Hello from our Grim Fandango Walkthrough Guide. If you’re feeling stuck and could use a hand, check out our walkthrough below, generously provided by Huz. And if you’re just looking for some hints, consider the Universal Hint System.
Grim Fandango Walkthrough Guide
Welcome to our Grim Fandango Walkthrough Guide. Getting through Grim Fandango isn’t a walk in the park, that’s for sure. It’s like having the most exquisite steak in the world and thinking it’ll be a breeze to chew. Not a fan of well-done steak? Well, we can’t all have flawless tastes.
El Marrow
Your epic journey kicks off in Manny’s office. Approach the message tube and grab the message. Also, take the deck of cards from the table, and then exit the room.
Head down the corridor until you meet Eva, the secretary. Feel free to strike up a conversation with her, then use the deck of cards with the hole-punch machine. Proceed to the lifts and choose the one on the left side of the screen.
Continue walking to the rear of the garage and knock on the door of the metal hut to meet Glottis. Chat with him until you discuss the need for a driver, and let him know you need his driving skills because it’s not that he’s too big; the cars are just too small. You’ll receive a work order.
Return to the upper lobby, and take the other lift down. Step outside through the large double doors and head toward the festival area, where you’ll run into a sarcastic clown. Strike up a conversation with him and request two dead worms and a cat. Grab some bread from the stall next to him.
Proceed down the left alley until you reach a rope made of ties. Climb up and open your boss’s window. Change the auto-response on his computer to “Ah, cripes, Eva! Just sign it yourself, will you?”. Return to Eva and try to get the work order signed.
Enter the garage to be transported to the Land of the Living. Use your scythe with the parcel to find a grumpy little man inside. After he’s “packed” (apologies for the pun), return to the lobby. Locate the room with the two chemicals and place one chemical inside each deflated balloon. Go to Manny’s office and use these balloons on his message tube to disrupt the server.
Go to the room housing the server, and take the fire extinguisher from the wall. Lock the door with the bolt and exit. Once the maintenance person has left, re-enter and unlock the door. Use your punched card with the red message tube to secure your first valuable client.
After some initial confusion, leave your office and head toward Eva. Suddenly, you find yourself trapped in the garage hut. Knock on the door and inform the person inside that you want to get out and expose the DoD.
After Salvador introduces you to the LSA, engage in a conversation with him until you discuss the eggs. Exit the building using the lift.
Climb the rope of ties again, but this time, go around the corner and enter Domino Hurley’s office through the window. Open his desk drawers to find a lump of coral, and punch his punch-bag until a gum-shield falls down. Pick up both of these items.
Back on the ledge, use the coral on the loose end of the tie rope. Throw the rope and cross.
On the rooftop, use the balloon on the roof-dish, and then place the bread on top. Watch the birds scatter! Now, swipe their eggs. You sneaky person.
Go to the shack in the garage and use the Fill-O-Dent with the gum-shield. Use the gum-shield by itself to create an impression of your teeth. Walk to the alley and use the eye on the wall to return to LSA HQ. Give the eggs to Salvador and the gum-shield to Eva. You’ll then be escorted out of the city, ready to continue your quest.
The Petrified Forest
Move towards the front of the screen, where you’ll discover Glottis in a state of heart-wrenching despair. Quite literally. Follow the path, and collect a bone from the heap. Utilize the bone within the web, then wield your scythe on it. Return to Glottis and place his heart back where it belongs.
Now, at the tree with the pumps, your goal is to tip the tree over. To do this, ensure that the two pumps on both sides are synchronized, and they alternate their movements. To adjust the timing of the pumps, use the wheelbarrow to obstruct some of the air tubes. Once you’ve achieved synchronization, turn off the pumps. Wait for Glottis to climb up, then reactivate the pumps. The tree will tilt and fall.
With the path to the north accessible on the next screen, proceed. Pass through the small door in the massive gate and pick up another bone from the bridge. Move to the left and toss the bone into the tar. Grab your fire extinguisher and aim it at the spot where the bone sank. Hold down the “Use” button to maintain the extinguisher flow. The flaming beaver should be extinguished and perish. Repeat this process until all the beavers are gone.
