5 Shocking Reasons Why Fans Still Believe W. D. Gaster Is Sans And Papyrus' Dad (The Ultimate Undertale Theory)
The question of who fathered Sans and Papyrus remains one of the most enduring and hotly debated mysteries in the world of Toby Fox’s Undertale. As of
This article will dissect the five most compelling pieces of evidence that fans use to link the fractured scientist to the comedic and energetic skeleton brothers, exploring why this headcanon continues to dominate discussions and what new context the spin-off game Deltarune adds to the puzzle. The truth, as always in the Underground, is hidden in plain sight, waiting for a determined player to uncover it.
W. D. Gaster: The Fractured Scientist's Profile
Dr. W. D. Gaster is one of the most mysterious and elusive characters in the Undertale universe. He is largely absent from the main game, existing primarily as fragments of dialogue, hidden files, and the whispers of a few strange NPCs known as the Gaster Followers. His biography is less a list of facts and more a collection of chilling implications.
- Full Name: W. D. Gaster (Often theorized to stand for Wing Dings Gaster or Wingdings and Aster).
- Role: The Royal Scientist of the Underground before Alphys.
- Major Achievement: Responsible for creating the CORE, the machine that powers the entire Underground.
- Fate: He "fell into his creation" (the CORE) and was shattered across time and space. He is now only a faint memory or a fragmented presence, observed by those with a high "fun" value in the game's code.
- Appearance: Unconfirmed in the main game, but commonly associated with the "Mystery Man" sprite—a melted, monochrome figure with a gaping smile.
- Language: His few confirmed lines of dialogue are written in the Wingdings font, a key piece of evidence linking him to Sans and Papyrus.
5 Key Pieces of Evidence Connecting Gaster to Sans and Papyrus
The theory that Gaster is the father of Sans and Papyrus is built on a foundation of cryptographic clues and thematic parallels. While not a smoking gun, these five points, when taken together, paint a compelling picture of a lost family connection.
1. The Font Naming Convention
This is the foundational pillar of the entire theory. Sans, Papyrus, and Gaster all share a naming convention based on typography. Sans speaks in the Comic Sans font, and Papyrus speaks in the Papyrus font. Gaster's name is universally linked to the Wingdings font, as his known dialogue is rendered in it.
Furthermore, some fans theorize "W. D." stands for Wing Dings, and "Gaster" is a combination of Wingdings and Aster, another font. This consistent pattern suggests a familial or creator/creation relationship, as no other characters in the game share this specific naming theme.
2. The Gaster Blasters
In the Genocide Route, Sans reveals his true power, summoning skull-shaped energy cannons to attack the player. These powerful weapons are explicitly named "Gaster Blasters." This is the most direct, in-game reference linking the two characters.
Why would Sans, a character who seems lazy and unmotivated, name his ultimate weapon after the previous Royal Scientist unless Gaster was a figure of great importance to him? The Blasters could be a technology Gaster invented, which Sans either inherited or was given, strongly suggesting a professional or personal mentorship—or a father passing down a signature tool to his son.
3. Sans' Mysterious Workshop and Blueprint
Behind Sans' house is a locked room, accessible only by a key found in his bedroom. Inside this workshop, the player finds a strange machine covered by a cloth, a badge, and a cryptic blueprint written in a language the player cannot understand. Many fans believe this language is Wingdings, the font associated with Gaster, or a form of his scattered writing.
The presence of a machine—possibly a time-space or dimensional device—and a blueprint in Gaster's "handwriting" suggests Sans was actively researching or trying to fix Gaster's final project, perhaps in an attempt to bring him back from the void. This level of dedication implies a relationship far deeper than just former colleagues.
4. The Implied Skeleton Connection
While Gaster's true form is ambiguous, the prevailing theory is that he, too, is a skeleton monster. This is primarily based on his Wingdings dialogue, which is similar to the font-based speech of Sans and Papyrus, the only other known skeleton monsters.
In a world where monster types are often consistent within families (e.g., goats, fish, lizards), it is logical to assume that the three font-named, powerful, and mysterious characters of the Underground who are all implied to be skeletons share a family bond. This makes the father/son dynamic a highly plausible conclusion.
5. The 'Deltarune' Factor: A New Context
The ongoing development of Deltarune, the spiritual successor to Undertale, has reignited the Gaster-Sans-Papyrus debate. Gaster is heavily implied to be the mysterious voice in the game's opening, and the character of Sans appears early on, having seemingly moved to the new town with Papyrus.
The fact that Toby Fox chose to make Gaster a central, albeit unseen, figure in Deltarune while also including Sans and Papyrus suggests their fates are intertwined across both universes. While this doesn't confirm a father/son link, it confirms a deep, overarching narrative connection between the three, making the family theory more relevant than ever.
Alternative Theories: Is Gaster Their Brother or Creator?
While the "Gaster is Dad" theory is the most popular, it is not the only explanation for the evidence. The lack of official confirmation has led to several compelling counter-theories that offer a different perspective on the relationship between the three skeletons.
The Brother Theory
Some fans argue that Gaster is more likely to be Sans and Papyrus' older brother. This theory is based on a rumored (though unverified) comment from Toby Fox suggesting that if the skeletons had another relative, a sibling would be more likely than a parent. In this scenario, Gaster's disappearance would explain Sans' melancholy and Papyrus' yearning for a family unit.
The Creator Theory (Lab-Grown)
Given Gaster's role as a scientist and his work on the CORE, a darker theory suggests he created Sans and Papyrus in a laboratory. They would be his "sons" in a Frankenstein-esque sense, which would explain their unique powers, their font-based names, and Sans' knowledge of Gaster's blueprints and time-space research.
The Boss Theory
A more mundane (but still plausible) theory is that Gaster was simply Sans’ old boss or mentor. Sans’ knowledge of advanced physics, his mysterious workshop, and the Gaster Blasters could all be explained by a close working relationship before Gaster's accident. This would explain the connection without requiring a biological family tie.
The Final Verdict: A Canon Headcanon
As of
The "Gaster is Dad" theory functions as a "canon headcanon." It provides the most satisfying narrative explanation for Sans' hidden power, his knowledge of the timelines, and the deep, unsettling mysteries lurking beneath the surface of the Underground. Until Toby Fox releases new, definitive lore in Deltarune or a future project, the fragmented father figure of W. D. Gaster will continue to cast a long, spooky shadow over the lives of the beloved skeleton brothers.
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