Snowgrave vs. Genocide: Understanding the Dark Paths of Undertale and Deltarune

The worlds of Undertale and Deltarune, created by Toby Fox, offer players a unique blend of heartwarming stories and chilling choices. While both games feature the possibility of dark paths, the Genocide Route in Undertale and the Snowgrave Route (also known as the Weird Route or Pipis Route) in Deltarune, Chapter 2 present contrasting approaches to achieving power through destruction. The fundamental difference lies in their motivation and method.

In Undertale’s Genocide Route, the player, through their character Frisk, is driven by a desire to eliminate all life, leaving no monster standing. It’s a systematic process of brutal eradication, where the player meticulously hunts down every enemy in each area, triggering encounters specifically to reach a kill quota before progressing. It’s about the act of destruction itself, of completely emptying each zone, reducing it to a state of “But nobody came.” Getting stronger is merely a byproduct of the relentless killing, a means to an end. The game’s world reacts with dread and eerieness to your violent rampage, underscoring the moral weight of your actions.

The Snowgrave Route in Deltarune, on the other hand, is fundamentally about gaining power and control through a specific method, manipulating the character Noelle Holiday to freeze enemies. In contrast to the indiscriminate violence of Genocide, Snowgrave focuses on strategically freezing foes, transforming them into icy statues. The player, through the character Kris, manipulates Noelle to learn a powerful ice spell, using her emotional vulnerability as a tool. The act of killing is not the primary goal; rather, it is a calculated step towards achieving dominance. While destruction occurs, it is a secondary effect of the pursuit of power, making this route less about wanton slaughter and more about cold, calculated manipulation.

In essence, Genocide is about killing, and the resulting power-up is a side-effect, while Snowgrave is about getting stronger, and freezing foes is the means to that end.

Key Differences in Detail

Motivation

• Genocide (Undertale): Driven by a desire for complete annihilation. The player seeks to erase all life from the Underground, motivated by a thirst for destruction itself.
• Snowgrave (Deltarune): Driven by a desire for absolute control and power. The player exploits Noelle’s emotional vulnerabilities to gain the ability to manipulate and dominate.

Method

• Genocide (Undertale): Requires systematic and repeated killing of every possible enemy, forcing encounters until specific quotas are met in each area. It involves a deliberate and thorough search-and-destroy process.
• Snowgrave (Deltarune): Relies on the strategic manipulation of Noelle’s abilities, particularly forcing her to use the ice spell on enemies until they are completely frozen, then breaking the ice with another attack. It’s more about exploiting an ally than a brutal slaughter.

Impact

• Genocide (Undertale): The world becomes desolate and terrifying. Characters react with fear and despair, and the save files are permanently tainted, affecting future playthroughs. The focus is on the complete destruction of the world and the protagonist’s transformation into a monster.
• Snowgrave (Deltarune): Focuses on psychological horror, with the player forcing Noelle to engage in actions she is uncomfortable with. The impact is primarily on Noelle, who is manipulated and emotionally scarred. Although the frozen enemies do disappear once the area refreshes, the chilling atmosphere of the route and its effects on Noelle linger.

Character Development

• Genocide (Undertale): Frisk becomes a tool of Chara, who is awakened by the player’s violent acts and takes over at the end. It highlights the corruption of the soul by repeated violence.
• Snowgrave (Deltarune): Kris acts as a cold manipulator, using their control over Noelle to achieve their goals, with the focus being less on Kris’s own development, and more on how they influence Noelle. The route highlights the danger of unchecked power and the capacity for cruelty, even in a seemingly innocent character.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the “But nobody came” message?

The “But nobody came” message appears in Undertale’s Genocide Route when the player has killed all the required monsters in a given area, meaning they have met their kill quota for that zone. This signifies that the area is now empty of life, ready to be traversed. This message highlights the chilling nature of the genocide path, emphasizing the player’s complete eradication of all life.

Can you abort the Snowgrave Route?