Return to Glottis, and drive back to the signpost (where Glottis retrieved his heart). Run it over with the bone-wagon. Pick up the sign and head left. Position the sign in the center of the labyrinth and observe its direction. Pick it up, move it slightly in that direction, and set it down again. Continue this until a hidden tunnel is revealed.
Follow the tunnel and acquire the eerie key. Return to Glottis, and now you can depart the forest.
Rubacava
Ascend the stairs and head to the right – you’ll end up in the sea. The harbor-master will come to your rescue. Enter the building and converse with Celso. Obtain a picture of his wife and show it to the harbor-master. In return, he’ll provide you with a logbook – show this to Celso. Congratulations, you’ve secured a job, you crafty rascal! Don’t you think you’re squandering the potential of this fantastic game by not fully immersing yourself in it? All that time, your mind could be engaged in puzzle-solving. No? You eccentric character.
As the year kicks off, you find yourself in the shoes of a successful entrepreneur. Start by making your way to the ground floor and step outside. Watch the cut-scene with Meche, then engage in a lengthy conversation with the harbor-master regarding your passage on the SS Limbo. Keep talking until you can’t discuss it any further.
Return to your club (navigating Rubacava involves exploration – that’s part of the excitement) and head upstairs to your office. Retrieve the memos from your desk, then descend to where Glottis is located. Grab the gold flake drink from behind the bar, and proceed to the roulette tables. Initiate a conversation with Charlie, the seated individual, and request a counterfeit union card. He’ll provide you with a ticket printer and should also hand you a VIP pass for the high-rollers club.
Show this VIP pass to Glottis – he’s got quite the gambling addiction, you know.
Make your way to the security check-point (located behind the cat track) and have a chat with Carla. Sip some of the gold flake drink, then pass through the metal detector. Once you and Carla are in the rear area, inquire about the metal detector. She’ll promptly toss it out of the window.
Head to the cat track and locate the “kitty litter” spot. Retrieve the tin opener. Use your scythe on the kitty litter to uncover the metal detector, then pick it up.
Journey over to the Blue Casket club and, first and foremost, deliver the memos from Salvador to the revolutionaries. Grab the book. Move to the front of the room and engage in conversation with Lola when she’s taking snapshots of Olivia and Nick.
Return to the casino and inquire with your coat-check attendant about any messages from Lola. An empty envelope? Curious…
Proceed to the high rollers club. Chat with Nick, employing plenty of flattery. Threaten to reveal the secrets about Olivia and him until he decides to discuss it with Maximino. Acquire his cigarette case and take it back to the security check-point. Present it to Carla, claiming it was left under her desk by a lunatic. She’ll detonate it, providing you with a key.
Enter the kitchen of the high-roller’s club. Collect the turkey baster. When the French waiter enters the pantry, close the doors and wedge them with your scythe. Hopefully, Glottis will come in and partake in the contents of the barrel. If not, you may need to open the tap first. Once the barrel is empty, climb the ladder and utilize the tin opener on the barrel. This action will send you tumbling into the wine cellar.
Operate the fork-lift into the elevator and go up. While the elevator is in motion, board the fork-lift and insert its prongs through one of the gaps (the raised sections) in the elevator doors. When the elevator aligns with an opening, it will halt. At this point, you can use the lever on the side of the fork-lift to open the doors.
Note: On faster machines (PII 400+), the elevator moves too quickly for you to execute the necessary actions. You can find a patch to resolve this issue on the LucasArts website. Grim Fandango played via Residual and Grim Fandango Remastered do not experience this bug.
Proceed down the corridor and retrieve the suitcase. But what on earth is Charlie up to? Quite the eccentric fellow! At least you’ve secured your union card.
Make your way to the lighthouse and employ Nick’s key to access it. Take a moment of silent reflection for Lola, then contemplate that clue.
