ResidualVM's first stable release makes Grim Fandango playable on modern PCs

After more than nine years in development, a stable version of ResidualVM has been released, which allows users to play Grim Fandango on modern PCs. Poor sales from the well-received (and now classic) game, from creator Tim Schafer, are often cited as the beginning of the end for classic adventure games.

The ResidualVM project is an offshoot of ScummVM, which is an emulator for the the Scumm engine that ran many of the original LucasArts adventure games. Grim Fandango, however, used the proprietary GrimE engine and, as such, has been incompatible with ScummVM. Given that Grim Fandango is now 14-years-old, most modern operating systems have difficulty running the game. Cue ResidualVM, a program that recreates 3D games that use the GrimE engine.

The program allows people on modern PCs to play GrimE-based LucasArts titles on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux and, at the moment, it is working for Grim Fandango. The developers behind ResidualVM have plans to expand the program to support more games. The compatibility page lists just two additional games: the LucasArts-developed Escape from Monkey Island and the Presto Studios-developed Myst 3 Exile.

A copy of the program can be downloaded for free from the ResidualVM website.