:Grim Fandango

Grim Fandango is an adventure game, in which the player controls Manuel "Manny" Calavera (calavera being Spanish for 'skull') as he follows Mercedes "Meche" Colomar in the Underworld. The game uses the GrimE engine, pre-rendering static backgrounds from 3D models, while the main objects and characters are animated in 3D. Additionally, cutscenes in the game have also been pre-rendered in 3D. The player controls Manny's movements and actions with a keyboard, a joystick, or a gamepad. The remastered edition allows control via a mouse as well. Manny must collect objects that can be used with either other collectible objects, parts of the scenery, or with other people in the Land of the Dead in order to solve puzzles and progress in the game. The game lacks any type of HUD. Unlike the earlier 2D LucasArts games, the player is informed of objects or persons of interest not by text floating on the screen when the player passes a cursor over them, but instead by the fact that Manny will turn his head toward that object or person as he walks by. The player reviews the inventory of items that Manny has collected by watching him pull each item in and out of his coat jacket.{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-02-05-retrospective-grim-fandango |title=Retrospective: Grim Fandango |first=Jeffery |last=Matulef |date=February 5, 2012 |access-date=February 5, 2012 |website=Eurogamer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509093631/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-02-05-retrospective-grim-fandango |archive-date=May 9, 2013 |url-status=live}} Manny can engage in dialogue with other characters through conversation trees to gain hints of what needs to be done to solve the puzzles or to progress the plot.{{cite book |title=Grim Fandango Instruction Manual |publisher=LucasArts |year=1998 |url=http://www.brainygamer.com/VGC/GrimManual.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915043524/http://www.brainygamer.com/VGC/GrimManual.pdf |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |access-date=October 11, 2014 |url-status=live}} As in most LucasArts adventure games, the player can never die or otherwise get into a no-win situation (that prevents completion of the game).{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/greatestgames/p-48.html |title=The Greatest Games of All Time: Day of the Tentacle |website=GameSpot |date=April 30, 2004 |access-date=March 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402084445/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/greatestgames/p-48.html |archive-date=April 2, 2013 |url-status=dead}}

Grim Fandango takes place in the Land of the Dead (the Eighth Underworld), where recently departed souls aim to make their way to the Land of Eternal Rest (the Ninth Underworld) on the Four Year Journey of the Soul. Good deeds in life are rewarded by access to better travel packages, provided by the Department of Death, to assist in making the journey (such as sports cars and luxury ocean cruises), the best of which is the Number Nine, an express train that takes four minutes to reach the gate to the Ninth Underworld.{{cite video game |title=Grim Fandango |developer=LucasArts |year=1997 |quote=Celso: The Number Nine?
Manny: That's our top of the line express train. It shoots straight to the Ninth Underworld, the land of eternal rest in four minutes instead of four years.}} However, souls who did not lead a kind life are left to travel through the Land of the Dead on foot, which would take around four years. Such souls often lose faith in the existence of the Ninth Underworld and instead find jobs and stay in the Land of the Dead. The travel agents of the Department of Death act as the Grim Reaper to escort the souls from the Land of the Living to the Land of the Dead, and then determine which mode of transport the soul has merited. Each year on the Day of the Dead, these souls are allowed to visit their families in the Land of the Living.

The souls in the Land of the Dead appear as skeletal calaca figures. Alongside them are demons that have been summoned to help with the more mundane tasks of day-to-day life, such as vehicle maintenance and even drink service. The souls themselves can suffer death-within-death by being "sprouted", the result of being shot with "sproutella"-filled darts that cause flowers to grow out through bones, rapidly feeding off the calcium of the soul's skeleton. The ones who are sprouted are reincarnated. Many of the characters are Mexican and occasional Spanish words are interspersed into the English dialogue, resulting in Spanglish. Many of the characters smoke, following a film noir tradition; the manual asks players to consider that every smoker in the game is dead.

File:Catrina-sculpture.jpg figures used to celebrate the Day of the Dead.]]

The game is divided into four acts, each taking place on November 2 (the Day of the Dead) in four consecutive years.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990508050903/http://www.gamespot.com/features/grim_gg/ |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/grim_gg/ |title=Grim Fandango Game Guide |website=GameSpot |first=Wyatt |last=Shaker |year=1999 |archive-date=May 8, 1999 |access-date=March 13, 2008}}

Manuel "Manny" Calavera is a travel agent at the Department of Death in the city of El Marrow, forced into his job to work off a debt "to the powers that be".{{cite video game |title=Grim Fandango |developer=LucasArts |year=1998 |quote=Manny: Oh I can't leave here till I've worked off a little debt to the powers that be.}} Manny is frustrated with being assigned clients that must take the four-year journey due to their poor living choices and is threatened to be fired by his boss, Don Copal, if he does not come up with better clients. Manny steals a client, Mercedes "Meche" Colomar, from his successful co-worker Domino Hurley. The Department computers assign Meche to the four-year journey even though Manny believes she should have a guaranteed spot on the "Number Nine" luxury express train due to her pureness of heart in her life.{{cite video game |title=Grim Fandango |developer=LucasArts |year=1998 |quote=Manny: Meche. I can see it in your face. And in your file here, where it says you're entitled to a first-class ticket to ... ...nowhere? WHAT?!
Meche: Did I do something wrong?
Manny: Not according to your bio! It was spotless! ... at least the part I read was.}} When Manny goes to his boss while asking Meche to wait for him fixing the issue, Meche starts her journey on foot herself. Don Copal uses it as a reason to arrest Manny. Manny is freed from arrest and sprouting by Salvador "Sal" Limones, the leader of the small underground organization the Lost Souls Alliance (LSA), who warns him of Domino and Don rigging the system to deny many clients Double N tickets, hoarding them for the boss of the criminal underworld, Hector LeMans.{{cite video game |title=Grim Fandango |developer=LucasArts |year=1998 |quote=Salvador: I was once a reaper like yourself Manuel, but I uncovered a web of corruption in our beloved Department of Death. I have reason to believe that the Bureau of Acquisitions is cheating the very souls it was charted to serve. I think someone is robbing these poor naïve souls of their rightful destinies, leaving them no option but to march on a treacherous trail of tears, unprotected and alone, like babies, Manuel, like babies.}} LeMans then sells the tickets at an exorbitant price to those that can afford it. Sal recruits Manny to help LSA by setting up a system of pigeon mail and providing the group with biometrics of Manny in order to access the computer systems of the Department. Manny recognizes that he cannot stop Hector at present and instead, with the help of his driver and speed demon Glottis, he tries to find Meche on her journey in the nearby Petrified Forest. Manny arrives at the small port city of Rubacava and finds that he has beaten Meche there, and waits for her to arrive.

Image:Grim-fandango-cast.jpg

A year passes, and the city of Rubacava has grown. Manny now runs his own nightclub off a converted automat near the edge of the Forest. Manny sees Meche leaving the port with Domino, but when he tries to stop them, he is stopped by Meche. Manny learns from Olivia Ofrenda, the owner of the beatnik Blue Casket nightclub, that Don has been sprouted for letting the scandal be known.

Manny gives chase, manages to get on board of a leaving ship as a janitor, and a year later (after being promoted to a captain) tracks them to a coral mining plant on the Edge of the World. Domino has been holding Meche there as a trap to lure Manny.{{cite video game |title=Grim Fandango |developer=LucasArts |year=1998 |quote=Meche: You were headed for a trap, I was trying to warn you. Domino was using me like bait. I didn't want you to end up a prisoner here like me.}} All of Domino's clients who had their tickets stolen are also being held there and used as slave labor, both to make a profit with the coral mining and as a way to keep Hector's scandal quiet. Domino tries to convince Manny to take over his position in the plant seeing as he has no alternative and can spend the rest of eternity with Meche but he refuses. After rescuing Meche, Manny defeats Domino by causing him to fall into a rock crusher. Manny, along with Meche, Glottis and a few of the souls being held at the plant then escape from the Edge of the World.

The three travel for another year until they reach the terminus for the Number Nine train before the Ninth Underworld. The Gate Keeper to the Ninth Underworld won't let the souls progress without their tickets, mistakenly believing they have sold them, and it's further revealed that a wicked soul that has either not paid off their debt or tried to cheat the Gate Keeper with a fake or stolen Double N Ticket to gain entrance to the Ninth Underworld will cause the express train to transform into the hell train (which sends all souls on board to hell). Meanwhile, Glottis has fallen deathly ill. Manny learns from demons stationed at the terminus that the only way to revive Glottis is to travel at high speeds to restore Glottis' purpose for being summoned. Manny and the others devise a makeshift fuel source to create a "rocket" train cart, quickly taking Manny and Meche back to Rubacava and saving Glottis' life.{{cite video game |title=Grim Fandango |developer=LucasArts |year=1998 |quote=Mechanics: We shoot you now like an arrow into the wind. May you pierce the heart of the wind itself, and drink the blood of flight. Speed is the food of the great Glottis. Speed bring you life. Come back to us some day.}} The three return to El Marrow, now found to be fully in Hector's control and renamed as Nuevo Marrow. Manny regroups with Sal and his expanded LSA and with the help of Olivia, who volunteered to join the gang earlier in Rubacava, and is able to learn about Hector's current activities.{{cite video game |title=Grim Fandango |developer=LucasArts |year=1998 |quote=Salvador: Manuel Calavera, we meet again. I am glad to see you have found what you were looking for. It is fortunate that you should arrive just now, as we, too, are about to achieve great success. Our army has grown, and right now our top agents are in Hector's weapons lab, about to close in on the enemy in his own den. I couldn't have done it without you, Manuel.}} Further investigation reveals that Hector not only has been hoarding the Number Nine tickets, but has created counterfeit versions that he has sold to others while keeping the real tickets for himself in a desperate attempt to balance out his sinful life and get out of the Land of the Dead.{{cite video game |title=Grim Fandango |developer=LucasArts |year=1998 |quote=Manny: Is this where you tell me all about your secret plan, Hector? How you stole Double N tickets from innocent souls, pretended to sell them but really hoarded them all for yourself in a desperate attempt to get out of the Land of the Dead?}} Manny tries to confront Hector but is lured into another trap by Olivia, who is revealed to be Hector's girlfriend, who has also captured Sal, and is taken to Hector's greenhouse to be sprouted. Manny is able to defeat Hector after Sal sacrifices himself to prevent Olivia from interfering.