If you had a prior conversation with your coat-check attendant, it’s rather evident what to do with the tile (assuming you were paying attention). Present the tile to her to obtain a lady’s coat. Search it to discover the “rusty anchor” clue. For a bit of amusement, try giving it to Glottis. You can also share it with Olivia, for yet another chuckle.
Journey to the Blue Casket and venture into the kitchen. Use the turkey baster to extract some dirty water from the sink.
Now, head to the tattoo shop and open the fridge, then the bottom tray to keep the door ajar. While the tattoo artist is preoccupied, utilize the water from the Blue Casket, filling a bottle. The sailor will soon doze off. Interrupt the tattoo artist’s phone conversation by displaying the “Rusty Anchor” card to him. This will result in a photo-finish card. Retrieve the ID plate from the slumbering sailor and make your exit.
Proceed to the morgue and apply the ID plate to one of the “deceased” bodies. Hand over the metal detector to the pathologist, and you’ve successfully acquired a ticket for the SS Limbo.
Now, make your way to the cat track and utilize the ticket printer to produce a ticket for “Tuesday, Week 2, Race 6.” Hand this ticket over to the gentleman at the photo-finish booth (ensure you’re not using the wrong booth – there are two) to receive the photo.
Head to the docks where the Sea Bees are stationed. Bestow the revolutionary book upon them and observe Terry’s unfortunate arrest (poor chap). Move on to the high rollers club and inform Nick of your need for legal representation. Display the photo to help persuade him. Bam! That felt satisfying.
However, there’s a snag – Glottis is hooked on gambling. The only way to curb his habit is to drive the casino into bankruptcy. Visit Manny’s office at the casino and utilize the panel to ensure the fellow loses – he’s a sore loser, so he’ll close up shop.
You’re now prepared to embark on your voyage. Congratulations – you cunning rascal! Don’t you believe you’re squandering the brilliance of this game by not engaging your mind in puzzle-solving? All that time you could be engrossed in unraveling mysteries. No? You eccentric individual.
In Dock
Have you ever wondered how Manny achieves such remarkable success? Listen to the startling news and move through the crowd of those unfortunate, young souls (Tony Plana’s voice acting is truly exceptional here). Glottis comes to your rescue – what a guy. Now, to break free from your moorings, you’ll need to follow these steps (prepare for a bit of contemplation and surprise as you figure out how to accomplish these tasks):
- Pull up both of the anchors.
- Release the left anchor.
- Move away from the dock.
- Release the right anchor – your anchors should collide.
- Retrieve one of the anchors; it should be connected to the other.
- Utilize the scythe to haul in the anchor, creating a “dotted line.”
- Engage full reverse on the ship and break away! Glug.
Shipwrecked
Reflect on your uncertain future until a wanderer approaches. Strike up a conversation with him and agree to accompany him (just for the fun of it).
The next time he passes by, converse with him to catch his attention. After you finish talking to him, he’ll stand at the edge of the illuminated area for a while. Pick him up, and while you’re holding him, head towards Glottis. Voila, you now have a lantern!
The Pearl
Roam around the ridge until you encounter the plant’s tentacles. Walk past them, and the little guy will follow. He’ll become ensnared, and the octopus will be distracted by him. This will lead you to the edge of the world.
The Edge of the World
Step into the underwater complex and enter the office. You’ll encounter Meche, and soon, Domino will make his entrance. Needless to say, he’s not thrilled to see you or Glottis. Poor guy.
When you awaken, engage in conversation with the children in the cage and attempt to salvage your reputation. Assure them you can assist with work, but quickly recover your dignity from the initial setback. Then, pick up the petite hammer. If you’re in a mischievous mood, you can even use it to threaten Domino.
Now, converse with Meche and persistently deny possessing a gun. She won’t believe you – try moving that ashtray; it might make you feel better. Retrieve the stockings from the trash. If you’re feeling a bit playful, you can show them to the kids.
Walk back into the water and head to the left. Strike up a conversation with the wandering fellow about his Bust-All and trade him your small hammer for it. Express your desire to exchange something for a gun as well – hand over the stockings. If you’re in a playful mood once again, you can show the Bust-All to the kids. Acquiring the gun is surprisingly straightforward.
