Return to Monkey Island
What to Know
Average Score
- September 19, 2022
- Terrible Toybox
- Adventure
- Nom: Best Adventure (2022), Editors' Choice
Critics Consensus
- September 19, 2022
- Adventure
- Nom: Best Adventure (2022), Editors' Choice
Critics Consensus
# Reviews: 16
Smart puzzles, funny dialogue, and memorable characters mark a glorious return of one of gaming's most beloved franchises.
Rate and Review
Awards & Recognition
Critic Reviews for Return to Monkey Island
Critic Reviews
Score Distribution
16
Reviews
Gold
58% of scored reviews fell within the range of 86 to 92 / 100
Ranges
Return to Monkey Island is a heartfelt and nostalgic return to a point-and-click adventure series that had long been left behind. It’s fun, smart, and intuitive, with a story and presentation that is surprisingly self-aware. Whether this is your first brush with Guybrush Threepwood or your sixth, Return to Monkey Island is a swashbuckling adventure you won’t want to miss.
Return to Monkey Island is yet another game in the Monkey Island franchise that makes only a slight effort to reflect the ever-shifting gaming landscape, while confidently clinging to the DNA that made it so beloved in the first place. And if you’re looking for the secret to creating an enduring franchise, you could do a lot worse than that.
When it comes to pure fan service, there won’t be many better this year than Return to Monkey Island. It feels like the true sequel to LeChuck’s Revenge and it feels as though its clever, self-referential wit is a product of Gilbert’s return. As sad and nostalgic as parts of Guybrush’s newest tale can be, I had a wonderful time revisiting familiar people and places in yet another golden-age adventure.
Josh West (GamesRadar+)
4.5/5 stars - (Read Review)
Return to Monkey Island is a heartfelt and nostalgic return to a point-and-click adventure series that had long been left behind. It’s fun, smart, and intuitive, with a story and presentation that is surprisingly self-aware. Whether this is your first brush with Guybrush Threepwood or your sixth, Return to Monkey Island is a swashbuckling adventure you won’t want to miss.
Justin McElroy (Polygon)
Recommended - (Read Review)
Return to Monkey Island is yet another game in the Monkey Island franchise that makes only a slight effort to reflect the ever-shifting gaming landscape, while confidently clinging to the DNA that made it so beloved in the first place. And if you’re looking for the secret to creating an enduring franchise, you could do a lot worse than that.
Brodie Gibbons (Press Start)
9/10 - (Read Review)
When it comes to pure fan service, there won’t be many better this year than Return to Monkey Island. It feels like the true sequel to LeChuck’s Revenge and it feels as though its clever, self-referential wit is a product of Gilbert’s return. As sad and nostalgic as parts of Guybrush’s newest tale can be, I had a wonderful time revisiting familiar people and places in yet another golden-age adventure.
Outlet | Author | Score | Date | Quote | Read |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
AusGamers | Kosta Andreadis | 9.5 / 10 | 09-19-2022 | A joyous adventure game that, if you’ve ever been a fan, should be savoured like a tall glass of aged grape juice. | Read review |
Checkpoint Gaming | Edie W-K | 7.5 / 10 | 09-19-2022 | Return to Monkey Island brings the beloved classic point-and-click series into the modern puzzle adventure genre, and it’s a perfect fit. It’s a fine addition to the Monkey Island series, but it nevertheless seems held back by Monkey Island 2’s strange ending. In its attempt to explain it away, it just hurts its own narrative, which had the potential for more than it achieved. But it is still a fun ride, full of wild, funny, and surprisingly sincere moments. I will be keenly looking forward to the next Monkey Island game from the mind of Gilbert and his team. | Read review |
Eurogamer | Christian Donlan | Recommended | 09-19-2022 | A deft and heartfelt journey through nostalgia. | Read review |
Everyeye.it | Cristina Bona | 9 / 10 | 09-19-2022 | Quote not yet available | Read review |
GamePro | Dennis Michel | 90 / 100 | 09-19-2022 | Quote not yet available | Read review |
GamesRadar+ | Josh West | 4.5 / 5 stars | 09-19-2022 | Return to Monkey Island is a heartfelt and nostalgic return to a point-and-click adventure series that had long been left behind. It’s fun, smart, and intuitive, with a story and presentation that is surprisingly self-aware. Whether this is your first brush with Guybrush Threepwood or your sixth, Return to Monkey Island is a swashbuckling adventure you won’t want to miss. | Read review |
Guardian | Oliver Holmes | 4 / 5 stars | 09-19-2022 | Ageing fans will be relieved to learn that this comeback game from Ron Gilbert and Dave Grossman is not just a greatest hits rehash | Read review |