Manny and Meche are able to find the real Double N tickets, including the one that Meche should have received. Manny makes sure the rest of the tickets are given to their rightful owners; in turn, he is granted his own ticket for his good deeds.{{cite video game |title=Grim Fandango |developer=LucasArts |year=1998 |quote=Meche: You can count them if you want. They're all here.
Gate Keeper: What about yours?
Manny: The company gave me one on the other end; sort of a retirement present.}} Together, Manny and Meche board the Number Nine for their happy journey to the Ninth Underworld while Glottis waves tearfully goodbye.{{cite book |first=Jo |last=Ashburn |title=Grim Fandango: Prima's Official Strategy Guide |date=October 28, 1998 |publisher=Prima Games, Random House |location=Roseville, California |isbn=978-0761517979}}

File:Tim Schafer Art Futura 2009.jpg was the project lead for Grim Fandango.|alt=A middle aged Caucasian man with dark hair speaks from a lectern.]]

Grim Fandango{{'s}} development was led by project leader Tim Schafer, co-designer of Day of the Tentacle and creator of Full Throttle and the more recent Psychonauts and Brütal Legend.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/6691/happy_action_happy_developer_tim_.php?print=1 |title=Happy Action, Happy Developer: Tim Schafer on Reimagining Double Fine |website=Gamasutra |first=Frank |last=Cifaldi |date=February 3, 2012 |access-date=February 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231001114/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/6691/happy_action_happy_developer_tim_.php?print=1 |archive-date=December 31, 2013 |url-status=live}} Schafer had conceived a Day of the Dead-themed adventure before production of Full Throttle began, and he submitted both concepts to LucasArts for approval at the same time. Full Throttle was accepted instead because of its greater mainstream appeal; it became a hit and opened the way for Schafer to create Grim Fandango.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991008052840/http://www.games.net/pcgames/articles/0,1034,1870,00.html |url=http://www.games.net:80/pcgames/articles/0,1034,1870,00.html |title=Preview: Grim Fandango |date=April 10, 1998 |author=Knibbe, Willem |work=PC Games |archive-date=October 8, 1999 |url-status=dead |access-date=August 5, 2018}} Rogue Leaders: The Story of LucasArts noted that the pitching process for Grim Fandango was "a breeze" because of Schafer's earlier success, despite the new project's unusual theme.{{cite book |author=Smith, Rob |title=Rogue Leaders: The Story of LucasArts |date=November 26, 2008 |publisher=Chronicle Books |page=116 |isbn=978-0-8118-6184-7 |title-link=Rogue Leaders: The Story of LucasArts}}

Development began soon after the completion of Full Throttle in June 1995.{{cite web |url=http://www.grimfandango.net/?page=diaries |title=Inside the Mind – Designer Diaries – Page 1 |publisher=Grim Fandango Network |access-date=February 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130720023353/http://www.grimfandango.net/?page=diaries |archive-date=July 20, 2013 |url-status=live}} Grim Fandango was an attempt by LucasArts to rejuvenate the graphic adventure genre, in decline by 1998.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/the-circle-of-life-an-analysis-of-the-game-product-lifecycle |title=The Circle of Life: An Analysis of the Game Product Lifecycle |first=Daniel |last=Cook |date=May 7, 2007 |access-date=March 3, 2008 |website=Gamasutra |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513044550/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/129880/the_circle_of_life_an_analysis_of_.php?print=1 |archive-date=May 13, 2013 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816182438/http://www.salon.com/21st/feature/1998/10/21feature.html |url=http://www.salon.com/21st/feature/1998/10/21feature.html |title=The adventure continues |first=Greg |last=Costikyan |date=October 21, 1998 |archive-date=August 16, 2000 |access-date=May 3, 2012 |work=Salon}} In response to complaints that Full Throttle was too short, Schafer set the goal of having twice as many puzzles as Full Throttle, which demanded a more lengthy and ambitious story to accommodate them.{{cite magazine |title=Grim Fandango |magazine=Next Generation |issue=36 |publisher=Imagine Media |date=December 1997|pages=100–103}} According to Schafer, the game was developed on a $3 million budget.{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-02-10-double-fine-adventure-passes-day-of-the-tentacle-budget |title=Double Fine Adventure passes Day of the Tentacle budget |first=Fred |last=Dutton |date=February 10, 2012 |access-date=February 10, 2012 |website=Eurogamer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314075902/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-02-10-double-fine-adventure-passes-day-of-the-tentacle-budget |archive-date=March 14, 2013 |url-status=live}} It was the first LucasArts adventure since Labyrinth not to use the SCUMM engine, instead using the Sith engine, pioneered by Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II, as the basis of the new GrimE engine.{{cite web |first=Bret |last=Mogilefsky |url=http://www.grimfandango.net/?page=articles&pagenumber=2 |title=Lua in Grim Fandango |publisher=Grim Fandango Network |access-date=March 6, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218045500/http://www.grimfandango.net/?page=articles&pagenumber=2 |archive-date=February 18, 2012 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3368/postmortem_lucaslearnings_star_.php |title=Postmortem: LucasLearning's Star Wars DroidWorks |date=August 13, 1999 |author1=Blossom, Jon |author2=Michaud, Collette |website=Gamasutra |access-date=March 17, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405085752/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3368/postmortem_lucaslearnings_star_.php |archive-date=April 5, 2013 |url-status=dead}} The GrimE engine was built using the scripting language Lua. This design decision was due to LucasArts programmer Bret Mogilefsky's interest in the language, and is considered one of the first uses of Lua in gaming applications. The game's success led to the language's use in many other games and applications, including Escape from Monkey Island and Baldur's Gate.{{cite conference |first=Roberto |last=Ierusalimschy |author2=de Figueiredo, Luiz Henrique |author3=Celes, Waldemar |title=The Evolution of an Extension Language: A History of Lua |work=Proceedings of V Brazilian Symposium on Programming Languages |year=2001 |pages=B–14–B–28 |url=http://www.lua.org/history.html |access-date=March 17, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103184646/http://www.lua.org///history.html |archive-date=January 3, 2014 |url-status=live}}

{{Imageframe|width=200|content=Image:Office-concept2.jpg

Image:Office wire.jpg

Image:Office-final.jpg|caption=Manny's office, from Peter Chan's original concept art (top) to wireframe mesh (middle) to in-game representation (bottom)|align=left}}

Grim Fandango mixed static pre-rendered background images with 3D characters and objects. Part of this decision was based on how the calaca figures would appear in three dimensions.{{cite news |title=The Everlasting Adventure |work=PC Gamer |date=May 1998 |author=Buxton, Chris |pages=48–52}} There were more than 90 sets and 50 characters in the game to be created and rendered; Manny's character alone comprised 250 polygons. The development team found that by utilizing three-dimensional models to pre-render the backgrounds, they could alter the camera shot to achieve more effective or dramatic angles for certain scenes simply by re-rendering the background, instead of having to have an artist redraw the background for a traditional 2D adventure game. The team adapted the engine to allow Manny's head to move separately from his body to make the player aware of important objects nearby. The 3D engine also aided in the choreography between the spoken dialog and body and arm movements of the characters. Additionally, full motion video cutscenes were incorporated to advance the plot, using the same in-game style for the characters and backgrounds to make them nearly indistinguishable from the actual game.{{cite web |url=http://gamasutra.com/features/20000103/fmv_01.htm |title=Video in Games: The State of the Industry |date=January 3, 2000 |access-date=March 13, 2008 |author1=Waggoner, Ben |author2=York, Halstead |website=Gamasutra |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080326172610/http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20000103/fmv_01.htm |archive-date=March 26, 2008}}

The game combines several Aztec beliefs of the afterlife and underworld with 1930s Art Deco design motifs and a dark plot reminiscent of the film noir genre.{{cite journal |first=Celia |last=Pearce |date=March 7, 2003 |title=Game Noir – A Conversation with Tim Schafer |url=http://www.gamestudies.org/0301/pearce/ |journal=International Journal of Computer Game Research |access-date=March 6, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914232305/http://www.gamestudies.org/0301/pearce/ |archive-date=September 14, 2013 |url-status=live}} The Aztec motifs of the game were influenced by Schafer's decade-long fascination with folklore, stemming from an anthropology class he took at University of California Berkeley, and talks with folklorist Alan Dundes, with Schafer recognizing that the four-year journey of the soul in the afterlife would set the stage for an adventure game.{{cite magazine |url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2015/01/26/grim-fandango-tim-schafer-interview/ |title='Grim Fandango' creator Tim Schafer talks his magnum opus -- a classic game lost for 16 years |first=Joshua |last=Rivera |date=January 26, 2015 |access-date=January 26, 2015 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128230503/http://popwatch.ew.com/2015/01/26/grim-fandango-tim-schafer-interview/ |archive-date=January 28, 2015}} Schafer stated that once he had set on the Afterlife setting: "Then I thought, what role would a person want to play in a Day of the Dead scenario? You'd want to be the grim reaper himself. That's how Manny got his job. Then I imagined him picking up people in the land of the living and bringing them to the land of the dead, like he's really just a glorified limo or taxi driver. So the idea came of Manny having this really mundane job that looks glamorous because he has the robe and the scythe, but really, he's just punching the clock". Schafer recounted a Mexican folklore about how the dead were buried with two bags of gold to be used in the afterlife, one on their chest and one hidden in their coffin, such that if the spirits in the afterlife stole the one on the chest, they would still have the hidden bag of gold; this idea of a criminal element in the afterlife led to the idea of a crime-ridden, film noir style to the world. The division of the game into four years was a way of breaking the game's overall puzzle into four discrete sections. Each year was divided into several non-linear branches of puzzles that all had to be solved before the player could progress to the next year.

Image:Grim-fandango-puzzle-layout.png |date=November 6, 2008 |access-date=October 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429222917/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/grim-fandango-design-doc-now-on-net |archive-date=April 29, 2014 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.canardpc.com/news-30466-grim_fandango___tim_schafer_exhume_un_tresor.html |title=Grim Fandango: Tim Schafer exhume un trésor |trans-title=Grim Fandango: Tim Schafer exhumes a treasure |language=fr |date=November 6, 2008 |publisher=Canard PC |location=France |access-date=October 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821164011/http://canardpc.com/news-30466-Grim_Fandango___Tim_Schafer_exhume_un_tresor.html |archive-date=August 21, 2014 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/5077780/tim-schafer-publishes-original-grim-fandango-design-doc |title=Tim Schafer Publishes Original Grim Fandango Design Doc |first=Michael |last=McWhertor |date=November 5, 2008 |publisher=Kotaku |access-date=October 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120701131656/http://kotaku.com/5077780/tim-schafer-publishes-original-grim-fandango-design-doc |archive-date=July 1, 2012 |url-status=live}} |alt=A flow diagram consisting of text boxes connected by arrows; the contents of each box list out the summary of a puzzle that is to be completed before following puzzles can be completed.]]

