially, the community will COMPLETELY over rate the show/game/book/movie/etc., and defend it as if it is their life. The community will almost always turn the lovable, funny characters into cringe, and rapidly spread throughout the internet.
The strange thing is that the only outlets to suffer from The Undertale Effect are those from something that by itself is great. The show/video game/movie/etc. is usually great, and has many redeeming qualities but it is overshadowed by the atrocious and toxic fanbase.
Quite obviously, this is based off of the worst case of this ever happening yet - Undertale. I won't get into it now, but the smallest peek into the (dead now) community will tell you.
This has infamously happened to: Steven Universe, Five Nights at Freddy's, Minecraft, and unfortunately even Rick and Morty.
Right now, Rick and Morty has fallen into the Undertale Effect. Just look at Musical.ly, the fan art, the cancerous reddit copypasta, etc.
by That_One_Dodgy_boi October 23, 2017
A term used when a video game or television show becomes unbearable to play/watch because of its fanbase.
by PhantomBird529 September 16, 2017
Once something popular releases, the community and any content made about it WILL degrade and become worse overtime.
"hey have you noticed the twitter community on welcome home keeps getting worse?"
"That, my good friend is the undertale effect happening in practice"
"That, my good friend is the undertale effect happening in practice"
by AmnesiaPen May 6, 2023
When a video game becomes popularly hated due to its fandom as opposed to the game itself. Part of cringe culture. Often results in a hatewagon.
"Let's play Fortnite!"
"Eugh, why Fortnite? That game sucks. The community is filled with whining kids."
"Didn't you have the same reaction to Undertale? It was a good game but the community ruined it? Isn't most Fortnite hate just another Undertale effect?"
"Eugh, why Fortnite? That game sucks. The community is filled with whining kids."
"Didn't you have the same reaction to Undertale? It was a good game but the community ruined it? Isn't most Fortnite hate just another Undertale effect?"
by JTIG22 August 31, 2018
By listening to undertale ost's your vrt increases by 100% causing you to get good kovaak's scores. Often people confuse it with 𝓪𝓲𝓶𝓫𝓸𝓽*.
*𝓪𝓲𝓶𝓫𝓸𝓽- a bot that aims.
*𝓪𝓲𝓶𝓫𝓸𝓽- a bot that aims.
Me: oh you got a good score on arc dodge switch?
My friend: yeah i used the undertale effect.
Me: oh that makes sense now
My friend: yeah i used the undertale effect.
Me: oh that makes sense now
by Saltcult February 9, 2021