# Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust <small style="color: gray">Last updated: January 9, 2026</small> ## Overview Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust stands as one of the most critically reviled video games ever released, earning the dubious distinction of being called "the worst game of the decade" by JustAdventure[^ref-3]. Released in 2009 for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360[^ref-8], this action-adventure platformer marked a radical departure from the series' traditional point-and-click adventure roots, featuring Larry Lovage (nephew of series protagonist Larry Laffer) navigating a 3D open-world Hollywood studio lot[^ref-57]. The game was originally developed by Team17 Software Limited[^ref-48] and published by Sierra Entertainment[^ref-67], but faced significant development troubles when Activision dropped the project[^ref-66]. Codemasters eventually picked up publishing duties[^ref-23], bringing the troubled production to market despite widespread concerns about its departure from the franchise's established formula[^ref-70]. The final product featured voice acting from notable celebrities including Jeffrey Tambor, Carmen Electra, Shannon Elizabeth, Jay Mohr, and Patrick Warburton[^ref-34], but these star performances could not salvage what critics universally condemned as a fundamentally broken gaming experience. > [!info]- Game Info > **Developer:** Team17 Software Limited[^ref-48] > **Designer:** Paul Dunstan[^ref-48] > **Publisher:** Codemasters[^ref-21] > **Platforms:** PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360[^ref-45] > **Release Year:** 2009 > **Series:** Leisure Suit Larry > **Sierra Lineage:** Post-Sierra ## Story Summary Box Office Bust follows Larry Lovage, nephew of series mainstay Larry Laffer, as he works as an intern at a Hollywood movie studio[^ref-34]. The game's narrative centers around Larry's attempts to help his uncle Larry Laffer, who has been framed for a crime[^ref-62]. Set within the confines of a movie studio backlot, players guide Larry through various Hollywood-themed environments while completing missions that parody film industry tropes[^ref-20]. The story unfolds through 45 main story missions[^ref-60], with Larry interacting with various studio personnel and celebrity characters voiced by the game's notable cast[^ref-31]. The plot incorporates the series' trademark sexual innuendo and adult humor, though critics noted that the writing lacked the wit and cleverness of earlier entries in the franchise[^ref-16]. ## Gameplay ### Interface and Controls Unlike previous Leisure Suit Larry games, Box Office Bust adopted a third-person 3D action-adventure format using the Unreal Engine 3[^ref-54]. The game featured open-world sandbox gameplay with exploration, platforming, racing, and puzzle-solving elements[^ref-49]. Players controlled Larry Lovage through various studio environments, completing missions that ranged from simple fetch quests to more complex platforming challenges[^ref-59]. The control scheme proved to be one of the game's most criticized aspects, with multiple reviewers noting severe responsiveness issues[^ref-13]. The GameFAQs walkthrough author specifically recommended using trainers and cheats to compensate for the poor control implementation[^ref-13], describing the controls as "horribly made"[^ref-13]. ### Structure and Progression The game contained 45 story missions alongside numerous side activities[^ref-60]. Players could collect 100 "Larry Awards" scattered throughout the game world, participate in 9 racing sequences, and complete 7 seduction mini-games[^ref-60]. The open-world structure allowed players to explore the studio lot freely, choosing which missions to tackle in a non-linear fashion[^ref-7]. Achievement hunters noted particular difficulty in completing the game's objectives, with one guide author stating they had "played this game five times and have never succeeded getting all achievements in a single playthrough"[^ref-59]. The game's technical issues significantly impacted progression, with frequent crashes and game-breaking bugs reported across all platforms[^ref-28]. ### Puzzles and Mechanics The gameplay mechanics departed significantly from the series' traditional adventure game puzzles, instead focusing on platforming challenges, racing sequences, and mini-games[^ref-55]. The seduction sequences, a hallmark of the franchise, were reimplemented as rhythm-based mini-games rather than the dialogue-driven encounters of previous titles[^ref-61]. Critics noted that the game's puzzle design was frustratingly simplistic, with one reviewer highlighting a mission