Schafer opted to give the conversation-heavy game the flavor of film noir set in the 1930s and 1940s, stating that "there's something that I feel is really honest about the way people talked that's different than modern movies". He was partially inspired by novels written by Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. Several film noir movies were also inspiration for much of the game's plot and characters. Tim Schafer stated that the true inspiration was drawn from films like Double Indemnity, in which a weak and undistinguished insurance salesman finds himself entangled in a murder plot. The design and early plot are fashioned after films such as Chinatown and Glengarry Glen Ross.{{cite web |first=Tim |last=Schafer |year=1997 |title=Grim Fandango Design Diaries |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/fandango_dd/110597/110597_3.html |website=GameSpot |access-date=September 25, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014202209/http://www.gamespot.com/features/fandango_dd/110597/110597_3.html |archive-date=October 14, 2007}} Several scenes in Grim Fandango are directly inspired by the genre's films such as The Maltese Falcon, The Third Man, Key Largo, and most notably Casablanca: two characters in the game's second act are directly modeled after the roles played by Peter Lorre and Claude Rains in the film.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/LucasArts'+Grim+Fandango+Presents+a+Surreal+Tale+of+Crime,+Corruption...-a019726667 |title=LucasArts' Grim Fandango Presents a Surreal Tale of Crime, Corruption and Greed in the Land of the Dead; Dramatic New Graphic Adventure from the Creator of Award-Winning Full Throttle Expected to Release in First Half 1998 |publisher=Business Wire |date=September 8, 1997 |access-date=December 2, 2007 |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202113513/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/LucasArts%27+Grim+Fandango+Presents+a+Surreal+Tale+of+Crime%2C+Corruption...-a019726667 |url-status=dead}} The main villain, Hector LeMans, was designed to resemble Sydney Greenstreet's character of Signor Ferrari from Casablanca. His voice was also modeled after Greenstreet, complete with his trademark chuckle.

Visually, the game drew inspiration from various sources: the skeletal character designs were based largely on the calaca figures used in Mexican Day of the Dead festivities, while the architecture ranged from Art Deco skyscrapers to an Aztec temple. The team turned to LucasArts artist Peter Chan to create the calaca figures. The art of Ed "Big Daddy" Roth was used as inspiration for the designs of the hot rods and the demon characters like Glottis.{{cite news |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |date=October 27, 1998 |first=Laura |last=Evenson |title=Fleshing Out an Idea |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/1998/10/27/DD89817.DTL |access-date=March 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714224854/http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Fleshing-Out-an-Idea-Day-of-the-Dead-inspires-2982510.php |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |url-status=live}}

Originally, Schafer had come up with the name "Deeds of the Dead" for the game's title, as he had originally planned Manny to be a real estate agent in the Land of the Dead. Other potential titles included "The Long Siesta" and "Dirt Nap", before he came up with the title Grim Fandango.

File:Tony_Plana,_actor.jpg (pictured in 2013) provides the voice for Manny.]]

The game featured a large cast for voice acting in the game's dialog and cutscenes, employing many Latino actors to help with the Spanish slang. Voice actors included Tony Plana as Manny, Maria Canals-Barrera as Meche, Alan Blumenfeld as Glottis, and Jim Ward as Hector. Schafer credits Plana for helping to deepen the character of Manny, as the voice actor was a native Spanish speaker and suggested alternate dialog for the game that was more natural for casual Spanish conversations. Schafer planned from the beginning for the voice cast to consist entirely of Latino performers.

Originally, the game was to be shipped in the first half of 1998 but was delayed; as a result, the game was shipped on October 28, 1998,{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000226201849/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_10/28_grim/index.html |url=http://headline.gamespot.com:80/news/98_10/28_grim/index.html |title=Grim Fandango Releases |author=Mullen, Micheal |date=October 28, 1998 |archive-date=February 26, 2000 |work=GameSpot |url-status=dead}} for release on October 30, the Friday before November 2, the actual date of the Day of the Dead celebration. Even with the delay, the team had to drop several of the puzzles and characters from the game, including a climactic five-step puzzle against Hector LeMans at the conclusion of the game; Schafer later noted that they would have needed one to two more years to implement their original designs.{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/grim-fandango-design-doc-now-on-net |title=Grim Fandango design doc now on net |first=Rob |last=Purchase |date=November 6, 2008 |access-date=November 6, 2008 |website=Eurogamer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429222917/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/grim-fandango-design-doc-now-on-net |archive-date=April 29, 2014 |url-status=live}}

A remastered version of Grim Fandango was released for Linux, OS X, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and Windows platforms on January 27, 2015.{{cite web |url=http://www.vg247.com/2014/06/10/grim-fandango-remastered-e32014-ps4-vita/ |title=Grim Fandango remastered coming to PlayStation |first=Stephany |last=Nunnely |date=June 9, 2014 |access-date=June 9, 2014 |website=VG247 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614002635/http://www.vg247.com/2014/06/10/grim-fandango-remastered-e32014-ps4-vita/ |archive-date=June 14, 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://www.polygon.com/e3-2014/2014/6/9/5795458/grim-fandango-ps4-ps-vita |title=Grim Fandango is coming to PS4 and PS Vita (update) |first=Emily |last=Gera |date=June 9, 2014 |access-date=June 10, 2014 |website=Polygon |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140613090553/http://www.polygon.com/e3-2014/2014/6/9/5795458/grim-fandango-ps4-ps-vita |archive-date=June 13, 2014}}{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/DoubleFine/status/486918031533035520 |title=Grim Fandango platforms |date=July 9, 2014 |access-date=July 9, 2014 |publisher=Double Fine Productions |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714185749/https://twitter.com/DoubleFine/status/486918031533035520 |archive-date=July 14, 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://doublefine.tumblr.com/post/91266961053/double-fine-is-pleased-to-announce-that-along |title=Double Fine is Pleased to Announce... |publisher=Double Fine Productions |date=July 9, 2014 |access-date=July 9, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714144114/http://doublefine.tumblr.com/post/91266961053/double-fine-is-pleased-to-announce-that-along |archive-date=July 14, 2014}} The PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita versions feature cross-buy{{cite web |title=Playstation Store: Grim Fandango Remastered|url=https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP2154-CUSA01319_00-GRIMFANDANGOPS04/ |access-date=August 25, 2021}} and cross-save.{{cite web |title=Playstation Trophies: Cross-Save Solution |date=February 2, 2015 |url=https://www.playstationtrophies.org/forum/topic/241504-cross-save-solution/ |access-date=August 25, 2021}} It was later released for Android and iOS on May 5.{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-05-05-grim-fandango-remastered-is-out-today-on-ios |title=Grim Fandango Remastered is out today on iOS and Android |first=Jeffrey |last=Matuleft |date=May 5, 2015 |access-date=May 6, 2015 |website=Eurogamer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150507064219/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-05-05-grim-fandango-remastered-is-out-today-on-ios |archive-date=May 7, 2015}} The remastered version was released as a PlayStation Plus title for the month of January 2016.{{cite web |last1=Sarkar |first1=Samit |title=PlayStation Plus brings you Grim Fandango Remastered and more in January 2016 |url=https://www.polygon.com/2015/12/30/10689714/playstation-plus-free-games-january-2016 |website=Polygon |access-date=August 25, 2021 |date=December 30, 2015}}{{cite web |last1=Osborn |first1=Alex |title=Grim Fandango Remastered Headlines PlayStation Plus' Free Games for January |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/12/30/grim-fandango-remastered-headlines-playstation-plus-free-games-for-january |website=IGN |access-date=August 25, 2021 |date=December 30, 2015}}

The remastered version was predicated on the transition of LucasArts from a developer and publisher into a licensor and publisher in 2013 shortly after its acquisition by Disney. Under new management, LucasArts licensed several of its intellectual properties (IP), including Grim Fandango, to outside developers. Schafer was able to acquire the rights to the game with financial assistance from Sony, and started the process of building out the remaster within Double Fine Productions. Schafer said that the sale of LucasArts to Disney had reminded them of the past efforts of former LucasArts president Darrell Rodriguez to release the older LucasArts titles as Legacy Properties, such as the 2009 rerelease of The Secret of Monkey Island. Schafer also noted that they had tried to acquire the property from LucasArts in the years prior, but the frequent change in management stalled progress. When they began to inquire about the rights with Disney and LucasArts following its acquisition, they found that Sony, through their vice president of publisher and developer relations Adam Boyes, was also looking to acquire the rights. Boyes stated that Sony had been interested in working with a wide array of developers for the PlayStation 4, and was also inspired to seek Grim Fandango{{'s}} after seeing developers like Capcom and Midway Games revive older properties. Boyes' determination was supported by John Vignocchi, VP of Production for Disney Interactive, who also shared memories of the game, and was able to bring in contacts to track down the game's assets. After discovering they were vying for the same property, Schafer and Boyes agreed to work together to acquire the IP and subsequent funding, planning to make the re-release a remastered version.{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-01-24-bringing-out-the-dead-tim-schafer-reflects-back-on-grim-fandango |title=Bringing out the Dead: Tim Schafer reflects back on Grim Fandango |website=Eurogamer |date=January 26, 2015 |access-date=January 26, 2015 |first=Jeffrey |last=Matulef |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128094744/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-01-24-bringing-out-the-dead-tim-schafer-reflects-back-on-grim-fandango |archive-date=January 28, 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.polygon.com/2015/1/27/7921837/grim-fandango-remastered-interview-double-fine-disney-lucasfilm-sony |title=Digital Archeology: How Double Fine, Disney, Lucasarts and Sony Resurrected Grim Fandango |website=Polygon |date=January 27, 2015 |access-date=January 27, 2015 |first=Dave |last=Tach |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128123552/http://www.polygon.com/2015/1/27/7921837/grim-fandango-remastered-interview-double-fine-disney-lucasfilm-sony |archive-date=January 28, 2015 |url-status=live}} Sony did not ask for any of IP rights for the game, instead only asking Double Fine to give the PlayStation platforms console exclusivity in exchange for funding support, similar to their Pub Fund scheme they use to support independent developers.

File:Grim fandango remastered comparison.png

A major complication in remastering the original work was having many of the critical game files go missing or on archaic formats. A large number of backup files were made on Digital Linear Tape (DLT) which Disney/LucasArts had been able to recover for Double Fine, but the company had no drives to read the tapes. Former LucasArts sound engineer Jory Prum had managed to save a DLT drive and was able to extract all of the game's audio development data from the tapes.

Schafer noted at the time of Grim Fandango{{'s}} original development, retention of code was not as rigorous as present-day standards, and in some cases, Schafer believes the only copies of some files were unintentionally taken by employees when they had left LucasArts. As such, Schafer and his team have been going back through past employee records to try to trace down any of them and ask for any files they may have saved. In other cases, they have had difficulty in identifying elements on the low-resolution artwork of the original game, such as an emblem on one character's hat, and have had to go looking for original concept art to figure out the design.

