Return to Monkey Island

They say you can't go home again, and there are few wells more daunting to return to than Monkey Island. But with Gilbert at the helm and Grossman by his side, Return to Monkey Island really is the full monkey.

89%Game Brain Score

graphics, story

grinding, monetization

91% User Score Based on 4,441 reviews

Critic Score 87%Based on 39 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $12.49

Buy NowGet on Steam$12.49

Buy NowGet on Xbox Games Store

Buy NowGet on Play Store

Buy NowGet on PS Store$24.99

About

"Return to Monkey Island" sees the return of protagonist Guybrush Threepwood in this pirate-themed point-and-click adventure. After losing his purpose, Guybrush must navigate familiar and new islands, facing old foes and solving puzzles to find the Secret of Monkey Island. With its unique humor and art style, this game continues the story of the beloved classic series.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,480 reviews

graphics413 positive mentions

grinding21 negative mentions

A nostalgic return to the beloved Monkey Island series, capturing the charm and humor of the originals.
The puzzles are enjoyable and well-designed, with a built-in hint system that helps players without giving away solutions.
The art style, while different, grows on players and adds a fresh perspective to the classic characters and settings.

The ending is disappointing and feels rushed, leaving many plot threads unresolved and failing to provide a satisfying conclusion.
Some players find the puzzles too easy, lacking the challenge and complexity of earlier installments in the series.
The game relies heavily on nostalgia, which may alienate new players who are unfamiliar with the original games.

