Return to Monkey Island

 Xbox Series X
Return to Monkey Island Image
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 30 Ratings

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  • Summary: 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 MonkeyIt'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.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. XboxAddict
    Jan 3, 2023
    95
    Fans of point and click puzzle games from the 90’s will love this new adventure. If you are a Monkey Island veteran, or a newcomer to the series, you will love this new adventure. It’s full of heart, full of humor, and full of puzzles that will sometimes make you scratch your head, and if my dad were still around, he’d walk by me and say, “That’s not it”. How did he know?
  2. Generación Xbox
    Nov 21, 2022
    90
    Guybrush is back with a game that features all the best characteristics of the Monkey Island saga. If you have to play only one game in 2022, let it be Return to Monkey Island.
  3. Xbox Achievements
    Nov 8, 2022
    90
    Often, belated sequels carry a weight of expectation that's hard to live up to. Return to Monkey Island has no such difficulties, Ron Gilbert and Dave Grossman going back to a series they quite clearly still love, and, you’ll love too.
  4. Xbox Tavern
    Dec 2, 2022
    90
    Despite its announcement on April Fools Day, Return to Monkey Island is no joke, even though the game is full of them. Crafted with respect for veterans and newcomers alike, Return to Monkey Island shows that the puzzles in puzzle games can be just as memorable as the story and characters. Yes, the ending is a squib, and clicking on items in tight-knit spaces is annoying, but otherwise this is a true belter of a puzzler. An exceptional love letter to 90s point and click adventuring, and a faithful-but-remodelled experience from top-to-bottom, Return to Monkey Island is definitely worth this return visit and then some….no disguises necessary!
  5. XboxEra
    Nov 7, 2022
    87
    Return to Monkey Island is great. It takes the adventure game to new heights of hilarity with a clever narrative, fantastic stylized graphics, wonderful music, and a huge amount of heart.
  6. GamersRD
    Nov 25, 2022
    80
    Return to Monkey Island is a love letter to fans of the long-running franchise. It will have you enjoying the funny situations while it makes you solve difficult puzzles. The game had a change of artistic style that fits very well with the saga.
  7. TheXboxHub
    Nov 28, 2022
    80
    It’s Guybrush, LeChuck, Elaine and all the others, cracking wise as they have always done, with a luminous cast of characters, some fantastically abstract item combinations, and the odd three-headed monkey. If Return to Monkey Island is the rebirth of the series, we’ll put in an order for seven or eight.

See all 8 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Sadra_The_Gamer
    Jan 1, 2023
    10
    One of the best games of 2022, with new art style, memorable characters, excellent puzzles and also recommended for new players to thisOne of the best games of 2022, with new art style, memorable characters, excellent puzzles and also recommended for new players to this franchise because of two difficulties and the hint book.… Expand
  2. Ulriken
    Feb 7, 2023
    9
    At first i was a bit sceptical about the new artwork, but since it's Monkey Island I went for it and didn't regret it a bit. The humor andAt first i was a bit sceptical about the new artwork, but since it's Monkey Island I went for it and didn't regret it a bit. The humor and banter is there, the addictive puzzles are there, the immersive story is there. And, if you get stuck, there's help! The game as a whole is a very good fan service, and point & click adventure veterans as much as newcomers are surely going to love our guy Threepwood on his new adventure. Not only him but a lot, meaning, a LOT, of throwbacks. Trivia cards are a good addition and lots of fun to collect and answer to, even though i failed on quite a few. I'm playing the game on GamePass and really recommend it.… Expand
  4. SuperPanda91
    Feb 24, 2023
    9
    A pesar de no haber jugado a los anteriores, a los que hacen referencia continuamente en las bromas, me ha parecido muy divertido. No conocíaA pesar de no haber jugado a los anteriores, a los que hacen referencia continuamente en las bromas, me ha parecido muy divertido. No conocía este género pero me gusta… Expand
  5. Awanka
    Jan 17, 2023
    8
    Return to Monkey Island, and also a return to childhood memories of the first two games. Looking back at many hours of being stuck on puzzlesReturn to Monkey Island, and also a return to childhood memories of the first two games. Looking back at many hours of being stuck on puzzles with friends before the internet and gamefaqs. Even though I feel like I've outgrown point-and-click puzzle games for the most part because of their limited gameplay value, this is a fine return to classic form with an engaging story, exploration, and pretty funny to boot.

    What really kicks it up another point is the inclusion of the Hint Book, an in-game item that gives you increasingly less subtle hints on how to solve your current predicament, until finally just blurting out the answer. This eliminates what is by far the most frustrating element of puzzle games, which is getting stuck, while at the same time keeping that option available for the purists. Every modern-day puzzle game should have this feature.    … Expand
  6. ehtaco
    Feb 12, 2023
    7
    I enjoyed my time with it, but it started to drag a lot in the final hour or two. At least IMO, and that's a very bad sign considering this isI enjoyed my time with it, but it started to drag a lot in the final hour or two. At least IMO, and that's a very bad sign considering this is a pretty short game. I love the new art style, I enjoyed a lot of the interactions with characters & dialogue, but the puzzles were straight-up irritating at times. Not due to difficulty either, just tedium.

    Also; I went into this game feeling very nostalgic and planning a 100% run. But throughout the entire game, I had at least 5 different achievements simply... not pop-up when they absolutely should have. I'm past the point where I'll fight with a game's **** when I know I'm doing everything correctly. So I gave up that 100% run entirely relatively quickly.

    Still, a fun playthrough for the most part.    … Expand
  7. mikeinashed
    Dec 16, 2022
    7
    I love Monkey Island games, though they can sometimes be infuriating. This is both.
    I loved the art style and the dialogue and the puzzles    I love Monkey Island games, though they can sometimes be infuriating. This is both.
    I loved the art style and the dialogue and the puzzles are very much like an old Monkey Island game. I'm not sure whether it was easier than the older games or if my brain just works that way these days, but it wasn't that challenging. I think I only used the hint book once.
    At the same time, the ending was even more abrupt and jarring than LeChuck's Revenge. Everything builds to a crescendo and then is just wiped away.    … Expand
  8. Nerevarinho
    May 26, 2023
    5
    Act 1,2 was fun. In act 3 you finally reach in Monkey Island, but you will leave it very quickly, backtracking starts. Act 4 wasAct 1,2 was fun. In act 3 you finally reach in Monkey Island, but you will leave it very quickly, backtracking starts. Act 4 was overcomplicated and there was backtracking all over the place.
    Ending was extremely dissapointing.
    Good was the art style and humor.    … Expand

See all 8 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

7
#7 Best Xbox Series X Game of 2022
64
#64 Most Discussed Xbox Series X Game of 2022