If you consider yourself a Grasshopper Manufacture fan, then you are going to love what the folks at Lost In Cult have just revealed. They have just unveiled KILL THE PAST: 25 YEARS OF GRASSHOPPER MANUFACTURE, a book that takes a look at the history of the company highlight their most notable works like No More Heroes, Killer7, The Silver Case and Shadows of the Damned.
The 400-page book is available in two versions, a Standard edition and a Deluxe Edition, both of which are up for pre-order right now on the Lost In Cult website. The standard edition comes with a random collectible card while the deluxe version comes chocka packed full of goodies.
To find out more of what is included in the KILL THE PAST: 25 YEARS OF GRASSHOPPER MANUFACTURE book, check out the official press release below.
KILL THE PAST: 25 YEARS OF GRASSHOPPER MANUFACTUREÂ announced – a definitive exclusive-access book on the iconic Japanese studio
Lost In Cult is exceptionally proud to unveil KILL THE PAST: 25 YEARS OF GRASSHOPPER MANUFACTURE – a book 25 years in the making.
Explore the unique and wild worlds of Grasshopper Manufacture and SUDA51, featuring never-before-seen art, exclusive interviews, essays, and more. KILL THE PAST is the ultimate and definitive celebration of Grasshopper Manufacture, its games, and its history, as never told before.
Across more than 400 pages, we’re revealing the behind-the-scenes stories of landmark games from this acclaimed, beloved, and iconic Japanese studio, as told by the people who were there, as well as long-time partners.
Our limited, pre-order campaign-exclusive Deluxe Edition brings even more to the table, with its beautifully embossed black box containing a treasure trove of additional Grasshopper ephemera, from stickers, pins, and posters, to a full set of 4 separate expanded essay books on Killler7, No More Heroes, Shadows of the Damned, and The Silver Case.
KILL THE PAST: 25 YEARS OF GRASSHOPPER MANUFACTURE is available to order now – pre-order campaign open until October 18th. Shipping Q2/Q3 2025.
STANDARD EDITION
The Standard Edition of KILL THE PASTÂ is perfect for fans and collectors alike, presented as a 400+ page softcover book, with its cover marking a visual homage to Grasshopper and their biggest works, complete with a clear, see-through dust-jacket adorning their studio logo.
Written by Blake Hester (Game Informer, Polygon, Vice), KILL THE PAST: 25 YEARS OF GRASSHOPPER MANUFACTURE tells the story of one of the most interesting studios in video game history through in-depth interviews with dozens of creators across the developer’s long and rich history. Put simply, this is the single most definitive and comprehensive look at Grasshopper Manufacture and their works ever seen.
Explore how classic games such as No More Heroes, Shadows of the Damned, Killer7, The Silver Case, Michigan: Report from Hell, Flower, Sun, and Rain, and more were made as if you were there in the room with its creators, and enjoy loads of development art, behind-the-scenes concepts, and never-before-seen looks into the design process. We dive into the origins, creation, the community, and influences of Grasshopper, covering the past, present, and future of this important studio.
The book also includes interviews with many key people at Grasshopper, including the man himself, Goichi Suda (SUDA51), as well as other names at Grasshopper including Tadayuki Nomaru, Nobutaka Ichiki, Ren Yamazaki and James Mountain.
The inside story is never the whole story – though exclusive interviews, we reveal never-before-known details from 20 years of working with SUDA51 on projects such as Killer7 and Shadows of the Damned. Other exclusive interviews are also featured (watch this space).
We’ve also created an exclusive, limited edition set of Grasshopper trading cards, inspired by SUDA51’s love of baseball. Every book comes with a single trading card (full pack available in the Deluxe Edition).
DELUXE EDITION
KILL THE PAST: 25 YEARS OF GRASSHOPPER MANUFACTURE – Deluxe Edition is our ultimate, definitive edition, presenting our complete, ideal vision for what this project should look like. We’ve pushed the boat out with our extra goodies and touches for this sensational edition – befitting of the prestige we feel Grasshopper are worthy of receiving.
Available as an exclusive, limited time-only piece during our pre-order window campaign for mega-fans, the Deluxe Edition is enshrined inside a beautiful black box, embossed with Grasshopper’s logos throughout time.
Housed alongside our wonderful book, within is a treasure trove of Grasshopper ephemera. Decorate your home with beautiful posters displaying art from across the 25 years of Grasshopper’s library – including art from No More Heroes, Killer7, The Silver Case, and more. Find a full set of our limited edition pack of Grasshopper trading cards, alongside a set of pins and stickers to adorn your bags, jackets, or home with.
The highlight of this edition are the four, Deluxe Edition-exclusive essay books. These four, completely separate expanded essay books are worthy releases in their own right, covering four key games from Grasshopper’s history. Each comes in a unique physical booklet, full of interesting art and behind-the-scene details, as well as in-depth critical essays from hand-selected writers about a game of their choosing.
Killer7, by Ed Smith
Shadows of the Damned, by Ashley Bardhan
No More Heroes, by Diego Argüello
The Silver Case, by Suriel Vazquez
SIGNED DELUXE EDITION (limited to first 1000 orders)
Available exclusively to the first 1,000 orders of the Deluxe Edition only, owners will be upgraded to our very special Signed Deluxe Edition – with a signed bookplate inside the box by the one and only SUDA51.
KILL THE PASTÂ is crafted to last – each copy demonstrates our commitment to sustainable business. Produced and assembled with high-quality artisan materials, we work with carbon-neutral, anti-corruption partners and factories.
We believe in ethical manufacturing as strongly as we believe in games preservation. So, treasure each page of our FSC-accredited book with the knowledge that your money supports well-respected labour. Our work is designed for preservation and to be kept, but if for any reason you decide to part with your copy, please consider regifting it.
Source: Lost in Cult PR
