Grim Fandango Puzzle Document (1996) [pdf]

I found Grim Fandango in a pile of discounted games as a tween in the 2000s. There was a cool skeleton in a suit on the front cover, so I bought it based on that.

Even though I didn't understand most references and sarcasm, few games have grabbed my attention as Grim Fandango did. The art work, the music, the writing. The whole game oozes of style that I've never seen replicated.

Even some 20+ years later I can almost recite most of Act I from heart. If you haven't played this game and like adventure games, this is one of the best.

Thank you for linking OP, this made my morning.

Maybe a better URL could be: http://gameshelf.jmac.org/2008/11/grim-fandango-puzzle-desig...

Always fascinating to peek behind the curtain at how these classics were built. Grim Fandango had some truly brilliant, and occasionally maddening, puzzles.

The small square box at the very end of the document, with accompanying text, is just delightful:

> To protect this document, please restrict your fallen tears of joy to this box. Thank you! → [__]

All over the document, you can see Tim Schafer "wasted his time" by adding personality (jokes, graphics, asides) to what is basically an internal document.

I think in 2026 a document lovingly crafted like this would be deemed a great waste of time, lack of efficiency and an affront to shareholder value.

I've been playing most of Lucas Arts games with my 10 y/o daughter. Grim Fandango is the one she has liked the best. It is not perfect, has lots of bugs (crashed on several occasions) and weird things, but the atmosphere is so cool.

Monkey Island comes second of course.

Ahha, this document came to my attention last night from this video [0] that bubbled in my YouTube recs - I don't know if it's the same for OP or just a coincidence, but I highly recommend it too:

GDC Talk: "One Page Designs", by Stone Librande

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9_wLks1kAg

>"This report by its very length defends itself against the risk of being read" Winston H. Churchill

And this comment will prove it, by referencing only the very first part of the document, being the comment most likely to garner upvotes and replies, as opposed to deeper nuanced comments.

This game is iconic!

Is this a walkthrough or a game design document?

As a walkthrough, it is nice. But as the foundation for the game designers, it would be a fun because it is so lighthearted.