Maniac Mansion is a 1987 adventure game developed by Lucasfilm Games. Built on the SCUMM engine, which laid the foundation for future LucasArts adventure titles, it lets players control characters via on-screen action options and features multiple endings for high replayability.
Set in a suburban mansion struck by a meteor 20 years prior— which warped the Edison family’s behavior— the game follows Dave Miller, who ventures into the estate with two friends to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend Sandy Pantz. Players explore the mansion, solve puzzles, and evade the Edison clan plus alien creatures Green Tentacle and Purple Tentacle.
At the start, players pick two of Dave’s six friends to join him, each with unique skills (e.g., Syd plays instruments, Bernard fixes electronics). Different character choices unlock distinct endings, boosting replay value.
Released on platforms including Amiga, Apple II, Atari ST, Commodore 64, NES, and IBM PC, Maniac Mansion earned widespread acclaim for its humor and innovative gameplay, and is regarded as a classic adventure game.