Night Vale co-creator credits classic video game for shaping his narrative craft

Joseph Fink, the cocreator of the influential fiction podcast Welcome to Night Vale, has released a new book titled The Nudge, which follows a man unable to escape a mysterious evil. Fink, who also created the podcasts Unlicensed and Alice Isn't Dead, says the video game Grim Fandango significantly influenced his approach to storytelling. His latest work continues his exploration of cosmic horror and character-driven plots.

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Fink's body of work spans multiple formats, including three Welcome to Night Vale novels co-written with Jeffrey Cranor, the Alice Isn't Dead novel, and The Halloween Moon. His latest novella, The Nudge, arrives September 1st with illustrations by Jessica Hayworth, who also provides artwork for the Night Vale franchise. The story follows a man pursued by an unspecified evil, continuing Fink's signature blend of cosmic horror and character-driven tension.

Fink identifies Grim Fandango, the 1999 LucasArts adventure game featuring a grim reaper navigating a noir-inspired afterlife, as the primary influence on his narrative approach. His other podcast work includes Unlicensed, a noir series, and Alice Isn't Dead, which explores relationships and trauma through conspiratorial horror. A sequel series, Don't Tell Alice, deepens that storyline with protagonist Keisha harboring her own