Return to Monkey Island

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Critics Recommend

Average Score

Total Reviews: 16

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Smart puzzles, funny dialogue, and memorable characters mark a glorious return of one of gaming’s most beloved franchises.

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Critics Recommend

Critic Reviews: 16

Critics Consensus

# Reviews: 16

Smart puzzles, funny dialogue, and memorable characters mark a glorious return of one of gaming's most beloved franchises.

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Awards & Recognition

Critic Reviews for Return to Monkey Island

Critic Reviews

Distribution

16

Reviews

High Score - 95/100

95%

Average Score - 87/100

87%

Low Score - 75/100

75%

4.5/5 stars

Josh West (GamesRadar+)

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.

September 19, 2022 |

Full 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.

September 19, 2022 |

Full Review

Recommended

Justin McElroy (Polygon)

9/10

Brodie Gibbons (Press Start)

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.

September 19, 2022 |

Full Review

Josh West (GamesRadar+)

4.5/5 stars - (Read Review)

Justin McElroy (Polygon)

Recommended - (Read Review)

Brodie Gibbons (Press Start)

9/10 - (Read Review)

**Read all 16 critic reviews on the desktop version of VSG.

Read the Reviews (16 total)

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

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Game Info

Game Description / Storyline:

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.

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