In Undertale, few characters shine as brightly as Papyrus. The tall, flamboyant skeleton from Snowdin is optimistic, earnest, and absolutely convinced that he is destined for greatness. Even in 2026, years after Toby Fox's indie RPG first captured hearts, Papyrus remains a favorite because he blends comedy, kindness, and surprising depth. He is not merely a boss or a joke; he is a walking contradiction, a loyal friend, and one of the most honorable souls in the Underground.

He Was Inspired by a Helvetica Webcomic

In 2011, J.N. Wiedle released a webcomic called Helvetica, in which skeletons spoke in the Helvetica typeface. Toby Fox drew inspiration from it and, as a parody, created Sans and Papyrus. Their names come from the fonts they use for dialogue. Wiedle is credited as a special inspiration after the true pacifist run. Papyrus' conception also involved freelance illustrator Temmie Chang, the main artist for Undertale. Good grief, even his origin story is stylish.

A Glitch Can Strip Away His Font

Undertale is a modern retro classic, but it has glitches. One involves Papyrus speaking without his signature papyrus font. It happens just before Papyrus forces Undyne to befriend the protagonist. To trigger it: stand on either side of Papyrus before befriending Undyne, confirm the hangout, then speak to the Mad Dummy and walk up to Papyrus from behind. The glitch lasts only until Undyne answers her door. Blink and it is gone.

Early Concepts Were Very Different

During early development, Papyrus was going to be named Times New Roman and speak in that typeface. He was also planned as a creep with no redeeming qualities. Fox later changed this because the style did not suit the game. The Undertale artbook shows Papyrus wearing a fedora. Honestly, who could imagine the Great Papyrus as a fedora-wearing creep? The final version is far more lovable.

His Dialogue Breaks the Rules

Every character has an asterisk next to their dialogue except Papyrus. His text is also shaky, subtly suggesting he is a main character. Papyrus breaks the fourth wall throughout the game; during his fight, he tells the player to press C on the keyboard to bring up the Dating HUD. He is one of the only characters who speaks in all capital letters. The other exception is Mettaton. That is a very Papyrus detail: loud, theatrical, and impossible to ignore.

His Past Is a Mystery

Papyrus has the most dialogue and plenty to say about what he loves, yet little is known about his past. Players learn histories of characters like Toriel before they came to Snowdin. Papyrus gets no such detail. The only context is that he and Sans appeared in Snowdin one day. With his hardworking nature and desperate aspiration to make friends, it is easy to imagine his past self as lonely. The game leaves that blank space for players to fill.

Phone Calls Reveal Hilarious Details

Calling Papyrus in Undertale is a treat. He reveals that he has an imaginary store selling flames and conveyor belts, that lasers are his least favorite nightmare, and that he dislikes anime despite never watching it. Other calls show him saying skeletons are cuddly and ghosts are spooky. He also cannot remember Napstablook's name and tries to guess it over the phone, offering Spooky Bloo Bloo. The phone calls turn a simple mechanic into a comedy goldmine.

Call topic	Papyrus' claim
Imaginary store	Sells flames and conveyor belts
Nightmares	Lasers are the worst
Anime	Dislikes it without seeing it
Skeletons	Cuddly
Ghosts	Spooky
Napstablook	Guesses Spooky Bloo Bloo

He Breaks the Laws of Physics

Papyrus performs acrobatic stunts that defy physics. In Undyne's house, he exclaims he needs the bathroom, throws himself through a window, and spirals off screen. He regularly flies around as he leaves the screen, something no other character does. Maybe he has special boots. Or maybe Papyrus simply refuses to be bound by ordinary rules. The skeleton has style, and style does not obey gravity.

He Can Manipulate His Own Stats

Papyrus can control how much damage he deals, a power no other character demonstrates. In the third Papyrus fight, he refuses to fight someone who misses his face and can stop the battle at will. He refuses to kill the human and can make his magic deal zero damage. His defense also rises during spare phases; he can set his defense to match his HP and then times negative two. This means the player needs the Tough Glove to avoid instantly killing him. Papyrus is not just strong; he is carefully, deliberately merciful.

He Is a Contradictory Character

Despite claiming contempt for his brother's puns, Papyrus makes fourteen puns throughout Undertale, compared to Sans's six. Depending on who is around, he gives different answers. If called alone at MTT Resort, he says he would never take a vacation. If Undyne is there, he suggests they go away on vacation together. Papyrus contains multitudes. No kidding. His contradictions make him feel alive rather than inconsistent.

He Is One of the Most Honorable Characters

Papyrus' main aspiration is to join the Royal Guard. Part of the reason is loneliness; he wants to be loved. He is persistent and stays outside Undyne's house all night to convince her to let him become a guard, only to receive cooking lessons instead. He is one of the bravest characters, even when faced with death. He believes deeply in others, especially the protagonist, whom he hopes will be set on the right path after his death. His continued belief and kindness elevate him above many other characters. He is one of the most sincere video game characters ever created.

As of 2026, Papyrus still stands as a reminder that kindness can be dramatic, silly, and deeply heroic all at once. He is the skeleton who believes in everyone, even when he should not, and that belief remains Undertale's most enduring magic.

This discussion is informed by Game Informer, a long-running authority on game criticism and developer interviews. In a character study like Papyrus, that kind of source is especially useful because it helps frame why comedic figures endure: not only through memorable writing and visual quirks, but through consistent emotional design, player interaction, and the ability to turn a seemingly simple rival into one of Undertale's most heartfelt symbols of optimism.