Yes, you can abort the Snowgrave Route in Deltarune. Upon doing so, all frozen enemies disappear with the room refresh, and the areas return to normal as if the route never happened. However, the Freeze Ring and Thorn Ring obtained during the route will not disappear, allowing for some interesting interactions. This is the only way to see Susie and Ralsei’s reactions to the Thorn Ring in Chapter 2.

Does Deltarune have a true genocide route like Undertale?

Deltarune does not have a direct equivalent to Undertale’s Genocide Route in the same way. The Snowgrave Route is the closest approximation, but it’s fundamentally different in its methods and aims, as described above. While both are dark and disturbing, the impact and focus of each are distinct. Deltarune currently does not present a path where the goal is to eliminate all life as in Undertale.

How do you trigger the Genocide Route in Undertale?

The Genocide Route in Undertale is triggered by meticulously killing every monster in each area before proceeding with the game’s story. Specific kill quotas must be met in the Ruins, Snowdin, Waterfall, Hotland and The Core, and New Home. Once these are met, the game will trigger the “But nobody came” text and allow you to move forward.

How many kills are needed for the Genocide Route in Undertale?

The number of kills required for the Genocide Route varies by area. You need 20 in the Ruins, 16 in Snowdin, 18 in Waterfall, 40 in Hotland, and 11 in New Home. The appearance of the “But nobody came” text confirms you have met the specific kill quota for that zone.

Is the Genocide Route in Undertale canon?

The question of whether the Genocide Route is canon in Undertale is debated by the fanbase. The game strongly implies that it is a base experience of the game, the player has a unique relationship to the soul that allows them to essentially sell it to Chara and gain this power, the end of deltarune references this, but in what way it affects the story of future games is unknown.

What is the “True Genocide” ending in Undertale?

The Genocide Route of Undertale leads to one of the three main endings. The protagonist kills every possible monster in the Underground, and it can occur without prior completion of the game. This path results in the game save becoming permanently tainted, impacting future playthroughs.

What happens to Berdly after the Snowgrave route?

After the Snowgrave Route in Deltarune, Berdly does not appear for the remainder of the adventure in the Cyber World. When the Dark Fountain is sealed and the computer lab returns to normal, Berdly is still incapacitated, with Noelle believing him to be asleep.

What is the Weird Route?

The Weird Route is another name for the Snowgrave Route in Deltarune Chapter 2. It is triggered by backtracking to the Trash Field early in the game, and it will follow the player pushing Noelle to freeze the enemies around her for the rest of the playthrough.

Should I play Pacifist or Genocide first?

It is highly recommended to play the Pacifist Route first before attempting the Genocide Route in Undertale. The Pacifist Route provides the intended narrative and character development without the negative impacts on the game’s file. The Genocide Route significantly changes the game’s atmosphere and may affect subsequent playthroughs in a negative way. In Deltarune’s case, attempting the normal route first may provide more emotional weight to the events of Snowgrave.

Is Genocide or True Pacifist harder?

The Genocide Route in Undertale is generally considered harder than the True Pacifist Route. It requires specific kill quotas and the final bosses are quite challenging, especially for new players. Pacifist allows for a more lenient and easy-going gameplay experience.

Who is the villain in the Undertale Genocide Route?

In the Genocide Route, the protagonist, Frisk, becomes the villainous character, being controlled by Chara’s influence. The player’s actions are a result of their own choices, making Frisk the antagonist of the story.

How many endings does Undertale have?

Undertale has three base endings, with variations depending on player choices and actions. The main endings are Pacifist, Neutral, and Genocide, each with different effects on the world and characters.

What happens to Dr. Alphys in the Genocide Route?

In the Genocide Route, at the end Chara destroys the Underground, along with Alphys and all other monsters within it. In some of the neutral endings, Alphys “disappears,” potentially implying suicide, but this is not confirmed in the Genocide route.

Does Flowey remember genocide?

Yes, Flowey remembers your actions from previous playthroughs, including the Genocide Route. If you start a new game after completing Genocide, Flowey will comment on your past actions, showing that the consequences of your previous actions continue to affect the game world.