Once original assets were identified, as to be used to present the "classic" look of the game in the Remastered edition, Double Fine worked to improve the overall look for modern computers. The textures and lighting models for the characters were improved, in particular for Manny. Schafer has likened the remastering approach to The Criterion Collection film releases in providing a high-fidelity version of the game without changing the story or the characters.{{cite web |last1=Diver |first1=Mike |title=Tim Schafer Discusses the Classic Video Games 'Grim Fandango' and 'Monkey Island' |url=https://www.vice.com/read/tim-schafer-discusses-grim-fandango-and-monkey-island-990 |website=VICE |access-date=February 2, 2015 |date=January 27, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130043109/http://www.vice.com/read/tim-schafer-discusses-grim-fandango-and-monkey-island-990 |archive-date=January 30, 2015}}

In addition to his own developers, Schafer reached out to players who had created unofficial patches and graphical improvements on the original game, and modifications needed to keep it running in ResidualVM, and gained their help to improve the game's assets for the remastered version.{{cite web |url=http://blog.us.playstation.com/2014/06/10/a-closer-look-at-grim-fandangos-surprise-revival |title=A Closer Look at Grim Fandango's Surprise Revival |first=Asif |last=Siddiky |publisher=PlayStation Blog |date=June 10, 2014 |access-date=June 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813064108/http://blog.us.playstation.com/2014/06/10/a-closer-look-at-grim-fandangos-surprise-revival/ |archive-date=August 13, 2014 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2014-remastered-grim-fandango-heading-to-ps4-vita/1100-6420283/ |title=E3 2014: Remastered Grim Fandango heading to PS4, Vita - Tim Schafer's classic adventure game headed to current-gen Sony consoles. |last1=Ramsay |first1=Randolph |date=June 9, 2014 |website=GameSpot |access-date=October 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141002172725/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2014-remastered-grim-fandango-heading-to-ps4-vita/1100-6420283/ |archive-date=October 2, 2014 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=5 things from E3 Sony PS event |first=Brett |last=Molina |newspaper=USA Today |date=June 11, 2014 |page=5B – Money Section}} One such feature was a modified control scheme that converted the game's movement controls from the tank controls to a point and click-style interface. Schafer said the team used tank controls as it was popular with other games like Resident Evil at the time, but recognized it did not work well within the adventure game genre. Schafer contacted Tobias Pfaff who created the point-and-click modification to obtain access to his code to incorporate into the remastered version.{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/the-crazy-journey-to-save-grim-fandango-1655133550 |title=The Crazy Journey To Save Grim Fandango |publisher=Kotaku |first=Nathan |last=Grayson |date=November 5, 2014 |access-date=November 6, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106190215/http://kotaku.com/the-crazy-journey-to-save-grim-fandango-1655133550 |archive-date=November 6, 2014}}

Double Fine demonstrated an in-progress version of the remastered game at IndieCade event in October 2014; new features included higher-resolution textures and improved resolution for the character models as well as having real-time lighting models, and the ability to switch back and forth between this presentation and the original graphics at the touch of a control. The remastered game runs in 4:3 aspect ratio but has an option to stretch this to a 16:9 ratio rather than render in a native 4:3 ratio. The remaster includes improvements to the control scheme developed by Pfaff's patch and other alternate control schemes in addition to the original tank like controls, including analogue controls for console versions and point-and-click controls for computer versions. The game's soundtrack was fully orchestrated through performances of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (who also performed the soundtrack for Double Fine's Broken Age). The remastered version also includes developer commentary, which can be activated via the options menu and listened to at various points in the game. The PlayStation version also features cloud saving between the PS4 and Vita versions.{{cite web |url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/10/10/6960243/grim-fandango-remastered-ps4-pc |title=Grim Fandango returns with updated graphics, orchestral score and fan-made controls |first=Michael |last=McWhertor |date=October 10, 2014 |access-date=October 10, 2014 |website=Polygon |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011200000/http://www.polygon.com/2014/10/10/6960243/grim-fandango-remastered-ps4-pc |archive-date=October 11, 2014}} A Nintendo Switch port{{cite web |url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/double-fines-grim-fandango-and-broken-age-head-to-nintendo-switch |title=Double Fine's Grim Fandango and Broken Age Head to Nintendo Switch |first=Jake |last=Green |date=June 13, 2018 |access-date=June 13, 2018 |work=USGamer |archive-date=November 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124122916/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/double-fines-grim-fandango-and-broken-age-head-to-nintendo-switch |url-status=dead }} was released on November 1, 2018.{{cite web |url=https://www.destructoid.com/surprise-grim-fandango-remastered-launches-today-on-switch-529283.phtml |title=Surprise! Grim Fandango Remastered launches today on Switch |first=Chris |last=Carter |date=November 1, 2018 |access-date=November 1, 2018 |work=Destructoid |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912043922/https://www.destructoid.com/surprise-grim-fandango-remastered-launches-today-on-switch/ |archive-date=September 12, 2022}} Double Fine was acquired by Xbox Game Studios in 2019, and Grim Fandango for the Xbox One arrived in 2020.{{cite web | url = https://www.destructoid.com/grim-fandango-full-throttle-and-day-of-the-tentacle-finally-break-ps4-console-exclusivity-this-year-590841.phtml | title = Grim Fandango, Full Throttle, and Day of the Tentacle finally break PS4 console exclusivity this year | first = Brett | last = Makedonski | date = May 13, 2020 | access-date = May 13, 2020 | work = Destructoid | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210806103817/https://www.destructoid.com/grim-fandango-full-throttle-and-day-of-the-tentacle-finally-break-ps4-console-exclusivity-this-year/ | archive-date = August 6, 2021}}

{{main|Music of Grim Fandango}}

File:Grim Fandango Remastered - Soundtrack -Casino Calavera Short Excerpt.ogg

Grim Fandango has an original soundtrack that combines orchestral score, South American folk music, jazz, bebop, swing, and big band music, inspired by the likes of Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman as well as film composers Max Steiner and Adolph Deutsch. It also has various influences from traditional Russian, Celtic, Mexican, Spanish, and Indian strings culture. It was composed and produced by Peter McConnell at LucasArts. Others credited are Jeff Kliment (Engineer, Mixed By, Mastered), and Hans Christian Reumschüssel (Additional Music Production). The score featured live musicians that McConnell knew or made contact with in San Francisco's Mission District, including a mariachi band.{{cite web |url=http://www.lucasarts.com/products/grim/grim_files.htm |title=Grim Fandango Files |publisher=LucasArts |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070214102114/http://www.lucasarts.com/products/grim/grim_files.htm |archive-date=February 14, 2007 |access-date=September 17, 2007}} The soundtrack was released as a CD in 1998.{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000J5N2OC |title=Grim Fandango Soundtrack |website=Amazon |access-date=March 21, 2008}}

The soundtrack was very well received. IGN called it a "beautiful soundtrack that you'll find yourself listening to even after you're done with the game". SEMO said "the compositions and performances are so good that listening to this album on a stand-alone basis can make people feel like they're in a bar back then". RPGFan said "the pieces are beautifully composed, wonderfully played ... has a stellar soundtrack with music that easily stands alone outside the context of the game. This CD was an absolute pleasure to listen to and comes highly recommended". Game Revolution in its game review praised as one of the "most memorable soundtracks ever to grace the inside of a cranial cavity where an eardrum used to be". PC Gamer in its 2014 list of Top 100 Games, acclaimed Grim Fandango for including "one of the best soundtracks in PC gaming history".{{cite magazine |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/the-pc-gamer-top-100/#page-9 |title=The PC Gamer Top 100 - 21. Grim Fandango |first1=Philippa |last1=Warr |first2=Tom |last2=Senior |first3=Andy |last3=Kelly |date=August 29, 2014 |magazine=PC Gamer |access-date=October 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012163123/http://www.pcgamer.com/the-pc-gamer-top-100/ |archive-date=October 12, 2014 |url-status=live}} In 2017 Fact magazine also listed it as one of the "100 best video game soundtracks of all time".

In 1999's Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences' Interactive Achievement Awards, the soundtrack was nominated in the category of "Outstanding Achievement in Sound and Music".{{cite web |url=http://www.interactive.org/games/video_game_details.asp?idAward=1999&idGame=628 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009034153/http://www.interactive.org/games/video_game_details.asp?idAward=1999&idGame=628 |archive-date=October 9, 2014 |title=2nd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |access-date=March 4, 2008 |year=1999}} It was also lauded by GameSpot, which awarded it the "Best PC Music awards", and included it in the "Ten Best PC Game Soundtracks" list in 1999.

After the original Pro Tools sound files were recovered, Peter McConnell found that some of the samples he had used originally did not sound good, and the team opted to re-orchestrate the score. The game's soundtrack was fully orchestrated through performances of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for the remastered version of the game.

The re-made soundtrack was produced under Nile Rodgers' label Sumthing Else. It had a standard release of 37 tracks, as well as a Director's Cut with 14 extra tracks (the latter sold exclusively through Sumthing Else). It included the original score from the LucasArts archives, new compositions by Peter McConnell and new orchestral arrangements, as well as new extended versions of jazz pieces re-mixed at Sony Computer Entertainment America.

In 2018, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the original release of the game, the soundtrack was released for the first time in vinyl format.

