Return to Monkey Island

 Switch
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 61 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 46 out of 61
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 61
  3. Negative: 12 out of 61
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  1. DGB
    Feb 27, 2023
    1
    It looks nicer than I first thought seeing the trailer. It might be a good game, but I am one of the many people who cannot get the sound to work on the Switch. Nintendo seem to think it is acceptable to sell a broken product and are refusing a refund. They seem un-ware of UK consumer law.
  2. fallacies
    Sep 25, 2022
    0
    In what seems like an effort to make the game more accessible (aka playable on phones and tablets) they basically ruined the game by eliminating any element of challenge. Now it's just clicking on different things on the screen to advance. Game is written like it's for kids, but also so chalk full of references to previous games, you really wonder who it was made for. Really dissapointing.In what seems like an effort to make the game more accessible (aka playable on phones and tablets) they basically ruined the game by eliminating any element of challenge. Now it's just clicking on different things on the screen to advance. Game is written like it's for kids, but also so chalk full of references to previous games, you really wonder who it was made for. Really dissapointing. The art style isn't great but that's the least of your worries. I wasn't a huge fan of MI4 (Monkey Kombat) or tales but I was able to finish them. This game I couldn't play longer than 30 minutes, it was too dissapointing. Worst in the series by far.… Expand
  3. Godhelmet
    Sep 20, 2022
    5
    It's not so much the laziness, bad art direction and shortness of the game that make it bad. It's because The Curse of Monkey Island was a billion times better than the 'return'. You can't compare.
  4. Pixelfreund
    Sep 20, 2022
    10
    Return to Monkey Island perfectly captures the atmosphere, soundtrack and humor of the old games, and elevates the technical aspect to modern times. Sure, the graphic style is definitely a matter of taste, but it just works great at what it does. Thanks for bringing the series back after all these years!
  5. VoodooLady
    Sep 20, 2022
    10
    The game brings back the first-class point and click adventures! Many thanks to the entire development team!
  6. LeChvck
    Sep 20, 2022
    10
    This is not a pixel-art Monkey Island, this is not the 90s anymore but this is pure Monkey Island essence to the core. It's feels good to have it back and to be as good as it was then. No matter how hard the haters try.
  7. 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 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.
  8. ThreepwoodMac
    Sep 21, 2022
    0
    It is so sad to see my beloved Monkey Island become a mobile game. The art style is so bad it's unbelievable... what were they thinking? Cheap, lazy flash animation and horrible art direction... This is a disgrace.
  9. bottishg
    Sep 21, 2022
    10
    This game is fantastic and brings back that beloved Monkey Island Spirit from back in the days. It looks fantastic, has a great sound and atmosphere, the voice-acting with many of the former actors is as perfect than the story and the puzzle-design. What a great job from the LA veterans like Ron Gilbert, Dave Grossman, David Fox, Michael Land and many more ... thx a lot for this new gem inThis game is fantastic and brings back that beloved Monkey Island Spirit from back in the days. It looks fantastic, has a great sound and atmosphere, the voice-acting with many of the former actors is as perfect than the story and the puzzle-design. What a great job from the LA veterans like Ron Gilbert, Dave Grossman, David Fox, Michael Land and many more ... thx a lot for this new gem in the Monkey Island History!

    And yes, the grafic style for sure is a matter of taste! For me it`s the perfect hommage on the old pixel art with a modern touch. If you don`t like it, no problem ... but if you give this game 0 Points because of that i cannot take you serious, sorry!    … Expand
  10. GreatDestinyMan
    Sep 20, 2022
    8
    To set expectations, if you were hoping this game would explain the cliffhanger in Tales of Monkey Island you will be disappointed.

    It flows directly from the end of Lechuck's Revenge and while it didn't completely throw out the stories of everything after Monkey Island 2 they play little to no impact in the events of this game. The art style is divisive, it felt a bit jarring at times    To set expectations, if you were hoping this game would explain the cliffhanger in Tales of Monkey Island you will be disappointed.

    It flows directly from the end of Lechuck's Revenge and while it didn't completely throw out the stories of everything after Monkey Island 2 they play little to no impact in the events of this game.

    The art style is divisive, it felt a bit jarring at times in the first Act but definitely feels more at home in the subsequent ones.

    The puzzles overall are good, though even on the "hard mode" they're generally not too complicated.