Proceed to the right from the complex and activate the conveyor belt, causing it to move towards the bottom-right of the screen. Descend to the bottom-right, and climb down the anchor-chain. Fortunately, your old friend isn’t deceased after all. Climb back up the chain.
Climb up the conveyor belt to reach the surface. Utilize the crane and transport it to the other side of the island. Release the grabber and head down to the beach where it landed. Employ the Bust-All to sever it.
Return to the crane and elevate the chain. Lower it once more, and then raise it to disrupt the crushers. Maneuver the crane around to the opposite side of the island and release the chain. Disembark from the crane.
The chain will have traveled down the conveyor belt. Adjust its direction to twist the chain, then modify its direction again to hook it onto the anchor. Return to the crane and raise the chain to hoist the Titanic.
Instruct Glottis to employ the broken crushers as a coral-plough for the ship.
Head over to Meche and hand her the gun. Unfortunately, the mistrusting individual betrays you to Domino, resulting in her confinement in the safe. To unlock the safe, follow these steps:
- Ensure that the tumblers are flush with the door frame – their straight edge should align with the door’s edge.
- Place the tumblers in position from top to bottom.
- Rotate the door’s wheel until all of the tumblers are in motion.
- Position the top tumbler correctly while turning the wheel.
- Reverse the wheel’s direction; you’ll notice the tumblers start turning in the opposite direction one by one.
- The key is to align the third tumbler correctly before the fourth tumbler moves out of place.
- Reverse the wheel’s direction again, and continue until all four tumblers are aligned.
- Have Manny inspect the tumblers. If he confirms that “the tumblers are aligned and flush with the door frame,” you’ve got it.
- Now, insert your scythe into the tumblers and turn the handle to unlock the door.
- Close the safe door temporarily (stay with me here) and use the scythe on the electrical contact to access the secret door.
- In the concealed room, employ your scythe on the ceiling pipes and turn the valve to activate the sprinklers.
- Utilize the valve once more to deactivate the sprinklers, and observe the water draining through a tile in the floor. Odd, isn’t it?
- Drag the axe from the adjacent room and place it on the tile from which the water has drained. Escape!
You’re now free to make your escape, but Domino becomes suspicious when he sees you sailing away. He arrives for a confrontation. The periscope behind you appears quite unusual – consider poking it with something sharp, like a scythe.
Now that was quite a stroke of luck. Don’t you think this game would last longer if you played it without cheating? No? You’re quite the rebel.
Entering the Ninth Underworld
No one warned us that peddling double-N tickets would be deemed criminal. Glottis appears to have lost his mind a bit, so let’s follow him – maybe he’s at the very bottom of all these stairs. Open the coffin to find the irritable fellow from Year 1. You arrived here just as leisurely as he did, but at least your journey was eventful, right? Retrieve the mug from the package.
Move on and converse with the peculiar individual at the top, and savor the moment as Nick finally gets what’s coming to him.
Step into the cable-car station and engage the mechanics in a conversation about Glottis’ condition. You might have been neglecting him – remember, Glottis is a lifelong commitment, not just for fixing engines. Enter the kitchen and take the rag from the drawer. Combine it with the oil drums in the cable-car station, then return to the kitchen. Hang your mug on the mug-tree, and use the oily rag with the toaster. Observe as the mechanics rush in with a fire extinguisher – let’s hope it’s not a magnesium extinguisher. Oh dear.
Glottis seems to have been cured, but if he weren’t such a scaredy-cat, you’d be in El Marrow by now. Unfortunately, Glottis decides you need another dip in the Sea of Lament. Darn it.
Rubacava
Open the door to where the Bone Wagon is kept.
Who could have committed this act? Who? WHO?
Go and have a chat with the harbor-master. Inform him about the ship, and he’ll dash off to retrieve it. Pick up his ship in a bottle (he’s still tinkering with it, it seems).
Head over to the tattoo parlor and collect the liquid nitrogen from the cupboard.
Walk to the Blue Casket and enter the kitchen. Dip the ship in the bottle into the dirty water, then step back outside. For some inexplicable reason, Manny decides to bring Olivia along with him to El Marrow.