where Larry comments on poorly designed challenges with the line "Oh that's right, introduce a timer to place me under undue and unnecessary pressure"[^ref-30]. The platforming mechanics were particularly problematic, with imprecise jumping controls and poor camera angles making navigation difficult[^ref-25]. ## Reception ### Contemporary Reviews Box Office Bust received universally negative reviews across all platforms, achieving some of the lowest review scores in gaming history. Metacritic aggregated scores of 25/100 for Xbox 360, 20/100 for PC, and 17/100 for PlayStation 3[^ref-40][^ref-42][^ref-41]. GameRankings showed similarly dismal scores of 26.08%, 20.22%, and 16.00% respectively[^ref-71][^ref-72][^ref-73]. | Publication | Score | Notes | |-------------|-------|-------| | IGN | 2.0/10 | "One of the worst games ever made"[^ref-30] | | GameSpot | 2.0/10 | "Soul-crushing, mind-poisoning shame"[^ref-22] | | Eurogamer | 2/10 | "Physically unpleasant to play"[^ref-10] | | Official Xbox Magazine UK | 1/10 | Gave lowest possible score[^ref-8] | | PC Gamer UK | 19% | Called it fundamentally broken[^ref-8] | | GameTrailers | 2.3/10 | "The joke will be on you"[^ref-8] | Charles Onyett of IGN delivered one of the most scathing reviews, stating "The lowest rating numbers here at IGN are reserved for games with nearly no redeeming qualities or interesting ideas, with next to nothing enjoyable to offer players, and which under no circumstances should be purchased by anyone. Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust is, without a doubt, one of those games"[^ref-30]. ### Modern Assessment In retrospective reviews, the game's reputation has only worsened. A comprehensive Reddit review ranking all 12 Leisure Suit Larry games placed Box Office Bust dead last, with the reviewer stating "This was a big mistake and a blatant quick cash cow off a known franchise"[^ref-55]. Modern gaming preservation sites like My Abandonware show mixed user ratings, though many reviews echo contemporary criticisms[^ref-50]. The game's failure is often cited as an example of how not to revitalize a classic franchise. Critics noted that removing original creator Al Lowe from the development process resulted in a product that fundamentally misunderstood what made the original games appealing[^ref-4]. Lowe himself responded to the game's poor reception by sarcastically thanking "VU Games, for keeping me completely away from this latest disaster!"[^ref-3]. ## Development ### Origins Box Office Bust was initially announced by Sierra Entertainment on January 17, 2008[^ref-67][^ref-69][^ref-72], as part of an attempt to revitalize the dormant Leisure Suit Larry franchise. Executive Producer John Melchior explained that the development team wanted to address criticisms of the previous game, Magna Cum Laude, stating "The last game was torn apart and I think it was just the wrong approach for this franchise"[^ref-31]. The development philosophy centered around creating "a good solid story, clever set ups, and great pay offs"[^ref-8], with Melchior emphasizing that "Nudity is a mask for poor gameplay. There is no Nudity in this version of Larry"[^ref-31]. However, the decision to completely overhaul the gameplay mechanics from point-and-click adventure to 3D action-platformer proved controversial from the outset[^ref-57]. ### Production Development was handled by Team17 Software Limited[^ref-48], known primarily for the Worms franchise, marking their first attempt at an adult-oriented adventure game. The game utilized the Unreal Engine 3[^ref-54], allowing for more complex 3D environments than previous series entries. The production faced significant challenges when original publisher Activision dropped the project[^ref-66], leaving the game in limbo until Codemasters picked up publishing rights[^ref-23][^ref-68]. This disruption likely contributed to the game's technical issues and rushed feel noted by critics[^ref-32]. The voice cast represented a significant investment, featuring established comedians and actors including Jeffrey Tambor as Larry Laffer, Josh Keaton as Larry Lovage, Carmen Electra as Ginger Vitus, Shannon Elizabeth as Amy Loveheart, and Patrick Warburton as Damone LeCoque[^ref-34]. Despite the star talent, critics noted that the script failed to utilize these performers effectively[^ref-25]. ### Technical Achievements The game's technical implementation proved to be its greatest weakness rather than achievement. Built on Unreal Engine 3[^ref-54], the game suffered from frequent crashes, control issues, and graphical glitches across all platforms[^ref-28]. The PC Gaming Wiki documents numerous compatibility issues and