Escape from Monkey Island

About

Escape from Monkey Island is a single player casual puzzle game with fantasy, comedy and historical themes. It was developed by LucasArts and was released on November 16, 2018. It received positive reviews from critics and neutral reviews from players.

This is the fourth chapter of the Monkey Island series. As normal, prepare to find lots of salty humor and engaging game play from this legendary series. Loaded with lusciously rendered backgrounds and more monkeys than you can handle, Escape from Monkey features an original cinematic story full of drama. The game is highlighted by hundreds of challenging puzzles.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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56%

Audience ScoreBased on 400 reviews

story46 positive mentions

gameplay17 negative mentions

The writing and humor are still top-notch, filled with witty dialogues and memorable characters.
The puzzles are engaging and provide a good challenge, with some clever solutions that keep players invested.
The nostalgic value for fans of the series is significant, as it continues the story of Guybrush Threepwood and introduces new elements.

The controls are clunky and frustrating, with a tank control scheme that makes navigation difficult and unintuitive.
The graphics have not aged well, appearing dated and less appealing compared to earlier entries in the series.
There are numerous bugs and technical issues, including crashes and game-breaking glitches that can hinder progress.

story
123 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
59%
4%
The story of the game is generally praised for its humor, engaging plot, and nostalgic ties to previous entries in the series, featuring well-written dialogues and unexpected twists. However, some players criticize it for recycling elements from earlier games and for inconsistencies in character development and plot logic. While the narrative is considered fun and charming, many reviewers note that frustrating controls and technical issues detract from the overall experience.
- “I'd even say that this is one of the best adventure games ever made, because the plot is well-written, full of twists, the dialogues are funny, and the puzzles are fun to solve.”
- “The plot is surprisingly strong, with plenty of twists and fun setups that keep you invested.”
- “The story is nice and fun, but the unbearable controls and the game-breaking bugs are a deal breaker.”
- “Honestly, the puzzles and story are completely recycled too.”
- “The story couldn't progress, and I didn't even know it... I had to reload a save at the very start of act 3 because I broke him very early unknowingly, which meant that I had to do the monkey kombat garbage twice... what a terrible experience.”
- “Unfortunately, this game is dragged down by a weak performance in its story and puzzles.”
graphics
107 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
61%
18%
The graphics of the game have been widely criticized for being dated and unattractive, with many reviewers noting that the early 3D style has not aged well compared to the previous titles in the series. While some appreciate the charm and humor that the primitive graphics can evoke, the overall consensus is that the visuals are a significant drawback, detracting from the gameplay experience. Despite the nostalgic value for long-time fans, newcomers may find the graphics unappealing and frustrating.
- “A modernized version with smoother controls and upgraded visuals would be incredible, because beneath the dated mechanics is a game with so much personality and heart.”
- “The graphics (partial 3D, as only the characters and some objects are really 3D, while the beautiful backgrounds are pre-rendered) are certainly not the best if stretched on modern monitors, but if played in windowed mode with the modded launcher, at the original resolution of 640x480, the game is a little gem.”
- “The graphics are bright and vibrant.”
- “The graphics are atrocious and the controls are god awful, but the comedy is still there.”
- “The aged 3D graphics look buggy and ugly, and the keyboard controls are a pain compared to point-and-click.”
- “The graphics quality was terrible compared to the third part.”
humor
80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
3%
The humor in "Escape from Monkey Island" is widely praised for its clever writing, witty dialogue, and signature charm that fans of the series have come to love. While some reviews note a decline in the consistency and freshness of the jokes compared to earlier titles, many still find the game to be funny and engaging, filled with memorable characters and humorous situations. Overall, the humor remains a strong aspect of the game, providing a nostalgic experience for long-time fans despite some criticisms regarding its execution.
- “The dialogue is just as witty and hilarious as I remembered, filled with that signature Monkey Island humor that pokes fun at pirates, bureaucracy, and adventure games themselves.”
- “It’s funny, it’s charming, and it feels like home for anyone who grew up with the series.”
- “The game delivers classic Monkey Island humor, bizarre logic puzzles that will make you question your sanity, and more fourth-wall-breaking jokes than you can shake a rubber chicken (with a pulley in the middle) at.”
- “Worst part of the series, filled with bugs that were never fixed, like game-breaking bugs that will stop you after accepting the already awful tank controls... outdated, not funny, and worst of all: not worth even 1 cent!”
gameplay
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
49%
35%
The gameplay of the game has received largely negative feedback, with many players criticizing the clunky controls, awkward mechanics, and convoluted puzzles that detract from the overall experience. While the core adventure elements and humor remain intact, the shift from traditional point-and-click to keyboard controls has left many feeling frustrated and disappointed. Despite some players finding enjoyment in the story and character interactions, the technical issues and gameplay design have led to a consensus that it falls short of the series' legacy.
- “Truly a masterpiece in 3D adventure gaming - think point and click, just with keyboard and WASD-like mechanics.”
- “It uses many of the traditional adventure game mechanics within a 3D environment, set in a world of lovable pirates and voodoo magic.”
- “It's fun; yes, it doesn't have the standard point-and-click gameplay, but it's fun and unique in its own way.”
- “The writing is still great, but holy hell, the port condition and just the gameplay in general is awkward and bad.”
- “Honestly, I can't complain about the graphics (they're early 3D graphics, what did you expect), and I can even put up with the horrendously clunky controls and tedious gameplay, but unfortunately I was forced to quit due to running into game-breaking bugs that I can't figure out how to bypass.”
- “The gameplay feels like a step down from the previous entries.”
music
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
35%
11%
The music in the game is generally praised for its catchy, tropical, and quirky style, aligning well with the series' brand. While some reviewers noted that it lacks standout tracks, they still found it enjoyable and fitting for the game's atmosphere. Overall, the soundtrack is considered memorable and iconic, contributing positively to the experience, though opinions on its quality and production varied.