Hand the ship in the bottle to Glottis, who surprisingly finds the taste quite agreeable. He’ll return, feeling unwell. Engage in a discussion with him about food until he becomes sick all over the trap. Use the liquid nitrogen on the trap and deactivate the bomb. Enjoy the relief.
Nuevo Marrow
Upon your return, it’s clear that the LSA has expanded, and the city itself has seen some changes. In the revamped LSA HQ, equipped with more technology, pick up the arm from the “deceased” soldier and retrieve his photo from the bin. Show the photo to the carrier pigeon and deliver the threatening message from Hector. Hector’s firearms specialist decides to make a swift exit.
Proceed to the location of the stage show. Collect the coffee maker and ascend the ladder. Pour the coffee over the man’s head to send him fleeing. Congratulations, you now have a job as a guy with a comical face – simply step into the dressing room. It also provides a convenient disguise, which can be quite handy. Climb that ladder again and grab the grinder from the snow-maker. [Editor’s note: You might want to consider adding the LSA soldier’s arm to the grinder now to save time later!]
Bowsley has fled into the labyrinths, where a fearsome monster lurks. Take the remote control from the Bone Wagon and raise the wagon. Combine the LSA soldier’s arm with the grinder to create a bone-grinder. Use this to sprinkle bone fragments over the Sproutella to form a trail. Sprinkle the bone fragments at the entrance of the cave where Bowsley disappeared and ask the Bone Wagon to provide some light.
Exit the Bone Wagon when you encounter the menacing monster and continue along the platform. Employ the remote control to lift the Bone Wagon. Wait until the monster’s tail is under the wagon, then use the remote again to drop the Bone Wagon. Now it’s safe to descend the ladder.
Enter the florist’s shop, where you’ll notice the owner has gone a bit bonkers. Remove the wool from the door and step outside. Re-enter to find him all smiles – you now have a gun and some extra ammo.
Visit the casino and converse with the man in the raincoat – he’s an LSA member. Then, talk to Meche and ensure she recognizes you. Place the sheet over Charlie and instruct the LSA member to make the fruit machine pay out. You’ll now have better attire.
Approach the guarded elevator – the guard won’t grant access unless you genuinely know Hector. When he asks you a question, the answer can be found among the numbers behind Manny’s head. Chat with Celso and his wife, persuading them to accept Hector’s offer. Hector is deeply impressed and attempts to recruit you for the LSA – you’ll have Manny Calavera’s old office.
You make an attempt on Hector’s life, but his highly skilled bodyguard takes the hit. Hector endeavors to leap onto the roof but falls short – luckily, his genuine double-N tickets make it. Head to the roof and inspect the gargoyle supporting the “roof decoration.” Use the bone grinder to sprinkle bone fragments into the crack, then apply the sproutella to the bone fragments. The decoration transforms into a perfect bridge.
It seems you and Meche are on your way to a happy ending when things take a slight turn. Remember how bizarre it was for Manny to let Olivia come along?
“Hola, Manuel!”
Hector isn’t pleased with Manny – after all, he did attempt to murder him. Hector tries to return the favor, but unfortunately, Bowsley took all the fast-acting sproutella with him. What rotten luck. Use the liquid nitrogen to eliminate that feeble growth.
Converse with Salvador. Witness Olivia’s demise. And feel relieved.
Open the suitcase of double-N tickets and take Salvador’s. Move behind the greenhouse atop the hill and use the ticket to locate Salvador’s body. Retrieve the keys from his pockets and open the car trunk. If you like, visit the greenhouse for a showdown with Hector – you won’t sustain any injuries.
Head to the water tanks at the base of the hill and use the gun with them. Proceed to the greenhouse and enter. The greenhouse has been redecorated Hector-style.
The End
The exceptional and heartwarming ending sequence unfolds. You’ve completed LucasArts’ finest adventure to date without giving it much thought at all. You, my friend, are quite the cheater. Do you not feel a hint of guilt now? No? You stubborn, mischievous skull.
