The smiling flower who can reset time and break the fourth wall
In short: In the 2015 game Undertale, Flowey appears as a helpful guide. However, this talking flower is actually a malevolent, soulless entity driven by a ruthless "kill or be killed" philosophy. By manipulating the player's save files, this character transcends the game world to challenge everything you think you know about the rules.
Flowey is the primary antagonist of Toby Fox's Undertale, first appearing as an unassuming, sentient flower that offers "friendliness pellets" that actually cause harm. Beneath this whimsical exterior lies a psychopathic entity. In the game's Neutral route, Flowey evolves into a grotesque, massive form known as Omega Flowey—or Photoshop Flowey—after absorbing the souls of six fallen humans. This form is capable of destroying the player's save file, a feat that critics noted for its unsettling, realistic graphics and ability to make the character feel as though they have escaped the game's containment.
The character's true identity is revealed in the True Pacifist route: Flowey is actually Asriel Dreemurr, the son of Toriel and Asgore. Asriel's tragic backstory involves a human child he loved like a sibling; after the child died of an unspecified illness, Asriel absorbed their soul in grief. This act granted him power to breach the Underground's magic barrier, but led to a fatal encounter with humans. Asriel eventually disintegrated into dust, only to be unintentionally revived as the soulless Flowey when the character Alphys injected a flower containing his remnants with "determination."
Because Flowey lacks a soul, he is unable to feel love, a realization that initially prompted him to attempt suicide. However, his newfound determination granted him the ability to "Save" and "Reset" time, allowing him to manipulate the game's timeline. This mechanic makes Flowey an analogue for completionist players, motivated by curiosity to see every possible outcome of the game's systems, including the "no mercy" route.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Flowey
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