workarounds required to run the game properly[^ref-54]. Critics noted severe frame rate problems, particularly on PlayStation 3, with GameSpot's Chris Watters specifically highlighting "poor technical performance" alongside the gameplay issues[^ref-24]. The game's ambitious open-world structure appeared to exceed the development team's technical capabilities, resulting in an unstable and frustrating experience[^ref-27]. ## Legacy Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust's legacy serves primarily as a cautionary tale about franchise mismanagement and the dangers of radical genre shifts without understanding core appeal. The game's critical and commercial failure effectively ended Sierra's attempts to revitalize the Larry franchise under their banner[^ref-8]. The game's notorious reputation has made it a subject of interest for "bad game" enthusiasts and achievement hunters willing to endure its technical issues for completion purposes[^ref-56]. Its inclusion in various "worst games ever made" lists has given it a form of infamy that keeps it in gaming discourse years after release[^ref-52]. Modern franchise revivals have pointedly ignored this entry's existence, with subsequent Larry games returning to the series' adventure game roots[^ref-55]. The game stands as a stark reminder of how celebrity voice acting and high production values cannot salvage fundamentally flawed game design and technical execution. ## Downloads **Purchase / Digital Stores** - Not currently available on major digital platforms[^ref-58] **Download / Preservation** - [My Abandonware](https://www.myabandonware.com/game/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust-iv8)[^ref-50] - [Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust-2009.w)[^ref-7] ## See Also - [[1996 - Leisure Suit Larry 7 - Love for Sail]] – Final Al Lowe Larry Laffer game - [[Leisure Suit Larry Series]] - Series overview - [[2004 - Leisure Suit Larry - Magna Cum Laude|← Previous: Leisure Suit Larry - Magna Cum Laude]] - [[2013 - Leisure Suit Larry - Reloaded|→ Next: Leisure Suit Larry - Reloaded]] ## References [^ref-1]: https://www.abandonwaredos.com/search.php?search=Leisure+Suit+Larry%3A+Box+Office+Bust - Search results page, no specific game information found [^ref-2]: https://adventuregamers.com/search/?q=Leisure+Suit+Larry%3A+Box+Office+Bust - Adventure Gamers search results [^ref-3]: https://allowe.com/games/larry/history-of-larry/box-office-bust.html - Al Lowe's comprehensive review compilation showing critical failure [^ref-4]: http://www.allowe.com/Larry/BOB.htm - Al Lowe's personal commentary on the game he was not involved with [^ref-5]: https://www.amazon.com/Leisure-Suit-Larry-Box-Office-Bust/dp/B001T0HH4W - Amazon customer reviews showing negative reception [^ref-6]: https://www.amazon.com/Leisure-Suit-Larry-Office-Bust-Xbox/dp/B00149MEQE - Xbox 360 Amazon product page with customer criticism [^ref-7]: https://archive.org/details/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust-2009.w - Internet Archive preservation entry [^ref-8]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leisure_Suit_Larry:_Box_Office_Bust - Wikipedia article with comprehensive review scores and development history [^ref-9]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leisure_Suit_Larry%3A_Box_Office_Bust - Alternative Wikipedia URL with same content [^ref-10]: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust-review - Eurogamer negative review focusing on technical issues [^ref-11]: https://www.eurogamer.net/games/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust - Eurogamer game page listing [^ref-12]: https://www.filfre.net/?s=Leisure+Suit+Larry%3A+Box+Office+Bust - Digital Antiquarian search with no results [^ref-13]: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/944566-leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust/faqs/57040 - GameFAQs walkthrough documenting technical issues [^ref-14]: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/xbox360/944568-leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust - Xbox 360 GameFAQs page [^ref-15]: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/xbox360/944568-leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust/faqs - GameFAQs guides page [^ref-16]: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps3/944567-leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust/videos/26207368 - PS3 GameFAQs video page [^ref-17]: https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/944566-leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust/index.html - GameRankings PC scores (content mismatch) [^ref-18]: