Return to Monkey Island

 PC
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 54 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 50 out of 54
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 54
  3. Negative: 0 out of 54
  1. New Game Network
    Sep 28, 2022
    73
    Return to Monkey Island is a good modernization of a classic pirate tale, even if it overuses nostalgia. Its array of sensible puzzles and light humor outshine pacing issues and a discordant art style.
  2. Edge Magazine
    Oct 6, 2022
    70
    In both its puzzle design and its storytelling, Return to Monkey Island plays it safe. [Issue#377, p.114]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. GameMAG
    Oct 3, 2022
    70
    Return to Monkey Island is a competent nostalgia-filled ride for loyal fans.
  5. Riot Pixels
    Oct 22, 2022
    65
    No one asked Guybrush to return, but he came anyway and crashed his own party. In the beginning, you try your best to acclimate to the unusual visual style, hoping that your patience will eventually pay off. In the end, you wonder how they managed to screw up a decent game with such a vile ending.
This publication does not provide a score for their reviews.
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  1. 3DJuegos
    Sep 19, 2022
    Return to Monkey Island is the game that we never expected to play and it's as special as you may imagine. It's hilarious, emotional and very clever. There's a lot of puzzles and islands to explore, and it still bears the heart of the old LucasArts games. [Recommended]
  2. Ars Technica
    Sep 19, 2022
    The writing in this game comes with plenty of biting satire and sarcasm that lands in amusing-not-preachy territory, but on more than a few occasions, you can see an older, wiser design team wanting to share a different kind of adventure game story through the eyes of characters they've grown up writing for. I began Return to Monkey Island thinking this game would merely be a fun, comforting return to a classic, but I left the island believing that I'd played a refreshing and absolutely necessary game—one that employs interactivity to speak to the human spirit in ways that a film or book never could. I love Return to Monkey Island, and I'm excited for you to learn its secrets, too. [Ars Technica Approved]
  3. Polygon
    Sep 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. [Polygon Recommends]
  5. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Sep 19, 2022
    It's not that Return To Monkey Island gets too serious, as much as it is gently self-aware in ways that it wasn't before. It's clear from the start that the ending, which I won't spoil, is going to be a bit metatextual in a way that tiny babies will get cross about - but I thought it was perfect. It's about growing and changing, and what the important bits of the stories we love actually are. I do think it's one of the best point and click games to give someone in the year of 2022 to prove that point and click games are good. But I'm also self-aware enough myself to know I wouldn't have loved Return To Monkey Island quite as much if I didn't have a history with the series. But I do. So I did. Yo ho ho, and a bottle of fun. [RPS Bestest Bests]
  6. The Verge
    Sep 19, 2022
    Frankly, I loved Return to Monkey Island, which took about seven hours for me to finish. The game is just filled with joy. Because it was easier to play than older adventure games, I could focus on having fun talking to the characters and exploring the world without worrying about getting stuck on an obtuse puzzle. And the story is surprisingly poignant; like catching up with that old friend, I was a little bit sad when it was over.

Awards & Rankings

19
#19 Best PC Game of 2022
26
#26 Most Discussed PC Game of 2022

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 232 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 150 out of 232
  2. Mixed: 37 out of 232
  3. Negative: 45 out of 232
  1. Dr3aMz
    Sep 20, 2022
    0
    The announcement of a new Monkey Island from Ron Gilbert was the best news in the last 30 years.

    Then the trailer came, and I knew they    The announcement of a new Monkey Island from Ron Gilbert was the best news in the last 30 years.

    Then the trailer came, and I knew they screwed up. The art style is terrible, it's a flash mobile game with terrible animations. This is how you ruin a legendary series. It's so sad.    … Full Review »
  2. Tretze
    Sep 25, 2022
    4
    The puzzles are too easy and the game has been extremely simplified. There aren't any truly remarkable puzzles like the insult fights. ItThe puzzles are too easy and the game has been extremely simplified. There aren't any truly remarkable puzzles like the insult fights. It relies too much on nostalgia instead on being good.

    The art style is bad, specially the faces and some backgrounds, but animations are even worse. They look like puppets with just a few joints. Backgrounds have very little animations on them. There are indie games made by one or two people with way better art and animations.

    The ending is disappointing and feels rushed.

    Come on! This is Monkey Island. People should be more demanding, and not settle for less just because of nostalgia. If this game wasn't a Monkey Island 2 sequel, everyone would have rated it lower.    … Full Review »
  3. VoodooLady
    Sep 20, 2022
    10
    The game brings back the first-class point and click adventures! Many thanks to the entire development team!
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