{{Video game reviews

| title = Grim Fandango (1998)

| MC = 94/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/grim-fandango/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Grim Fandango (pc: 1998) |website=Metacritic |access-date=March 4, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703020957/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/grim-fandango |archive-date=July 3, 2014 |url-status=live}}

| AdvGamers = {{rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |url=https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/17517 |title=Grim Fandango Review |publisher=Adventure Gamers |date=May 20, 2002 |access-date=March 4, 2008 |first=Heidi |last=Fournier |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702120226/http://www.adventuregamers.com/articles/view/17517 |archive-date=July 2, 2014 |url-status=live}}

| Allgame = {{rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=9420&tab=review |title=Grim Fandango |first=Michael L. |last=House |publisher=AllGame |access-date=October 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012025513/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=9420&tab=review |archive-date=October 12, 2014}}

| Edge = 9/10{{cite magazine |author=Edge staff |date=October 28, 1998 |title=Grim Fandango Review |magazine=Edge |issue=65 |url=http://www.edge-online.com/review/grim-fandango-review/ |access-date=October 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904225252/http://www.edge-online.com/review/grim-fandango-review/ |archive-date=September 4, 2014 |url-status=live}}

| GameRev = A−{{cite web |author=Manny |year=1998 |url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/pc/grim_fandango |title=Dang! I Left My Heart In The Land Of The Living! |publisher=Game Revolution |access-date=March 6, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820081303/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/grim-fandango |archive-date=August 20, 2014 |url-status=live}}

| GSpot = 9.3/10{{cite web |first=Ron |last=Dulin |date=October 30, 1998 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/grim-fandango-review/1900-2537300/ |title=Grim Fandango for PC Review |website=GameSpot |access-date=April 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317093833/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/grim-fandango-review/1900-2537300/ |archive-date=March 17, 2014 |url-status=live}}

| IGN = 9.4/10

| NGen = {{rating|5|5}}

| PCGUS = 91%

| PCZone = 9.0/10

}}

Grim Fandango gained critical acclaim upon its release.{{cite web |url=https://adventuregamers.com/games/view/15609 |title=Grim Fandango |publisher=Adventure Gamers |access-date=October 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007211924/http://www.adventuregamers.com/games/view/15609 |archive-date=October 7, 2014 |url-status=live}} Aggregating review website Metacritic gave the game a score of 94/100. Critics lauded the art direction in particular, with GameSpot rating the visual design as "consistently great". PC Zone emphasized the production as a whole calling the direction, costumes, characters, music, and atmosphere expertly done. They also commented the game would make a "superb film".{{cite web |first=Steve |last=Hill |date=August 13, 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014032109/http://computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=3039 |url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/3039/reviews/grim-fandango-review/ |title=Grim Fandango |work=PC Zone |publisher=Future plc |archive-date=October 14, 2007 |access-date=January 25, 2006}} The San Francisco Chronicle stated "Grim Fandango feels like a wild dance through a cartoonish film-noir adventure. Its wacky characters, seductive puzzle-filled plot and a nearly invisible interface allow players to lose themselves in the game just as cinemagoers might get lost in a movie." The Houston Chronicle, in naming Grim Fandango the best game of 1998 along with Half-Life, complimented the graphics calling them "jaw-dropping" and commented that the game "is full of both dark and light humor".{{cite news |first=Dwight |last=Silverman |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |date=December 15, 1998 |title=Outstanding in their fields |access-date=March 15, 2008 |url=http://www.chron.com/content/chronicle/tech/98/12/18/main.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041210151900/http://www.chron.com/content/chronicle/tech/98/12/18/main.html |archive-date=December 10, 2004}} IGN summed its review up by saying the game was the "best adventure game" it had ever seen.{{cite web |first=Trent C. |last=Ward |date=November 3, 1998 |url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/153/153100p1.html |title=LucasArts flexes their storytelling muscle in this near-perfect adventure game. |website=IGN |access-date=March 6, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912090435/http://www.ign.com/articles/1998/11/04/grim-fandango |archive-date=September 12, 2014 |url-status=dead}}

Next Generation reviewed the PC version of the game, rating it five stars out of five, and stated that "Grim Fandango is a smart, beautiful, and enjoyable adventure game that will leave you holding your breath waiting for Grim Fandango 2."{{cite magazine |title=Finals |magazine=Next Generation |issue=50 |publisher=Imagine Media |date=February 1999 |page=96}}

The game also received criticisms from the media. Several reviewers noted that there were difficulties experienced with the interface, requiring a certain learning curve to get used to, and selected camera angles for some puzzles were poorly chosen. The use of elevators in the game was particularly noted as troublesome. The review from Adventure Gamers expressed dislike of the soundtrack, and, at times, "found it too heavy and not well suited to the game's theme". A Computer and Video Games review also noted that the game had continuous and long data loading from the CD-ROM that interrupted the game and "spoils the fluidity of some sequences and causes niggling delays".{{cite magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090314113056/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=8331 |url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/8331/reviews/grim-fandango-review/ |title=PC Review: Grim Fandango |first=Stephan |last=Fulljames |date=August 15, 2001 |archive-date=March 14, 2009 |access-date=March 21, 2008 |magazine=Computer and Video Games}}

In 1999, Next Generation listed Grim Fandango as number 26 on their "Top 50 Games of All Time", commenting that, "Grim offered adventure fans funny, touching, and infuriating moments in following its characters, and it did so through a magnificently beautiful game."{{cite magazine|title=Top 50 Games of All Time |magazine=Next Generation|issue=50 |publisher=Imagine Media |date=February 1999|page=77}}

Grim Fandango won several awards after its release in 1998. PC Gamer selected the game as the 1998 "Adventure Game of the Year".{{cite news |publisher=PC Gamer |date=March 1999 |work=Vol. 6, No. 3 |title=PC Gamer Fifth Annual Awards}}{{cite web |url=http://www.lucasarts.com/company/about/page5.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080507064852/http://www.lucasarts.com/company/about/page5.html |archive-date=May 7, 2008 |title=A Selection of Awards and Accolades for Recent LucasArts Releases |publisher=LucasArts |access-date=March 15, 2008}} The game won IGN's "Best Adventure Game of the Year" in 1998,{{cite web |url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/066/066665p1.html |title=IGNPC's Best of 1998 Awards |date=January 31, 1999 |website=IGN |access-date=March 6, 2008 |author=IGN Staff |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007060918/http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/01/29/ignpcs-best-of-1998-awards |archive-date=October 7, 2014 |url-status=dead}} while GameSpot awarded it their "Best of E3 1998",{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/e398/gri.html |title=GameSpot's Best of E3: Grim Fandango |website=GameSpot |access-date=April 29, 2014 |year=1998 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121209082104/http://www.gamespot.com/features/e398/gri.html |archive-date=December 9, 2012}} "PC Adventure Game of the Year",{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/awards1998/genre2b.html |title=Best and Worst of 1998: Genre Awards |website=GameSpot |year=1999 |access-date=April 29, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130224152003/http://web.archive.org/web/19990508205504/http%3A//www.gamespot.com/features/awards1998/genre2b.html |archive-date=February 24, 2013}} "PC Game of the Year",{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/awards1998/gameofyear2.html |title=Best and Worst of 1998: Game of the Year |website=GameSpot |access-date=April 29, 2014 |year=1999 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005144227/http://www.gamespot.com/features/awards1998/gameofyear2.html |archive-date=October 5, 2013}} "Best PC Graphics for Artistic Design",{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/awards1998/special2.html |title=Best and Worst of 1998: Special Achievement Awards |website=GameSpot |access-date=April 29, 2014 |year=1999 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120526041214/http://www.gamespot.com/features/awards1998/special2.html |archive-date=May 26, 2012}} and "Best PC Music awards".{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/awards1998/special.html |title=Best and Worst of 1998: Special Achievement Awards |website=GameSpot |access-date=April 29, 2014 |year=1999 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106020734/http://www.gamespot.com/features/awards1998/special.html |archive-date=November 6, 2012}} GameSpot named Grim Fandango its Game of the Year for 1998,{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/features/tim-schafer-profile |title=Tim Schafer Profile |website=1UP |date=March 30, 2009 |access-date=April 1, 2009 |first=Matt |last=Leone}} and in the following year included the game in their "Ten Best PC Game Soundtracks"{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/tenspot_music/page5.html |title=The Ten Best Game Soundtracks |website=GameSpot |access-date=April 29, 2014 |year=2000 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001206164500/http://gamespot.com/features/tenspot_music/page5.html |archive-date=December 6, 2000 }} and was selected as the 10th "Best PC Ending" by their readership.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/tenspot_readers_endings/1.html |title=The Ten Best Readers Endings |website=GameSpot |access-date=April 29, 2014 |year=2000 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121202234706/http://www.gamespot.com/features/tenspot_readers_endings/1.html |archive-date=December 2, 2012}} In 1999, Grim Fandango won "PC Adventure Game of the Year"{{cite web |title=Second Interactive Achievement Awards - Computer |url=http://www.interactive.org/iaa/finalists_pc.html |website=Interactive.org |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |access-date=12 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991104003923/http://www.interactive.org/iaa/finalists_pc.html |archive-date=November 4, 1999}}{{cite news |title=INSERT; Games |first=Stuart |last=Clarke |newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald |location=Australia |date=May 29, 1999 |page=13 – Computers section}} during the AIAS' 2nd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards (now known as the D.I.C.E. Awards); it was also nominated for "Game of the Year", "Computer Entertainment Title of the Year", "Outstanding Achievement in Art/Graphics", "Outstanding Achievement in Character or Story Development", and "Outstanding Achievement in Sound and Music".{{cite web |title=Second Interactive Achievement Awards - Game of the Year |url=http://www.interactive.org/iaa/finalists_titleofyear.html |website=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |access-date=12 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991104011602/http://www.interactive.org/iaa/finalists_titleofyear.html |archive-date=November 4, 1999}}{{cite web |title=Second Interactive Achievement Awards - Craft Award |url=http://www.interactive.org/iaa/finalists_craft.html |website=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |access-date=12 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991103220401/http://www.interactive.org/iaa/finalists_craft.html |archive-date=November 3, 1999}}

Grim Fandango has been included in several publishers' "Top Games" lists well after its release. GameSpot inducted the game into their "Greatest Games of All Time" in 2003 citing, "Ask just about anyone who has played Grim Fandango, and he or she will agree that it's one of the greatest games of all time."{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/greatestgames/p-19.html |title=The Greatest Games of All Time – Grim Fandango |website=GameSpot |access-date=April 29, 2014 |year=2003 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121206025329/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/greatestgames/p-19.html |archive-date=December 6, 2012}} GameSpy also added the game to their Hall of Fame in 2004,{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespy.com/articles/505/505156p1.html |title=Hall of Fame: Grim Fandango |first=Justin |last=Leeper |date=April 10, 2004 |access-date=April 29, 2014 |publisher=GameSpy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402085554/http://www.gamespy.com/articles/505/505156p1.html |archive-date=April 2, 2013}} further describing it as the seventh "Most Underrated Game of All Time" in 2003.{{cite web |url=http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/september03/25underrated/index20.shtml |title=25 Most Underrated Games of All Time – Grim Fandango |publisher=GameSpy |access-date=April 29, 2014 |year=2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102142106/http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/september03/25underrated/index20.shtml |archive-date=January 2, 2012}} Adventure Gamers listed Grim Fandango as the seventh "Top Adventure Game of All Time" in 2004;{{cite web |url=https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/17572 |title=Top 20 Adventure Games of All-Time |first=Evan |last=Dickens |publisher=Adventure Gamers |date=April 2, 2004 |access-date=March 6, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813175243/http://www.adventuregamers.com/articles/view/17572 |archive-date=August 13, 2014 |url-status=live}} in their 2011 list of "Top 100 All-Time Adventures" it was listed as #1.{{cite web |url=https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/18643/page21/ |title=Top 100 All-Time Adventures |publisher=Adventure Gamers |date=December 30, 2011 |access-date=January 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513040043/http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id%2C1401/p%2C21 |archive-date=May 13, 2012 |url-status=live}} In 2007, IGN included the game in the "Top 25 PC Games" (as 15th){{cite web |url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/772/772285p2.html |title=Top 25 PC Games of All Time |author1=Adams, Dan |author2=Butts, Steve |author3=Onyett, Charles |website=IGN |date=March 16, 2007 |access-date=March 6, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220214759/http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/03/16/top-25-pc-games-of-all-time?page=2 |archive-date=February 20, 2014 |url-status=dead}} and "Top 100 Games of All Time" (at 36th), citing that "LucasArts' second-to-last stab at the classic adventure genre may very well be the most original and brilliant one ever made."{{cite web |url=http://top100.ign.com/2007/ign_top_game_36.html |title=Top 100 Games of All Time |website=IGN |year=2007 |access-date=March 6, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071129205646/http://top100.ign.com/2007/ign_top_game_36.html |archive-date=November 29, 2007}} Grim Fandango remained as the 20th in the Top 25 PC Games in IGN's 2009 list.{{cite web |url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/101/1011624p27.html |title=Top 25 PC Games – 2009 Edition |first=Ocampo |last=Jason |author2=Butts, Steve |author3=Haynes, Jeff |website=IGN |date=September 27, 2010 |access-date=May 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219163154/http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/08/04/the-top-25-modern-pc-games?page=27 |archive-date=February 19, 2014 |url-status=dead}}