    My main complaint of the game is one you see in quite a few puzzle games these days, backtracking to previous areas over multiple acts (with one specific area needing 3 different visits over 3 acts).    … Expand
  11. Gumdrop
    Sep 20, 2022
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I grew up playing LucasArts point-and-click. My childhood is full of fond memories of Space Quest, Maniac Mansion, Police Quest, Leisure Suit Larry, Loom and, of course, Monkey Island. I've played all of them. Monkey Island is easily one of my favourites.

    First, the much discussed art style. You're either going to love it or hate it. Personally, I love it. It's refreshing and fun. I really don't get why people are so bothered by it. It feels like a modern evolution of the original art style.
    The story is also a lot of fun. I enjoyed the whole flashback thing.

    There's plenty of nostalgic throwback here. It's great to go back to Monkey Island and see the locations and characters I so fondly remember. There's plenty of funny in the game. It's the same Monkey Island humour I remember.
    I would have liked it if the puzzles were a little harder. There's still plenty fun to be had running around and figuring it out. But then I'm not sure if they're easier than I expected or if I found them easier because I've played so many of them.

    I have a feeling there's going to be a lot of hate directed at this game. But that's just because some people cling so tightly to their fandoms that any deviation must be loathed. Most of those negatives will come from people who have only seen the trailers and gameplay videos. The rest will come from those who go into the game, determined to dislike it.

    As another review says. It's not the 90s. Things change. They've managed to update a classic game, make it feel updated but still hold onto the nostalgia. It really is the essence of Monkey Island. It's the best of 90s point-and-click for 2022. So ignore the haters who will judge the game without playing it. Ignore those who can't accept change.    … Expand
  12. Jt0429
    Sep 23, 2022
    9
    Good-
    Clever, funny writing; A riotously engaging story with an excellent cast of characters; Strikes the perfect balance between nostalgia and being a modern game; Smart quality-of-life additions; Challenging, satisfying puzzles; Looks gorgeous; Excellent soundtrack.
    Bad- Some puzzle repetition; Backtracking can be occasionally annoying. Thoughts- Given how easy it was for Return    Good-
    Clever, funny writing; A riotously engaging story with an excellent cast of characters; Strikes the perfect balance between nostalgia and being a modern game; Smart quality-of-life additions; Challenging, satisfying puzzles; Looks gorgeous; Excellent soundtrack.

    Bad-
    Some puzzle repetition; Backtracking can be occasionally annoying.