graphics
1,352 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
63%
6%
The graphics of "Return to Monkey Island" have sparked a polarized response among players, with many expressing initial skepticism about the new art style, which diverges significantly from the pixelated aesthetics of earlier titles. While some players found the visuals charming and well-suited to the game's whimsical tone, others criticized them as childish or lacking the depth of previous installments. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the art style may take some getting used to, it ultimately enhances the nostalgic experience of the game.
- “The art style is gorgeous and a perfect companion to the original pixel art.”
- “The art style grew on me as I played longer.”
- “The new art style works really well, the animation that goes alongside it is quite the beautiful thing.”
- “The art style is ugly and weird.”
- “The graphics are naive and childish.”
- “The art style, though, brings the whole experience together.”
story
1,094 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
61%
5%
The story of "Return to Monkey Island" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its nostalgic callbacks and humor, while others criticize it for being shallow and lacking a satisfying conclusion. Fans of the series appreciate the character development and engaging dialogue, but some feel that the narrative is marred by an underwhelming ending and unresolved plot threads. Overall, while the game captures the essence of the original titles, it struggles to deliver a cohesive and compelling story that meets the high expectations set by its predecessors.
- “I loved the story, characters, voice acting, tips system, graphics, pretty much everything about this game.”
- “The story was a good mixture of nostalgic and fresh.”
- “The story is engaging, light but really fun.”
- “The story is very shallow, the writing isn't witty, funny or engaging - and that's what made Secret of Monkey Island what it is.”
- “The story is lackluster and feels rushed at times and incomplete.”
- “The ending is basically negating the whole story and leaves you in utter disappointment.”
humor
740 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The humor in "Return to Monkey Island" is a blend of nostalgia and clever writing, capturing the essence of the original games while introducing new elements. Many players found it to be funny and engaging, with memorable dialogue and humorous situations, though some noted a decline in the consistency and impact of the jokes compared to earlier installments. Overall, while the humor remains a strong point, opinions vary on its effectiveness, with some feeling it lacks the charm and wit of the classic titles.
- “It's funny, it's clever, it's very atmospheric and all in all also a very good adventure game in itself.”
- “The humor, writing, and voice talent are all there, and the surprisingly few voice replacements do very well.”
- “Return to Monkey Island captures all of the charm and humor of the original games.”
- “This game takes the unintended consequences aspect too far and makes them sad and unfunny.”
- “The worst crime of this game is: it is boring and not funny.”
- “The writing/dialogue is not funny; sure, there were one or two laugh-out-loud parts, but nothing like the previous games.”
music
476 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
37%
1%
The music in "Return to Monkey Island" has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its nostalgic quality and the return of original composers Michael Land, Peter McConnell, and Clint Bajakian. While some noted that the soundtrack features familiar themes from previous games, others appreciated the new arrangements and dynamic transitions that enhance the gameplay experience. Overall, the music is described as beautiful, atmospheric, and a key element that captures the essence of the beloved franchise.
- “The music captured the spirit of the original games perfectly, and it's all thanks to the return of Michael Land on the composing job.”
- “The music is absolutely excellent, and so is all the voice acting!”
- “The music is fantastic, the voices are spot-on, the puzzles might be easier than usual but are still thoroughly satisfying.”
- “My only issues with the game is the fairly forgettable music, which is a shame considering how much of a presence Monkey Island's music used to have.”
- “I wish the music had some catchy new themes, but instead it seems it is more variations on MI1 and MI2 music.”
- “The character art is god-awful, the music was not bad but nowhere near the first three games and the whole game just seemed soulless.”
gameplay
223 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
63%
3%
The gameplay of "Return to Monkey Island" has been described as a modernized take on classic point-and-click mechanics, featuring streamlined interactions and a user-friendly interface that enhances accessibility while retaining the series' signature humor and charm. While many players appreciate the nostalgic elements and clever puzzles, some critiques highlight a perceived reduction in complexity and challenge compared to earlier titles, with certain mechanics feeling overly simplified. Overall, the game successfully balances nostalgia with contemporary design, offering an enjoyable experience for both newcomers and long-time fans.
- “Gameplay is probably the best one in the series, in my opinion.”
- “The gameplay is what you would expect from a modern point-and-click game, with easy interactions, interactable object highlights, and even a built-in hint book in case you are stuck.”
- “The gameplay, humor, puzzles, soundtrack, and everything else I love about Monkey Island is back and it's glorious!”
- “The gameplay feels linear, hand-holdy, and dumbed down from older entries.”
- “They've also streamlined the point and click adventure formula to the point where there's very little challenge left in the gameplay.”
- “Game mechanics have been dumbed down, puzzles have been made too easy.”
emotional
113 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The emotional aspect of "Return to Monkey Island" resonates deeply with players, evoking nostalgia and heartfelt connections to the franchise. Many reviewers describe the game as a touching farewell, filled with humor and warmth, that successfully captures the essence of their childhood experiences while also providing a meaningful conclusion to the series. The emotional weight of the story, particularly in its ending and scrapbook messages, has left players feeling both nostalgic and moved, often bringing them to tears.
- “At the end, a beautiful and touching easter egg in the scrapbook brought me to tears.”
- “This is a love letter to fans and to the adventure game genre as a whole, in conversation with the previous installments in a very personal and heartfelt way.”
- “The ending was very emotional for me and I literally cried every time I watched it.”
- “I give Return to Monkey Island a heartfelt recommendation. Of course, I would love another game in the series, but this is a great last entry that does its roots justice and more.”
atmosphere
87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
54%