Initial estimates suggested that Grim Fandango sold well during the 1998 holiday season.{{cite web |url=http://www.smartmoney.com/spending/deals/tech-gifts-of-the-season-3828/ |title=Tech Gifts of the Season |first=Joshua |last=Albertson |publisher=Smart Money |date=December 8, 1998 |access-date=March 15, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041221231835/http://www.smartmoney.com/consumer/index.cfm?story=199812082 |archive-date=December 21, 2004}} It debuted at #6 for the first week of November on PC Data's computer game sales charts, at an average retail price of $35. It was absent by its second week.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000609184911/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_11/25_pc_pcsellers/index.html |url=http://headline.gamespot.com:80/news/98_11/25_pc_pcsellers/index.html |title=Top Sellers of the Week |date=November 25, 1998 |author=Feldman, Curt |work=GameSpot |archive-date=June 9, 2000 |url-status=dead }} In the United Kingdom, Grim Fandango claimed first place on Chart-Track's weekly sales chart in December, before falling to ninth place.{{cite journal |title=Charts; The ChartTrack Top 10 |issue=72 |date=January 1999 |author=Mallinson, Paul |journal=PC Zone |page=22}} It secured 12th after four weeks,{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19981206061244/http://www.gamespot.co.uk/pcgw/chart.html |url=http://www.gamespot.co.uk:80/pcgw/chart.html |title=PC Gaming World{{'}}s ELSPA Chart |date=December 4, 1998 |work=GameSpot UK |archive-date=December 6, 1998 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 28, 2019 }} and 24th at the 13-week mark.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990128010951/http://www.gamespot.co.uk/pcgw/chart.html |url=http://www.gamespot.co.uk:80/pcgw/chart.html |title=PC Gaming World{{'}}s ELSPA Charts |date=January 27, 1999 |work=GameSpot UK |archive-date=January 28, 1999 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 28, 2019 }} The game sold 58,617 copies and earned $2.33 million in the United States by the end of 1998,{{cite journal |author=Staff |date=April 1999 |volume=6 |issue=4 |title=The Numbers Game; Does Award Winner = Best Seller? |journal=PC Gamer US |page=50}} and rose to 95,000 sales there by March 2000, according to PC Data.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010420153305/http://www.justadventure.com/articles/Not_Playing/Part_4.asp |url=http://www.justadventure.com:80/articles/Not_Playing/Part_4.asp |title=(Not) Playing the Game; Part 4 |date=March 2000 |author=Sluganski, Randy |work=Just Adventure |archive-date=April 20, 2001 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010420154239/http://www.justadventure.com/articles/State_of_Adventure_Gaming/00-07/Jul_00.asp |url=http://www.justadventure.com:80/articles/State_of_Adventure_Gaming/00-07/Jul_00.asp |title=The State of Adventure Gaming |date=July 2000 |author=Sluganski, Randy |work=Just Adventure |archive-date=April 20, 2001 |url-status=dead }} Grim Fandango sold another 16,157 units in the region during 2001,{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020619111456/http://www.justadventure.com/articles/State_of_Adventure_Gaming/Mar-02/sales2001.shtm |url=http://www.justadventure.com:80/articles/State_of_Adventure_Gaming/Mar-02/sales2001.shtm |title=State of Adventure Gaming - March 2002 - 2001 Sales Table |date=March 2002 |author=Sluganski, Randy |archive-date=June 19, 2002 |work=Just Adventure |url-status=dead }} and 8,032 in the first six months of 2002;{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050314010007/http://justadventure.com/articles/State_of_Adventure_Gaming/August2002/SalesJune2002.shtm |url=http://justadventure.com:80/articles/State_of_Adventure_Gaming/August2002/SalesJune2002.shtm |title=State of Adventure Gaming - August 2002 - June 2002 Sales Table |date=August 2002 |author=Sluganski, Randy |archive-date=March 14, 2005 |work=Just Adventure |url-status=dead }} its jewel case SKU reached 5,621 sales during 2003.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040411223950/http://www.justadventure.com/articles/State_of_Adventure_Gaming/March2004/Dec03ret_gam.shtm |url=http://www.justadventure.com:80/articles/State_of_Adventure_Gaming/March2004/Dec03ret_gam.shtm |title=Sales December 2003 - The State of Adventure Gaming |date=March 2004 |author=Sluganski, Randy |archive-date=April 11, 2004 |work=Just Adventure |url-status=dead }} According to Tim Schafer, the game achieved sales of approximately 500,000 units by 2012,{{cite web |author=Winegarner, Beth |title=The Adventures of a Videogame Rebel: Tim Schafer at Double Fine |url=http://www.sfweekly.com/news/the-adventures-of-a-videogame-rebel-tim-schafer-at-double-fine/ |website=SF Weekly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709031529/http://www.sfweekly.com/news/the-adventures-of-a-videogame-rebel-tim-schafer-at-double-fine/ |archive-date=July 9, 2017 |date=May 23, 2012 |url-status=live}} around 50% fewer than Full Throttle had achieved. It is commonly considered a commercial failure,{{cite web |url=http://archives.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/01/04/y2k.game.idg/index.html |title=Y2K the game, appropriately enough, is a dud |publisher=CNN |access-date=April 29, 2014 |date=January 4, 2000 |first=Barry |last=Brenasal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924054345/http://archives.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/01/04/y2k.game.idg/index.html |archive-date=September 24, 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://www.gameology.org/node/636 |title=Review: LucasArts' Grim Fandango (1998) |first=Matt |last=Barton |publisher=Gameology |date=November 5, 2005 |access-date=March 6, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402085433/http://www.gameology.org/node/636 |archive-date=April 2, 2013 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://retro.ign.com/articles/856/856379p1.html |title=The Lives and Deaths of the Interactive Movie |website=IGN |date=March 3, 2008 |access-date=March 6, 2008 |first=Travis |last=Fahs |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306172102/http://retro.ign.com/articles/856/856379p1.html |archive-date=March 6, 2008}} even though LucasArts stated that "Grim Fandango met domestic expectations and exceeded them worldwide".{{cite web |url=http://www.gamer.nl/nieuws/5468/lucasarts-ziet-het-licht |title=Lucasarts ziet het licht |language=nl |first=Bob |last=Christof |publisher=Gamer.nl |date=June 26, 2000 |access-date=December 2, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724152308/http://www.gamer.nl/nieuws/5468/lucasarts-ziet-het-licht |archive-date=July 24, 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyradar.com/news/game_news_3201.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010627012617/http://www.dailyradar.com/news/game_news_3201.html |archive-date=June 27, 2001 |title=The Future Of LucasArts |publisher=Daily Radar |date=May 25, 2000 |access-date=March 19, 2008}} "Although LucasArts, a privately held company, will not release sales figures, a spokesperson expressed confidence in the history and future of LucasArt's{{sic}} original titles. 'The response to the Monkey Island series has been phenomenal,' he said. '[And] Grim Fandango met domestic expectations and exceeded them worldwide.'" The game had become profitable by 2000,{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001117012800/http://www.zdnet.com/gamespot/stories/previews/0,10869,2626194,00.html |url=http://www.zdnet.com/gamespot/stories/previews/0,10869,2626194,00.html |title=Escape from Monkey Island Preview |author=Ajami, Amer |date=September 8, 2000 |work=GameSpot |archive-date=November 17, 2000 |url-status=dead}} although Dave Grossman has said, "It was pretty ambitious and expensive, and I don't think it made very much money back." A writer for Edge summarized in 2009, "While its reputation as a flop isn't entirely accurate, Grim{{'}}s sales were either an indication that people preferred motorbikes to Gitanes-smoking corpses, or a sign of the times: adventure games were simply on their way out."{{cite magazine |title=Master of Unreality |magazine=Edge |author=Staff |pages=82–87 |date=August 2009 |issue=204 |publisher=Future Publishing |location=United Kingdom}}