    Thoughts-
    Given how easy it was for Return to Monkey Island to go disastrously wrong, it would very honestly be tempting to call it nothing short of a miracle that it is as amazing as it is- but honestly, that would be doing a disservice to Ron Gilbert and the team he’s assembled, and the incredible work and passion they’ve put on display here. They have all come together to deliver what mostly felt truly impossible at this point in time: a true, new, modern Monkey Island game, one that is so convincing at recreating the heights of the series’ heyday, it feels like that heyday never ended.    … Expand
  13. Under8tedX
    Sep 22, 2022
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Wow what a great Monkey Island game this is.. Great story, great art style (don't know why people are complaining about the art style), but this art style in my opinion is brilliant. Is funny and charming and in my opinion is in the top 3 monkey island games. The only downside i see on it, at least for this version, is that its not on keyboard and mouse. But its the only way i can play it and not complaining. So yeh thumbs up from me. Another thing i should add is, they should have had a physical copy with a booklet or something.… Expand
  14. vodkaffee
    Sep 22, 2022
    9
    i feel i've been waiting 30 years for this game, and it is just as good if not better than i expected, the witing as usual for the series is the absolute best, the soundtrack hits just right, the new art style is lovely, i wish they would remake MI 1 & 2 with this style.
  15. Erne91
    Sep 21, 2022
    9
    Le daría un 10 de no ser por el apartado Artístico, en especial el diseño de personajes...(en especial al de Guybrush), fuera de eso, un juego excelente que me lleva de nuevo a la mejor aventura gráfica de todos los tiempos.
  16. Usernamecake
    Sep 21, 2022
    10
    A welcome return to point and click adventuring at its finest. Terrible Toybox hit it out of the park! This game is a delight for both newcomers to the series, as well as longtime fans.
  17. titten
    Sep 23, 2022
    10
    The Switch port is extremely polished and looks just damn great. The interface is intuitive and has large icons and large fonts, it loads blazingly fast and yeah, this is currently the best point'n'click for Switch.
  18. GitanoUrbano
    Sep 23, 2022
    10
    Un juego que captura la nostalgia y el amor a toda la saga, con un humor genial y buenos puzzles un regalo para todos los que jugamos toda la saga
  19. svensenk86
    Oct 6, 2022
    10
    oh my...coming back to Melee Island in the beginning is a huge flashback!! The connection from the end of Monkey Island 2 to this one is perfectly done! The graphic is cool! The jokes are awesome! Murray is awesome :D I had a lot of smiles for now, did not finish it though. The help book in your inventory is pretty good when needed. I used it twice now. No need to google the solution. Nooh my...coming back to Melee Island in the beginning is a huge flashback!! The connection from the end of Monkey Island 2 to this one is perfectly done! The graphic is cool! The jokes are awesome! Murray is awesome :D I had a lot of smiles for now, did not finish it though. The help book in your inventory is pretty good when needed. I used it twice now. No need to google the solution. No seriously, this game is great and brings back good memories. Guybrush, we have missed you!… Expand
  20. MikeJack
    Sep 24, 2022
    9
    A great comeback of a classic series! Funny, cleaver and playable! I was awaiting game like that for a long time
  21. RottingAlien
    Sep 22, 2022
    10
    From someone who had played all of the monkey islands and the first one at least 8 times, I absolutely love this one.
    Art style and animations are amazing. I wish they used this art style in the remaster of 1 and 2.
    Fantastic humour as always and we get to know new personalities from the characters we knew from before.
    Its a nostalgia bomb, made impeccably well.
  22. Boliath
    Sep 23, 2022
    10
    Return to Monkey Island is the best adventure game in the series and in the genre. It brilliantly combines interesting puzzles, clever story telling, witty humour, and a beautiful art style that brings the characters to life. Ron Gilbert’s touch can be felt from the start to the end. The hope is that this will be a reboot to the franchise and not the end
  23. foobarbazquz
    Nov 5, 2022
    10
    Very nice game. Fantastic writing. Some nice innovations in story telling for games. Earlier, I’ve played some first ones in the series.
  24. luciamelier
    Jan 9, 2023
    9
    I LOVED THIS GAME! I was so sad when I finished it, I honeslty wanted more. This game gave me chills various times because it felt so good to be back on Melée Island. The essence of the first Monkey Island is perfectly captured. An amazing game.
  25. capedavenger
    Mar 14, 2023
    10
    Return to Monkey Island is a wonderful adventure and in a way I can now see what the future of adventures could be... The art style at first brought back bad memories of the non Gilbert Monkey Island titles, but they turned out absolutely ok and fitting once you play the game. Of course the original graphics are legendary and still my favorite. The characters, stories and puzzles wereReturn to Monkey Island is a wonderful adventure and in a way I can now see what the future of adventures could be... The art style at first brought back bad memories of the non Gilbert Monkey Island titles, but they turned out absolutely ok and fitting once you play the game. Of course the original graphics are legendary and still my favorite. The characters, stories and puzzles were great and the game's ending was as low key as I expected it from Ron and brought a nice closure to the series, it really was about the journey after all. My hopes are high that he keeps on making adventure, or let's rather say this team keeps on making adventure games, I see a great potential here! Thanks for the ride!… Expand

Awards & Rankings

22
#22 Best Switch Game of 2022
32
#32 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2022

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Nov 9, 2022
    75
    Overall I really did enjoy my time with Return to Monkey Island. It has multiple endings, difficulty settings, ghost chickens, and a metric ton of stuff to discover. My personal gripes aside, it was clearly made with a lot of care, and is probably the best-playing game in the series. Fan or not, I recommend giving it a go. [Issue #62 – November/December 2022, p. 29]
  2. Shindig
    Nov 8, 2022
    90
    Revisiting the franchise; the characters, the story-telling, the puzzles, and the humour, filled me with child-like glee upon returning to one of my favourite video game franchises of all time. However, the unexpected turn in the final hour, reflecting on nostalgia and appreciating the journey, not the destination, allowed me to really appreciate Return to Monkey Island growing up with me. In this sense, it allowed me to retroactively appreciate the precursor games more, and the third instalment elevated the franchise to quite possibly my all-time favourite franchise. For first time fans, enjoy the swash-buckling adventure for what it is: a game filled with puzzles, humour, and most of all, fun. For longtime fans, I really hope you will enjoy the walk down memory lane, but find the game growing up as we all have.
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  3. Switch Player
    Nov 1, 2022
    80
    Return to Monkey Island feels like a greatest hits of Monkey Islands past. The overwhelming sense of familiarity is both a blessing and a curse, but ultimately if you’re a series fan, you’re going to enjoy swashbuckling with Guybrush once again.
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