- “The music and atmosphere are also wonderfully on-brand for the series — catchy, tropical, and quirky in the best way.”
- “The only redeeming factors are the quite absurd story (but feels like a Monkey Island game) and the music which is great like always.”
- “The music is catchy and always sets the mood.”
- “In terms of music, I wouldn't say there are any bangers here, but neither were there in previous offerings, outside of some recurring themes, like Stan's.”
- “The music seems overproduced and of a lower quality.”
- “Not even the soundtrack made me feel it was a proper Monkey Island game.”
stability
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of this game has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting significant bugs, crashes, and graphical issues that hinder gameplay. Many players experienced frequent freezing, glitches, and frustrating controls, leading to a consensus that the game feels poorly optimized for modern systems. Overall, the game's stability issues detract heavily from the experience, making it difficult to recommend.
- “I have no idea what the process was on getting this game to Steam, but someone clearly failed at testing this game before realizing that this outdated, buggy piece of software was in dire need of future-proofing.”
- “This version is so buggy that it is only luck that would allow someone to complete it (the puzzles were all fine, the bugs were all whenever the game needed to load something new).”
- “But unfortunately, the version that is being sold is a buggy mess that doesn't really work on modern systems, nor has the publisher spent any time making it.”
grinding
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, particularly due to frustrating puzzles and clunky controls that require repetitive actions and slow animations. Many reviewers noted that certain puzzles felt like "moon logic," leading to reliance on walkthroughs, while others expressed a desire for more intuitive mechanics reminiscent of earlier titles in the series. Despite these criticisms, some still appreciate the game's legacy and story, suggesting that the grinding may be bearable for dedicated fans.
- “Not to mention many of these puzzles are locked behind slow and tedious animations that you cannot skip; these same animations sometimes have to be repeated more than 5 or 10 times, making a five-minute puzzle turn into a 30 minutes to an hour tedious slog.”
- “I had to resort to using a walkthrough to get past both of those puzzles, but otherwise I have been able to eventually work the rest out for myself, although this has required much tedious 'try using inventory items on environmental objects to see what happens' repetition, which can get frustrating.”
- “Again, I really wanted to give this game a chance for the legacy of the series, but I'd rather watch a gameplay video to enjoy the story instead of tormenting myself with the tedious gameplay.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by its catchy, tropical music and quirky charm, effectively capturing the essence of the series. While some players note a dated 3D style that may feel bland, the overall ambiance remains vibrant and humorous, complemented by colorful graphics and the return of beloved characters. The combination of clever puzzles and an inspiring story further enriches the game's engaging atmosphere.
- “The music and atmosphere are also wonderfully on-brand for the series — catchy, tropical, and quirky in the best way.”
- “Michael Land and Clint Bajakian's score and compositions allow the player to just breathe in the atmosphere.”
- “It's definitely a dated style of 3D, so the atmosphere feels a little bland and bare-bones.”
- “Adorable, minimalistic, colorful 3D graphics that fit well with the humorous atmosphere of Threepwood's adventures.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's optimization is criticized for lacking mouse support, having a poor keyboard interface, and an unclear gamepad setup that mislabels buttons, with many not functioning properly. Additionally, performance issues such as stuttering during cutscenes detract from the overall experience, especially when compared to older titles like Curse of Monkey Island, which runs smoothly.
- “Funny thing is that 'Curse of Monkey Island', even now after all those years, runs smoothly like butter.”
- “No mouse support, bad keyboard interface, and a gamepad setup that calls all the buttons 'gamebutton n' (so 'gamebutton6' rather than 'right trigger'). Half the buttons are not supported, and it started stuttering during cutscene videos.”
- “Unfortunately, this game is dragged down by weak performance in its story and puzzles.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted as legendary and humbling, consistent with the series' tradition, though some users feel the soundtrack falls short of capturing the essence of a true Monkey Island experience.
- “As with all other Monkey Island stories, this one is legendary, emotional, funny, and humbling.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
Users generally feel that adventure games offer limited replayability, as they tend to provide a singular, memorable experience rather than multiple playthroughs. While some players may revisit these games after a long time for nostalgia, the overall consensus is that the appeal diminishes significantly after the first playthrough.
- “The game offers a surprising amount of replayability, with different choices leading to unique outcomes and experiences.”
- “Each playthrough reveals new secrets and paths, making it hard to resist diving back in for another adventure.”
- “With multiple endings and varied character interactions, the game keeps you coming back for more, ensuring that no two experiences are the same.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and play it again.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying the game feel pointless.”
- “After finishing the main story, I found no compelling reason to explore the game again.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While the game's 3D environments and character designs received some appreciation, the overall visual presentation did not resonate with all players, impacting their enjoyment of character development.

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90%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

Escape From Monkey Island
Eurogamer.net
90%

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13h Median play time

11h Average play time

10h Main story

12h Completionist

7-15h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Escape from Monkey Island is a casual puzzle game with fantasy, comedy and historical themes.

Escape from Monkey Island is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows, PlayStation 2 and others.

The main story can be completed in around 10 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 12 hours to finish. On average players spend around 11 hours playing Escape from Monkey Island.

Escape from Monkey Island was released on November 16, 2018.

Escape from Monkey Island was developed by LucasArts.

Escape from Monkey Island has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

Escape from Monkey Island is a single player game.

Similar games include Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon, Broken Sword: The Angel of Death, The Curse of Monkey Island, Syberia 3, Return to Monkey Island and others.

Escape from Monkey Island

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