The Lonely Aftermath: Exploring the “Sans-Only Survivor” Scenario in Undertale

What happens if you kill everyone in Undertale except Sans? Unfortunately, you won’t actually be able to experience this in the base game. Undertale’s coding prevents this specific scenario. By default, If you kill everyone you encounter up until the end of the game, you initiate the Genocide Route, and once you’ve triggered it, you can’t just selectively spare specific characters. If you choose to spare anyone, your Genocide Route will be cancelled, but if you kill everyone and follow that route, the game will continue onward, not stopping.

However, this hasn’t stopped the community from speculating and creating fan-made content that explores this exact situation. While there’s no official in-game ending for it, exploring the implications of this scenario sheds light on the game’s complex morality and the character of Sans. Let’s dive into what the fanon suggests, and dissect why this exact situation is impossible in the original game.

The Impossible Reality: Why a “Sans-Only Survivor” Run Can’t Happen

The core reason you can’t leave only Sans alive lies in how Undertale tracks progress. The game meticulously monitors your actions. It keeps a kill count within each major area (Ruins, Snowdin, Waterfall, Hotland/CORE). To trigger a Genocide Route, you must exhaust the random encounters in each area before facing the boss. This requires grinding until you receive the chilling message, “But nobody came,” indicating you’ve eliminated all possible enemies.

If you spare anyone at any point after you kill a boss, especially Papyrus, you’ll veer off the Genocide Route and land in a Neutral Route. This is also true if you spare Toriel. You’ll get a unique Neutral ending if you kill everyone except papyrus. The game simply doesn’t allow for a scenario where Sans remains the sole survivor through conventional gameplay.

Fanon and Speculation: Imagining a World Without Everyone Else

Despite its impossibility, the idea of a world with only Sans left is a powerful thought experiment. Fan-made comics, stories, and even game modifications explore this concept. What would it look like? What would Sans do? Here are some common themes:

• Existential Despair: Many interpretations depict Sans as profoundly affected. He’s already aware of timelines and resets. Being the last monster would amplify his sense of futility and despair. He’d likely grapple with the weight of everyone’s death and the knowledge that it was the player’s fault.

• Protective Mode: Some fan works imagine Sans taking a more active role. Perhaps he dedicates himself to preventing further timeline manipulation or finding a way to restore the fallen monsters. He might use his knowledge of time and space to protect the remaining humans on the surface from potential threats.

• Resignation and Acceptance: Another possibility is that Sans simply accepts the reality. He might retreat to a secluded location, resigned to his fate as the last of his kind. This interpretation often involves a sense of profound sadness and a quiet acceptance of the player’s actions.

The Deeper Meaning: Exploring Morality and Consequences

The “Sans-Only Survivor” scenario highlights Undertale’s core themes of choice, consequence, and the nature of good and evil. It forces players to confront the impact of their actions and consider the moral weight of their decisions. Even though it can’t be experienced in the vanilla game, it serves as a powerful reminder that choices matter, even in a fictional world. Undertale encourages players to think critically about their actions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can you spare Sans during the Genocide Route?

No, you cannot spare Sans during the Genocide Route. When given the option to spare him, attempting to do so will result in an immediate and unavoidable death. The game is designed to punish the player for attempting mercy after committing genocide.

2. What happens if you try to abort the Genocide Route by sparing someone?

If you spare any monster after starting the Genocide Route and after having already defeated a boss, you will be locked into a Neutral Route. The game recognizes that you are no longer committed to complete genocide and alters the story accordingly.

3. Is it possible to get the True Pacifist ending after doing a Genocide Route?

Yes, but with a caveat. After completing a Genocide Route, the game is permanently altered. You can achieve the True Pacifist ending, but it will have a dark twist, a reminder of your past actions. It is generally considered that the most satisfying ending is one earned without commiting to the genocide route beforehand.

4. What are the requirements for the Genocide Route?

To trigger the Genocide Route, you must exhaust all random encounters in each area. This requires grinding until you receive the “But nobody came” message before facing the boss of that area. You must then kill every boss you encounter.

5. How many monsters do you need to kill for the Genocide Route?

You will need to kill a specific number of monsters in each area. This number varies depending on the location. The best indicator is the “But nobody came” message, which signifies that you’ve met the quota for that area.

6. Does Sans remember previous timelines and resets?

Sans possesses a unique awareness of timelines and resets. He retains fragmented memories from previous timelines. This awareness is a key aspect of his character and motivates his actions throughout the game.

7. Why is the Sans fight so difficult?

The Sans fight is notoriously difficult due to his unconventional tactics. He breaks the traditional turn-based combat rules by attacking first. He also utilizes his knowledge of timelines to confuse the player and exploit invincibility frames. The difficulty in no way mirrors his low health and attack stats though.

8. What happens if you reset after defeating Sans?

Resetting after defeating Sans will reset the world as normal. However, if you reset AFTER killing Sans but before you meet Asgore, Flowey is upset.

9. Is Sans a good guy or a bad guy?

Sans is neither strictly good nor bad. His morality is complex and depends on the player’s actions. He only becomes an antagonist during the Genocide Route, acting as a final defense against the player’s destructive path.

10. What are the different types of endings in Undertale?

Undertale has three primary ending categories: Neutral, Pacifist, and Genocide. Each category has variations based on specific choices made throughout the game.

11. Can you befriend Sans in Undertale?

You can befriend Sans during the Pacifist Route. He will become a valuable ally. However, he remains guarded and aware of the player’s potential to reset the timeline.

12. What is Sans’ motivation for fighting the player in the Genocide Route?

Sans’ primary motivation is to stop the player from destroying the world. He recognizes the player’s capacity for evil and sees himself as the last line of defense for his friends and the entire Underground.

13. What does “get dunked on” mean?

“Get dunked on” is Sans’ iconic phrase. It signifies a humiliating defeat or a display of dominance. It embodies his sarcastic and nonchalant personality.

14. How much damage does Sans actually do?

Sans technically only does one damage per hit. However, he denies the player of invincibility frames after being hit. He instead deals one damage per frame, resulting in rapid damage accumulation.

15. What are some fan-made interpretations of Sans?

Fan-made interpretations of Sans are vast and diverse. They range from comedic and lighthearted to dark and tragic. Some popular AUs (Alternate Universes) include Horror Sans, Ink Sans, and Error Sans, each exploring different aspects of his character and backstory.

Interested in how games can inform education? The Games Learning Society is a great resource. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more.