Hobby Consolas | Daniel Quesada | 87 / 100 | 09-19-2022 | It’s not a perfect game, it’s probably not the best Monkey Island. But, of course, it is a heartfelt love letter to everything we love about graphic adventures and, in short, a fun and nostalgic experience. | Read review |
IGN | Ryan McCaffrey | 9 / 10 | 09-19-2022 | Return to Monkey Island expectedly comes packed full of smartly crafted puzzles, funny dialogue, and memorable characters. But as series creator Ron Gilbert returns to the series’ director’s chair for the first time since 1991, it unexpectedly offers a lot of heart, too. It is an adventure gamer’s delight. | Read review |
IGN Italy | Stefano Castagnola | 8.8 / 10 | 09-19-2022 | A glorious return for one of gaming’s most beloved franchises, that provides fan with another satisfying pirate-themed adventure, some clever dialogue and memorable characters. | Read review |
Polygon | Justin McElroy | Recommended | 09-19-2022 | Return to Monkey Island is yet another game in the Monkey Island franchise that makes only a slight effort to reflect the ever-shifting gaming landscape, while confidently clinging to the DNA that made it so beloved in the first place. And if you’re looking for the secret to creating an enduring franchise, you could do a lot worse than that. | Read review |
Press Start | Brodie Gibbons | 8.5 / 10 | 09-19-2022 | When it comes to pure fan service, there won’t be many better this year than Return to Monkey Island. It feels like the true sequel to LeChuck’s Revenge and it feels as though its clever, self-referential wit is a product of Gilbert’s return. As sad and nostalgic as parts of Guybrush’s newest tale can be, I had a wonderful time revisiting familiar people and places in yet another golden-age adventure. | Read review |
Rock, Paper, Shotgun | Alice Bell | Recommended | 09-19-2022 | Return To Monkey Island might be playing the entire nostalgia hand, nevermind the card, but it’s also a very good modern point and click game that makes a perfect new entry to a beloved old series. | Read review |
Skill Up | Ralph Panebianco | Recommended | 09-19-2022 | Video Review | Read review |
Stevivor | Ben Salter | 9 / 10 | 09-19-2022 | Return to Monkey Island is a delightful adventure, and while it might not quite reach the unobtainable prestige of its predecessors, with a much more accessible design it’s destined to become Guybrush Threepwood’s most popular tale yet. | Read review |
WayTooManyGames | Heidi Hawes | 8 / 10 | 09-19-2022 | The Monkey Island series are adored because of their humor and charm, and Return to Monkey Island is no different. It retains all the same wit, puns, and groan-worthy dad jokes as the rest of the games. In fact, Return to Monkey Island feels more in-line with the earlier titles, no doubt due to Gilbert’s involvement, as well as most of the original cast. The art style might be initially off-putting for some, but it really does grow on you after a while. | Read review |
Game Info
Return to Monkey Island is an unexpected, thrilling return of series creator Ron Gilbert that continues the story of the legendary adventure games The Secret of Monkey Island and Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge developed in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games. It’s been many years since Guybrush Threepwood was last locked in a battle of wits with his nemesis, the zombie pirate LeChuck. His true love, Elaine Marley, has turned her focus away from governing and Guybrush himself is adrift and unfulfilled, having never found the Secret of Monkey Island. Hip, young pirate leaders led by Captain Madison have shuffled the old guard from power, Melee Island has taken a turn for the worse, and famed businessman Stan has been imprisoned for ‘marketing-related crimes’. Banter with old friends and new faces on familiar islands now under dangerous new leadership. Then, take to the high seas and explore the new and unknown as you work your way out of tough predicaments. Clever puzzles, bizarre situations, and devastating ripostes are all that stand between Guybrush and glory.
RELEASE DATES:
DEVELOPER(S):
- Terrible Toybox
PUBLISHER(S):
- Devolver Digital
GENRES:
- Adventure
SERIES/FRANCHISE:
- Monkey Island
GAME MODES:
- Single player
GAME ENGINE:
- -
DLC:
- -
BUNDLED IN:
- -
DIRECTOR(S):
- Ron Gilbert
PRODUCER(S):
- -
DESIGNER(S):
- Dave Grossman
PROGRAMMER(S):
- -
ARTIST(S):
- Rex Crowle
WRITER(S):
- Ron Gilbert, Dave Grossman
COMPOSER(S):
- Peter McConnell, Michael Land, Clint Bajakian
GAME MODES:
- Single player
GAME ENGINE:
- n/a
DLC:
- n/a
BUNDLED IN:
- n/a
DIRECTOR(S):
- Ron Gilbert
PRODUCER(S):
- n/a
DESIGNER(S):
- Dave Grossman
PROGRAMMER(S):
- n/a
ARTIST(S):
- Rex Crowle
WRITER(S):
- Ron Gilbert, Dave Grossman
COMPOSER(S):
- Peter McConnell, Michael Land, Clint Bajakian
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