https://www.gamerankings.com/xbox360/944568-leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust/index.html - GameRankings Xbox 360 scores (content mismatch) [^ref-19]: https://www.gamerankings.com/ps3/944567-leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust/index.html - GameRankings PS3 scores (content mismatch) [^ref-20]: https://gamesaplunder.com/collections/xbox-360-games/products/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust-x-360 - Commercial retailer product description [^ref-21]: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust-in-the-shops-today - Official UK launch press release with publisher information [^ref-22]: http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust-review/1900-6207462/ - GameSpot professional review with scathing criticism [^ref-23]: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/leisure-suit-larry-loungin-with-codemasters/1100-6205151/ - GameSpot news about publisher change [^ref-24]: http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust-review/1900-6209358/ - GameSpot PS3 review highlighting technical problems [^ref-25]: http://www.gamesradar.com/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust-review/ - GamesRadar+ contemporary review [^ref-26]: https://www.gamesradar.com/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust/ - GamesRadar+ game page [^ref-27]: https://www.gamewatcher.com/reviews/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust-review/9742 - GameWatcher negative review [^ref-28]: https://www.gog.com/dreamlist/game/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust-2009 - GOG wishlist with user reviews about technical issues [^ref-29]: https://howlongtobeat.com/?q=Leisure+Suit+Larry%3A+Box+Office+Bust - HowLongToBeat search (no specific results) [^ref-30]: http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/05/13/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust-review - IGN extremely negative review [^ref-31]: https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/01/17/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust-interview?page=2 - IGN developer interview with design philosophy [^ref-32]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1174039/reviews/ - IMDb user review criticizing departure from series [^ref-33]: https://www.imdb.com/find/?q=Leisure+Suit+Larry%3A+Box+Office+Bust&s=tt - IMDb search results with user rating [^ref-34]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1174039/ - IMDb page with cast information and user ratings [^ref-35]: http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/21/codemasters-publishing-leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust-comi/ - Joystiq article (content mismatch) [^ref-36]: https://m.imdb.com/title/tt1174039/parentalguide - IMDb parental guide with content warnings [^ref-37]: https://www.metacritic.com/game/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360 - Metacritic Xbox 360 review aggregation [^ref-38]: https://www.metacritic.com/game/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3 - Metacritic PS3 review aggregation showing 17/100 score [^ref-39]: https://www.metacritic.com/game/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust/critic-reviews/?platform=pc - Metacritic PC review aggregation with 20/100 score [^ref-40]: https://www.metacritic.com/game/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360 - Xbox 360 Metacritic scores [^ref-41]: https://www.metacritic.com/game/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3 - PS3 Metacritic scores [^ref-42]: https://www.metacritic.com/game/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust/critic-reviews/?platform=pc - PC Metacritic scores [^ref-43]: https://www.mobygames.com/game/39933/ - MobyGames database entry [^ref-44]: https://www.mobygames.com/game/5958/leisure-suit-larry-triple-pack/ - MobyGames Triple Pack entry (different game) [^ref-45]: https://www.mobygames.com/game/39933/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust/releases/ - MobyGames release information across platforms [^ref-46]: https://www.mobygames.com/search/?q=Leisure+Suit+Larry%3A+Box+Office+Bust - MobyGames search results [^ref-47]: https://www.mobygames.com/game/39933/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust/specs/ - MobyGames technical specifications [^ref-48]: https://www.mobygames.com/game/39933/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust/ - MobyGames comprehensive database entry with credits [^ref-49]: https://www.myabandonware.com/search/q/Leisure+Suit+Larry%3A+Box+Office+Bust - MyAbandonware search results [^ref-50]: https://www.myabandonware.com/game/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust-iv8 - MyAbandonware download page with user ratings [^ref-51]: https://www.neverdiemedia.com/products/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust-w-manual - Commercial retailer listing [^ref-52]: https://newqualitipedia.telepedia.net/wiki/Leisure_Suit_Larry:_Box_Office_Bust - Quality wiki focusing on negative aspects [^ref-53]: https://oldgamesdownload.com/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust/ - Game download site with basic information [^ref-54]: https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Leisure_Suit_Larry:_Box_Office_Bust - PC Gaming Wiki technical reference [^ref-55]: https://www.reddit.com/r/gog/comments/1kg2yo4/i_spent_the_last_2_weeks_playing_every_leisure/ - Reddit comprehensive franchise review [^ref-56]: https://www.reddit.com/r/Trophies/comments/1kop8mz/leisure_suit_larry_box_office_bust_platinum_69/ - Reddit trophy hunting post [^ref-57]: https://sierra.fandom.com/wiki/Leisure_Suit_Larry - Sierra wiki with series overview [^ref-58]: https://store.steampowered.com/search/?term=Leisure+Suit+Larry%3A+Box+Office+Bust - Steam search showing no results [^ref-59]: https://www.trueachievements.com/game/Leisure-Suit-Larry/walkthrough/1 - TrueAchievements achievement guide [^ref-60]: https://www.trueachievements.com/game/Leisure-Suit-Larry/walkthrough/3 - TrueAchievements detailed walkthrough with completion data [^ref-61]: https://www.trueachievements.com/game/Leisure-Suit-Larry/walkthrough - TrueAchievements walkthrough overview [^ref-62]: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/VideoGame/LeisureSuitLarryBoxOfficeBust - TV Tropes analysis of gameplay and story [^ref-63]: https://upcomingdiscs.com/2009/04/20/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust-xbox-360/ - UpcomingDiscs comprehensive negative review [^ref-64]: https://www.walkthroughking.com/text/leisuresuitlarry9.aspx - Walkthrough guide with mission details [^ref-65]: https://www.walkthroughking.com/text/leisuresuitlarry8.aspx - Alternative walkthrough guide [^ref-66]: https://web.archive.org/web/20121011094547/http://uk.gamespot.com/news/brutal-legend-ghostbusters-more-dropped-by-activision-6195113 - Archived article about Activision dropping games [^ref-67]: https://web.archive.org/web/20080124175229/http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=%2Fwww%2Fstory%2F01-17-2008%2F0004738101&EDATE=%2F - Original Sierra press release announcement [^ref-68]: https://web.archive.org/web/20220529211603/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/leisure-suit-larry-loungin-with-codemasters/1100-6205151/ - Archived GameSpot article about publisher change [^ref-69]: https://web.archive.org/web/20121004220126/http://www2.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=%2Fwww%2Fstory%2F01-17-2008%2F0004738101&EDATE=%2F - Duplicate Sierra press release [^ref-70]: https://web.archive.org/web/20121028122856/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/21/codemasters-publishing-leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust-comi/ - Archived Joystiq article with community concerns [^ref-71]: https://web.archive.org/web/20130511112739/http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/944566-leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust/index.html - Archived GameRankings PC scores [^ref-72]: https://web.archive.org/web/20080220231158/http://www.sierra.com/uk/home/news/product_news/011708_-_lsl_bob_announcement.html - Official Sierra UK announcement [^ref-73]: https://web.archive.org/web/20130601083511/http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox360/944568-leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust/index.html - Archived GameRankings Xbox 360 scores [^ref-74]: https://web.archive.org/web/20081204002640/http://www.gamepro.com/games/xbox360/139441/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust/ - Archived GamePro pre-release listing [^ref-75]: https://web.archive.org/web/20160418234439/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/01/17/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust-interview?page=2 - Archived IGN developer interview [^ref-76]: https://wiki.scummvm.org/index.php/Leisure_Suit_Larry_Box_Office_Bust - ScummVM wiki (blocked content) [^ref-77]: https://xbox.fandom.com/wiki/Leisure_Suit_Larry:_Box_Office_Bust - Xbox wiki with review compilation [^ref-78]: https://www.xboxachievements.com/game/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust/guide/ - Xbox achievement guide with critical commentary [^ref-79]: https://www.xboxachievements.com/game/leisure-suit-larry-box-office-bust/review/ - XboxAchievements comprehensive negative review