Grim Fandango (1998)

Great characters are the key to a good story, and Grim Fandango is full them. Though its graphics and audio are naturally dated, the ingenuity of its character and story design is still incredible. This wholly unique experience is why it's still so popular today. In this classic title, you play Manny Calavera, a humble travel agent trying to make a living in a corrupt underworld. Rather than a road straight to heaven, the dead get given various travel packages to the Land of Eternal Rest. How quickly they get there depends on how kind they were, with some journeys taking up to four years. Manny quickly finds that the system is unfair to his client, Meche, who has been sentenced to walk on foot despite her good deeds. Uncovering a deep conspiracy and trying to get justice, the player must solve puzzles and converse with characters to progress. Each is astoundingly well-crafted, voice-acted, and written, with Manny himself presenting a flawed yet developing protagonist that will stick with you long after the conclusion.