While LucasArts proceeded to produce Escape from Monkey Island in 2000, they canceled development of sequels to Sam & Max Hit the Road{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/samandmaxfreelancepolice/news.html?sid=6090535 |title=Sam & Max sequel canceled |date=March 4, 2003 |access-date=March 21, 2008 |website=GameSpot |first=Tor |last=Thorsen |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323000316/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/sam-and-max-sequel-canceled/1100-6090535/ |archive-date=March 23, 2014 |url-status=live}} and Full Throttle{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/fullthrottle2/news_6073105.html |title=LucasArts cancels Full Throttle |website=GameSpot |first=Sam |last=Parker |date=August 7, 2003 |access-date=April 29, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123205423/http://www.gamespot.com/news/lucasarts-cancels-full-throttle-6073105 |archive-date=January 23, 2013}} stating that "After careful evaluation of current market place realities and underlying economic considerations, we've decided that this was not the appropriate time to launch a graphic adventure on the PC." Subsequently, the studio dismissed many of the people involved with their adventure games,{{cite magazine |url=http://www.next-gen.biz/features/short-history-lucasarts |title=A Short History of LucasArts |magazine=Edge |publisher=Future plc |date=August 26, 2006 |access-date=February 2, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012110136/http://www.edge-online.com/features/short-history-lucasarts/ |archive-date=October 12, 2013 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6104775.html |title=LucasArts undergoing "major restructuring" |website=GameSpot |first=Curt |last=Feldman |date=August 13, 2004 |access-date=February 2, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141004231619/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/lucasarts-undergoing-major-restructuring/1100-6104775/ |archive-date=October 4, 2014 |url-status=dead}} some of whom went on to set up Telltale Games, creating an episodic series of Sam & Max games.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=4372 |title=Sam & Max 2 Developers Form New Studio |website=Gamasutra |date=October 4, 2004 |access-date=March 21, 2008 |first=David |last=Jenkins |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230232259/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=4372 |archive-date=December 30, 2013 |url-status=dead}} These events, along with other changes in the video game market towards action-based games, are seen as primary causes in the decline of the adventure game genre.{{cite news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629101617/http://www.salon.com/21st/feature/1998/10/cov_08feature.html |url=http://www.salon.com/21st/feature/1998/10/cov_08feature.html |title=Myst And Riven Are A Dead End. The Future Of Computer Gaming Lies In Online, Multiplayer Worlds |work=Salon |first=Greg |last=Lindsay |date=October 8, 1998 |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |access-date=March 13, 2008}} Grim Fandango{{'s}} underperformance was seen as a sign that the genre was commercially "dead" to rival Sierra, as well.{{cite web |url=http://www.the-nextlevel.com/feature/adventure-series-part-iii/2 |title=Adventure Series: Part III Feature |publisher=The Next Level |date=November 28, 2005 |access-date=April 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113194006/http://www.the-nextlevel.com/feature/adventure-series-part-iii/2 |archive-date=January 13, 2010}} LucasArts stated in 2006 that they do not plan on returning to adventure games until the "next decade".{{cite web |url=http://www.g4tv.com/videos/11326/LucasArts-at-E3/ |title=LucasArts at E3 |year=2006 |publisher=G4tv |access-date=March 3, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016202241/http://www.g4tv.com/videos/11326/LucasArts-at-E3/ |archive-date=October 16, 2012}} Ultimately the studio stopped developing video games in 2013 after The Walt Disney Company acquisition of Lucasfilm, and was dissolved shortly thereafter.

Tim Schafer left LucasArts shortly after Grim Fandango{{'s}} release, and created his own company, Double Fine Productions, in 2000 along with many of those involved in the development of Grim Fandango. The company has found similar critical success with their first title, Psychonauts. Schafer stated that while there is strong interest from fans and that he "would love to go back and spend time with the characters from any game [he{{'s}}] worked on", a sequel to Grim Fandango or his other previous games is unlikely as "I always want to make something new."{{cite magazine |url=http://www.playboy.com/magazine/features/video-game-blowout/video-game-blowout7.html |title=Geniuses at Play |magazine=Playboy |access-date=April 29, 2014 |year=2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704220907/http://www.playboy.com/magazine/features/video-game-blowout/video-game-blowout7.html |archive-date=July 4, 2008}} With the help of developers such as Double Fine and Telltale Games, adventure games saw a resurgence in the 2010s, with financially successful titles such as Broken Age, The Walking Dead, and The Wolf Among Us.

{{Video game reviews

| title = Grim Fandango Remastered (2015)

| MC = PC: 84/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/grim-fandango-remastered/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Grim Fandango Remastered for PC Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=January 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128204832/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/grim-fandango-remastered |archive-date=January 28, 2015 |url-status=live}}
PS4: 80/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/grim-fandango-remastered/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 |title=Grim Fandango Remastered for PlayStation 4 Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=July 12, 2018}}
VITA: 84/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/grim-fandango-remastered/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-vita |title=Grim Fandango Remastered for PlayStation Vita Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=July 12, 2018}}
iOS: 78/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/grim-fandango-remastered/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad |title=Grim Fandango Remastered for iPhone/iPad Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=July 12, 2018}}
NS: 84/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/grim-fandango-remastered/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |title=Grim Fandango Remastered for Switch Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=April 5, 2020}}

| EuroG = 8/10{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-01-27-grim-fandango-remastered-review |title=Grim Fandango Remastered review |first=Richard |last=Cobbett |date=January 27, 2015 |access-date=January 27, 2015 |website=Eurogamer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128233321/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-01-27-grim-fandango-remastered-review |archive-date=January 28, 2015}}

| GameRev = {{rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |author=Nick_Tan |year=2015 |url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/grim-fandango-remastered |title=Grim Fandango Remastered Review |publisher=Game Revolution |access-date=January 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128205330/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/grim-fandango-remastered |archive-date=January 28, 2015 |url-status=live}}

| GSpot = 8/10{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/grim-fandango-remastered-review/1900-6416008/ |title=Grim Fandango Remastered Review |date=January 27, 2015 |access-date=January 27, 2015 |website=GameSpot |first=Kevin |last=VanOrd |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128205611/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/grim-fandango-remastered-review/1900-6416008/ |archive-date=January 28, 2015 |url-status=live}}

| IGN = 9.3/10{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/01/27/grim-fandango-remastered-review |title=Rise from Your Grave |date=January 26, 2015 |access-date=January 26, 2015 |first=Ryan |last=McCaffrey |website=IGN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128162822/http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/01/27/grim-fandango-remastered-review |archive-date=January 28, 2015 |url-status=live}}

| PCGUS = 80%{{cite web |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/grim-fandango-remastered-review/ |title=grim fandango remastered |first=Tom |last=Senior |date=January 27, 2015 |access-date=January 27, 2015 |work=PC Gamer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130011703/http://www.pcgamer.com/grim-fandango-remastered-review/ |archive-date=January 30, 2015}}

| TA = iOS: {{rating|5|5}}{{cite web |url=https://toucharcade.com/2015/05/27/grim-fandango-remastered-review/ |title='Grim Fandango Remastered' Review – Dust off the Bones Before you Roll Em |last=Fretz |first=Andrew |date=May 27, 2015 |website=TouchArcade |access-date=July 12, 2018}}

| USG = {{rating|3|5}}{{Cite web |last=Mackey |first=Bob |date=2015-02-04 |title=Grim Fandango Remastered PS4 Review: A Bone to Pick |url=http://www.usgamer.net/articles/grim-fandango-remastered-ps4-review-a-bone-to-pick |access-date=2022-12-14 |website=USgamer |language=en |archive-date=November 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127015808/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/grim-fandango-remastered-ps4-review-a-bone-to-pick |url-status=dead }}

| SN = 7/10{{Cite web |last=Perez |first=Daniel |date=2015-01-27 |title=Grim Fandango Remastered Review: Los Muertos Resucitan |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/87859/grim-fandango-remastered-review-los-muertos-resucitan |access-date=2022-12-14 |website=Shacknews |language=en}}

| PSQ = 9/10{{Cite web |last=Banas |first=Graham |date=2015-01-29 |title=Review: Grim Fandango Remastered (PlayStation 4) |url=https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/grim_fandango_remastered |access-date=2022-12-14 |website=Push Square |language=en-GB}}

| NLife = 9/10{{Cite web |last=Reseigh-Lincoln |first=Dom |date=2018-11-16 |title=Review: Grim Fandango Remastered - Still One Of The Greatest Point-And-Click Adventures Ever Made |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/grim_fandango_remastered |access-date=2022-12-14 |website=Nintendo Life |language=en-GB}}

| PCGN = 7/10{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Fraser |date=2015-01-27 |title=Grim Fandango Remastered PC review |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/grim-fandango/grim-fandango-remastered-pc-review |access-date=2022-12-14 |website=PCGamesN |language=en-US}}

| DT = {{rating|4.5|5}}{{Cite web |last=Agnello |first=Anthony |date=2015-01-29 |title=Grim Fandango tells a lively, relatable story set in the land of the dead |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/grim-fandango-remastered-review/ |access-date=2022-12-14 |website=Digital Trends |language=en}}

| HCG = 4.5/5{{Cite web |last=Thew |first=Geoff |date=2015-01-27 |title=Review: Grim Fandango Remastered - Hardcore Gamer |url=https://hardcoregamer.com/reviews/review-grim-fandango-remastered/131448/ |access-date=2022-12-14 |website=Hardcore Gamer |language=en-US}}

}}

Grim Fandango Remastered has received similar positive reception as the original release, with many critics continuing to praise the game's story, characters, and soundtrack. They also found the developer's commentary to be very insightful to the history of the game. Reviewers were disappointed at the lack of an auto-save system, as well as the game not receiving a full high-definition upgrade, leaving the higher-resolution characters somewhat out of place with the original 3D backgrounds. Many reviewers also noted that the puzzles, though a staple of the day when Grim Fandango was first released, remain somewhat obtuse with solutions that are not clear even after the player solves them, and that a hint system, as was added to the Monkey Island remake, would have been very helpful.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/gaming/grim-fandango-remastered-review-its-worth-admiring-this-lovingly-restored-antique-10022521.html |title=Grim Fandango Remastered review: it's worth admiring this lovingly restored antique |work=The Independent |first=Oliver |last=Cragg |date=February 4, 2015 |access-date=February 6, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206185431/http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/gaming/grim-fandango-remastered-review-its-worth-admiring-this-lovingly-restored-antique-10022521.html |archive-date=February 6, 2015}}{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2015/02/03/grim-fandango-remastered-review-a-witty-but-tedious-classic/ |title=Grim Fandango Remastered review: A witty but tedious classic |first=Christopher |last=Byrd |date=February 3, 2015 |access-date=February 6, 2015 |newspaper=The Washington Post}} The game's pacing, also unchanged from the original version, was also found harder to grasp, in both the pacing within the game's four acts, and the time taken to move around and between rooms.{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/01/grim-fandango-remastered-is-a-flawed-remake-of-a-considered-masterpiece/ |title=Grim Fandango Remastered is a flawed remake of a considered masterpiece |website=Ars Technica |date=January 27, 2015 |access-date=January 27, 2015 |first=Steven |last=Strom |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128021850/http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/01/grim-fandango-remastered-is-a-flawed-remake-of-a-considered-masterpiece/ |archive-date=January 28, 2015}} In his review for Eurogamer, Richard Cobbett warned players to "be careful of rose-tinted memories", that while the remastered version is faithful to the original, it does show aspects of the original game that have become outdated in video game development. Wired{{'s}} Laura Hudson considered the remastered version highlighted how the original game was "an artifact of its time, an exceptional piece of interactive art wrapped inextricably around the technology and conventions of its time in a way that reveals both their limitations and the brilliance they were capable of producing".{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/01/grim-fandango-remastered/ |title=I Love You, Grim Fandango, Even Though You're Broken |first=Laura |last=Hudson |date=January 29, 2015 |access-date=January 29, 2015 |magazine=Wired |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201130938/http://www.wired.com/2015/01/grim-fandango-remastered |archive-date=February 1, 2015}}

In 2005, The Guardian characterized the game as "the last genuine classic to come from LucasArts, the company that helped define adventure games, Tim Schafer's noir-pastiche follows skull-faced Manny Calavera through a bureaucratic parody of the Land of the Dead. With a look that takes from both Mexican mythology and art deco, Grim Fandango is as unique an artistic statement as mainstream gaming has managed to offer. While loved by devotees, its limited sales prompted LucasArts to back away from original adventures to simply exploit franchises".{{cite news |title=Technology: Back story: The titles that defined Fahrenheit's genre |first=Kieron |last=Gillen |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=September 15, 2005 |page=3 – Technology Pages}}

Eurogamer{{'s}} Jeffrey Matulef, in a 2012 retrospective look, believed that Grim Fandango{{'s}} combination of film noir and the adventure game genre was the first of its kind and a natural fit due to the script-heavy nature of both, and would later help influence games with similar themes like the Ace Attorney series and L.A. Noire.