7%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its ability to evoke nostalgia and capture the essence of the original Monkey Island titles, with many reviewers highlighting the humor, music, and character interactions as key elements. However, some critiques mention that the new art style and certain locations lack the depth and memorable qualities of the originals, leading to a somewhat diminished sense of exploration and immersion. Overall, while the game successfully recreates the beloved atmosphere of its predecessors, opinions vary on whether it fully meets the high expectations set by fans.
- “Voice acting, atmosphere, and how 'alive' the scenes feel are fantastic.”
- “The atmosphere, music, and humor are spot on, and so is the level of puzzles, but also with a fresh take on click-adventure UI!”
- “It manages to capture that wondrous, joyful feeling of playing the originals: the atmosphere, the sense of fun, of exploration and discovery as you travel across the Caribbean on your pirate quest, while also updating and streamlining the old-school adventure game formula to an absolutely perfect degree.”
- “The animation makes me think I'm watching a Disney Channel kids' show, which basically ruins the game's atmosphere.”
- “No atmosphere, no transportation into another time and place, no joy in exploring the locations.”
- “However, the atmosphere of MI1 and MI2 is gone.”
character development
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
67%
11%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing dissatisfaction with the character designs, particularly criticizing the appearance of the main character, Guybrush. While some appreciate the humor and whimsy conveyed through the designs, others feel that the lack of expressiveness and sparse dialogue options hinder character growth and engagement. Overall, the character development is seen as lacking depth, with many players noting that the environments are visually appealing despite their reservations about the character designs.
- “The character designs convey a humor and whimsy that is such an intrinsic part of the series, and brilliantly complement the incredible performances by the voice cast.”
- “I owe much of my sense of humor, appreciation for character development and plot, and wit to this series.”
- “It is a simple game that modernized its approach towards everything, from the UI and character design that is more developed than ever down to the movements.”
- “The character designs are hit and miss, and unfortunately, Guybrush might be one of the ugliest characters I have seen.”
- “Dialogue options are sparse sometimes; there's not a lot of character development.”
- “No mini-games this time around, and barely any character development.”
optimization
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
42%
13%
Overall, the optimization of "Return to Monkey Island" has received mixed feedback. While the game runs smoothly on consoles, particularly the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, some users noted occasional performance instability on PC. The graphics and art style are praised for their charm and detail, complementing the excellent voice acting, although some character performances were deemed less impactful.
- “The art style is fun, and everything runs smoothly.”
- “Also, this is a perfect Steam Deck game, probably due to releasing it on Nintendo Switch as well; the controls are just very well optimized for the Steam Deck and the style of the game looks good at any screen size.”
- “There were a few areas where the performance was, strangely, not entirely stable.”
- “I will recommend getting it on Switch though, as I think it's been optimized for console rather than PC.”
- “Yes, the graphics are simple, but comparable games are often much less optimized.”
grinding
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, often involving excessive backtracking and repetitive tasks that detract from the enjoyment. While some appreciate the modern improvements that reduce tedium, such as faster pacing and a hint system, many still feel that the gameplay becomes monotonous and lacks meaningful payoff, especially during the later stages. The nostalgia factor is noted, but it doesn't fully compensate for the frustrating grind.
- “There's just no payoff, and the hours of tedious game time setup for part 4 is not worth it.”
- “Regarding the game, after the initial spark and a smile here and there, the game quickly becomes a tedious walk between a very limited number of locations.”
- “The clever dialog is gone and the best words I can use to describe Return to Monkey Island are tedious and boring.”
replayability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
60%
15%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the quality of life features, achievements, and collectibles that enhance replay value, others find it lacking, especially compared to earlier titles in the series. Many agree that the game offers enough content and charm to warrant a second playthrough, but some feel that the adventure genre inherently limits replayability due to its linear nature. Overall, opinions vary, with some praising its replay potential and others deeming it minimal.
- “Quality of life features - they really packed it full of features that make it the most replayable game in the series.”
- “I'd say it's definitely worth the 20 euros/dollars, especially considering the replayability of it (with collectibles, e.g.).”
- “Never the less I did really enjoy this game, it has some great replay value and for the most part a lovely story.”
- “Low replayability.”
- “And if you do put them in, don't make us play through the game multiple times to collect them all, that's just such a sorry excuse to get replayability from an adventure game.”
- “Unlike Monkey Islands 1 through 3, this game has no replay value whatsoever.”
monetization
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
91%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising it for not resorting to cash grab tactics and remaining true to its vision, while others criticize it as a poorly executed attempt to capitalize on a brand name. Overall, the sentiment reflects a desire for genuine experiences over exploitative monetization strategies like microtransactions or loot boxes.
- “Not only to Monkey Island, but to a time when games were about enjoying the experience without any competition, loot boxes, microtransactions, or edginess.”
- “I'll avoid spoilers so I won't go into details, but the plot that accompanies this poor excuse for a cash grab is so flat and dull, I honestly thought of quitting the game and not even finishing it.”
- “Because all it does is remind me I paid money for this garbage that seems to want to cling to some brand name as some poorly disguised cash grab.”
- “Seems like a lazily made cash grab.”
stability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
78%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report a robust experience with minimal glitches, others have encountered graphical issues, bugs, and occasional crashes. The game performs well on various systems, including Linux and older hardware, but certain users have noted problems with the inventory GUI and visual glitches.
- “Runs great on Linux too.”
- “It runs great on my old 2014 MacBook.”
- “Summary: fun for nostalgia, but not enough to make up for the terrible puzzle design and buggy GUIs.”
- “The inventory GUI was buggy.”
- “I experienced a few bugs, mostly graphic glitches and one crash (which might not exist anymore at the time).”