Grim Fandango has been considered a representative title demonstrating video games as an art form; the game was selected in 2012 as a candidate for public voting for inclusion within the Smithsonian Institution's "The Art of Video Games" exhibit,{{cite web |url=http://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/archive/2012/games/winninggames.pdf |title=The Art of Video Games Exhibition Checklist |publisher=Smithsonian Institution |year=2012 |access-date=December 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019043307/http://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/archive/2012/games/winninggames.pdf |archive-date=October 19, 2013 |url-status=dead}} while the Museum of Modern Art seeks to install the game as an exhibit as part of its permanent collection within the Department of Architecture and Design.{{cite web |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/11/30/museum-of-modern-art-to-install-14-games/ |title=Museum of Modern Art to install 14 games, including EVE, Dwarf Fortress and Portal |work=PC Magazine |date=November 30, 2012 |access-date=December 4, 2012 |first=Phil |last=Savage |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141004232254/http://www.pcgamer.com/museum-of-modern-art-to-install-14-games/ |archive-date=October 4, 2014 |url-status=live}}

The game was included in the "Game Masters" exhibition, organized in 2012 by the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI); an event devoted to explore the faces and the history behind computer games. Tim Schafer was featured as the creative force behind Grim Fandango, within the exhibition section called "Game Changers", crediting him along a few other visionary game designers for having "pushed the boundaries of game design and storytelling, introducing new genres, creating our best-loved characters and revolutionising the way we understand and play games".{{cite news |title=Let the Games Begin |newspaper=Sunday Herald Sun |location=Australia |date=June 24, 2012 |page=12 – "Play" section}}

Grim Fandango has been the centerpiece of a large fan community for the game that has continued to be active more than 10 years after the game's release.{{cite news |title=G2: Games:The Player |first=Naomi |last=Alderman |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=January 21, 2010 |page=17, Feature Pages}} Such fan communities include the Grim Fandango Network and the Department of Death, both of which include fan art and fiction in addition to other original content.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_139/2994-Walk-Don-t-Run |title=Walk, Don't Run |magazine=The Escapist |first=Nova |last=Barlow |date=March 4, 2008 |access-date=March 5, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224064934/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_139/2994-Walk-Dont-Run |archive-date=December 24, 2013 |url-status=live}}

In an interview with Kotaku after the announcement of the remaster, Schafer stated that he has long considered the idea of a Grim Fandango sequel to further expand on the setting of the game. He felt the story would be a difficult component, as either they would have to figure a means to bring Manny back from his final reward, or otherwise build the story around a new character. One option he has considered to alleviate the issue is by creating an adventure game using an open-world mechanic similar to the Grand Theft Auto series.{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/tim-schafer-dreams-of-an-open-world-grim-fandango-seque-1654750107 |title=Tim Schafer Dreams Of An Open-World Grim Fandango Sequel |date=November 4, 2014 |access-date=November 5, 2014 |first=Nathan |last=Grayson |publisher=Kotaku |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106010309/http://kotaku.com/tim-schafer-dreams-of-an-open-world-grim-fandango-seque-1654750107 |archive-date=November 6, 2014}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite web |url=http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/reviews/308/ |title=Grim Fandango |date=September 1, 2008 |publisher=Adventure Classic Gaming |first=Stefan |last=Lubienski |access-date=April 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531045548/http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/reviews/308/ |archive-date=May 31, 2013 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/reviews/chris/grimfandango.shtml |title=Grim Fandango Original Game Soundtrack :: Review by Chris |publisher=Square Enix Music Online |access-date=April 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101226054716/http://squareenixmusic.com/reviews/chris/grimfandango.shtml |archive-date=December 26, 2010 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1998/11/04/grim-fandango |title=Grim Fandango – LucasArts flexes their storytelling muscle in this near-perfect adventure game |date=November 3, 1998 |publisher=IGN Entertainment, Inc. |access-date=April 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413224004/http://www.ign.com/articles/1998/11/04/grim-fandango |archive-date=April 13, 2013 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/grimfandango/index.html |title=Grim Fandango OGS |first=Neal |last=Chandran |access-date=April 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524195155/http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/grimfandango/index.html |archive-date=May 24, 2013 |url-status=live}}

{{cite news |title=Gaming Obscura: Grim Fandango |first=Robert |last=Grosso |url=https://techraptor.net/content/games-never-heard-grim-fandango |newspaper=TechRaptor |date=February 5, 2015 |access-date=September 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421113121/http://techraptor.net/content/games-never-heard-grim-fandango |archive-date=April 21, 2016 |url-status=live}}

{{Cite news |url=https://www.polyarcgames.com/media-press/2018/7/27/press-release-moss-fans-score-big-with-the-release-of-the-moss-soundtrack |title='Grim Fandango Remastered' Celebrates Nintendo Switch Launch with Vinyl |first=Sean |last=Thomas |date=November 1, 2018 |access-date=July 10, 2019 |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181102014106/https://theslanted.com/2018/11/31159/grim-fandango-rremastered-switch-vinyl-collection/ |archive-date=November 2, 2018 |url-status=dead}}

{{cite news |title=Peter McConnell's classic Grim Fandango soundtrack reissued by Nile Rodgers' Sumthing Else |url=https://www.factmag.com/2015/05/05/tim-schafers-classic-grim-fandango-soundtrack-reissued-by-nile-rodgers-sumthing-else/ |newspaper=Fact |location=United Kingdom |date=May 5, 2015 |access-date=July 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316215631/https://www.factmag.com/2015/05/05/tim-schafers-classic-grim-fandango-soundtrack-reissued-by-nile-rodgers-sumthing-else/ |archive-date=March 16, 2017 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.factmag.com/2015/04/28/the-100-greatest-video-game-soundtracks-best-ost/ |title=The 100 best video game soundtracks of all time |first1=Brad |last1=Stabler |first2=John |last2=Twells |first3=Miles |last3=Bowe |first4=Scott |last4=Wilson |first5=Tom |last5=Lea |date=April 28, 2015 |work=Fact |location=United Kingdom |access-date=July 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430085308/http://www.factmag.com/2015/04/28/the-100-greatest-video-game-soundtracks-best-ost/ |archive-date=April 30, 2017 |url-status=live}}

{{cite news |title=Play It Again, Manny: Grim Fandango Remastered OST |first=Alec |last=Meer |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/04/24/grim-fandango-remastered-sountrack/ |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |date=April 24, 2015 |access-date=July 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326002550/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/04/24/grim-fandango-remastered-sountrack/ |archive-date=March 26, 2019 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/772/772285p1.html|title=Top 25 PC Games of All Time |last1=Adams |first1=Dan |author-link= |last2=Butts |first2=Steve |first3=Charles |last3=Onyett |date=March 16, 2007 |website=IGN |series= |publisher= |page=2 (web) |language= |access-date= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070325091010/http://pc.ign.com/articles/772/772285p2.html |archive-date=2007-03-25 |via= |quote=(...)there was a time when LucasArts was known as the industry's best adventure game developer. With a roster of superlative titles, the company had already cemented its reputation in the annals of gaming. Then they went one step further with a game that many consider the greatest adventure game of all time.}}

}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite web |title=Grim Fandango Puzzle Document |url=http://games.on.net/file/22091/Grim_Fandango_-_Puzzle_Document_PDF |author1=Schafer, Tim |author2=Tsacle, Peter |author3=Ingerson, Eric |author4=Mogilefsky, Bret |author5=Chan, Peter |publisher=LucasArts |year=1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212145501/http://games.on.net/file/22091/Grim_Fandango_-_Puzzle_Document_PDF |archive-date=December 12, 2008 |access-date=April 29, 2014}}

{{refend}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{Cite web |last1=Robertson |first1=Adi |title=Remembering Grim Fandango: this week in tech, 20 years ago |work=The Verge |date=November 3, 2018 |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/3/18044840/grim-fandango-20th-anniversary-this-week-in-tech-20-years-ago |access-date=November 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104120849/https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/3/18044840/grim-fandango-20th-anniversary-this-week-in-tech-20-years-ago |archive-date=November 4, 2018 |url-status=live}}
• The Making of Grim Fandango Remastered by 2 Player Productions: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNhE7zxJymE Episode 1], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-LSMCYjHow Episode 2], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4rOgZ3RINE Episode 3]
• {{cite book|first=Jo |last= Ashburn |title=Grim Fandango: Prima's Official Strategy Guide Paperback |date=October 28, 1998 |publisher= Prima Games |isbn=978-0761517979}}
• {{cite journal |last1=McConnell |first1= Peter |date=September 1999 |title=Dance of the Dead: The Adventures of a Composer Creating the Game Music for Grim Fandango|url= https://www.emusician.com/how-to/dance-of-the-dead |journal=Electronic Musician |volume= 15|issue=9 |pages= 30–32, 35–36, 38–40, 42|publisher=NewBay Media, LLC |location=New York |issn = 0884-4720}}
• {{cite web|title=Grim Fandango Puzzle Document|url=http://games.on.net/file/22091/Grim_Fandango_-_Puzzle_Document_PDF|author1=Schafer, Tim |author2=Tsacle, Peter |author3=Ingerson, Eric |author4=Mogilefsky, Bret |author5=Chan, Peter |publisher=LucasArts|year=1996|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212145501/http://games.on.net/file/22091/Grim_Fandango_-_Puzzle_Document_PDF|archive-date=December 12, 2008|access-date =April 29, 2014}}

{{refend}}

{{Spoken Wikipedia|EN-GrimFandango.ogg|date=May 6, 2008}}

{{Wikiquote|Grim Fandango}}

{{LucasArts adventure games}}

{{Tim Schafer}}

{{Double Fine Productions}}

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