All around the world middle-aged gamers are fist-pumping between slurps of tea, with confirmation that Return to Monkey Island is coming this year. Perhaps most importantly, Ron Gilbert is on board and leading the project.
Some of you may know Monkey Island more for its Telltale series on Wii, while Ron Gilbert's had high quality recent work with his studio (Terrible Toybox) bringing us Thimbleweed Park on Switch.
This new Monkey Island game is a successor to the first two point-and-click PC releases, The Secret of Monkey Island and Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge, projects that were creatively led by Gilbert. There were further sequels that were well regarded, even before the Telltale titles, but some consider the first two to be the 'classics' and it's been made clear that this new game will follow on from LeChuck's Revenge.
Little has been revealed as yet beyond some of the talent involved, and the fact that Devolver Digital is publishing; platforms are unconfirmed, too.
In any case it's coming this year, so we'll no doubt see more details in the coming weeks and months. Plenty of time for us to practice our Insult Sword Fighting.
Comments (74)
I hope we get a collection of the first 2 games before the new games' release.
“Why, that’s the second biggest monkey head I’ve ever seen!”
Welcome back old friend.
I was happy, until they confirmed that Monkey Island 3, 4 and 5 will become non-canon and the game will be the "real" Monkey Island 3, following the events of Monkey Island 2.
While Ron Gilbert left LucasArts without finishing Monkey Island 3, and the actual plans for it were never made on his intention, Curse of Monkey Island has a story that wasn't his actual plans for the series, who cares, Curse of Monkey Island is still widely considered the best in the series, the story is good and makes sense to the controversial ending of the second game.
Plenty of time for us to practice our Insult Sword Fighting.
@ThomasBW84 Well, you know, I'd like to, but Eel watches my comments like a hawk... er, of the waters. Perhaps you could add "Insult Sword Fighting" to the TOS so that we won't fall afoul?
YESSSSS! I love Monkey Island!
Better be priced wisely...

Please come to Switch please come to Switch please come to Switch please come to Switch
I like the art style in that trailer.
Hoping that at least the game is Monkey Island 2.5, showing how Guybrush escaped the Carnival of the Damned, leading to the events of The Curse of Monkey Island.
This is something I never in a million years expected to see do a comeback. Very excited for it!
Finally some good (and very unexpected) news for a change! Monkey Island 2 is still among my favorite games of all time and the first one is quite high as well. Also really enjoyed Thimbleweed Park so naturally really looking forward to this.
Now the only thing we need is Gabriel Knight 4.
This is the series that began my lifelong love of piracy.
@Ogbert Same here. It looks really good.
@victordamazio "Curse of Monkey Island is still widely considered the best in the series"
Mmm... "widely considered" by whom, precisely? Sure, it's a really good game, but I don't think it's up to the standard set by the first two games.
@victordamazio the trailer literally has Murray so not sure what the plan is but I imagine there will be a lot of meta jokes as per usual
@Kochambra Monkey Island fans are divided in which of the three games is the best, The Secret of Monkey Island, Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge and The Curse of Monkey Island, they can't decide which of the three first games is the best.
The only thing most of them agree is that Escape from Monkey Island is the worst, some like it, some hate it, but it's no one's favorite, before Tales of Monkey Island, pretty much everyone agreed is the worst.
Coming this year, but not revealing which platforms? Weird.
Murray is no longer canon?!
This is going to be very interesting, if it really does follow on directly from LeChuck's Revenge. I'm not sure how it can, given the surprising ending, but will be intrigued to see what happens.
Man, Ive only played Curse of the Monkey Island
Some ports would be really helpful
I have heard, that the Disney company owns this franchise now. Is this true?
@Erigen
First two? I'm hoping for at least the first three! Escape from Monkey Island wasn't too bad etiher, but it was definitely a downturn, which seems to happen when they take the point-and-click out of point-and-click games, and the writing wasn't quite on par, at least in my opinion
@Kochambra 2 was really good. But the 3rd one beats the first.
LeChuk's Revenge 2 > Curse 3 > Tales 5 > Secret 1 > Escape 4
At least I think so
@Kochambra I personally like the 3rd entry a lot more than the 2nd and that is not just because of the cliffhanger ending.
I hope monkey island 3 is canon but I can really live with 4 and Tales not being canon.
I’ve got the LRG collection so I’ll be buying this on PC no matter what. I’m hugely excited because this is a direct sequel to LeChuck’s Revenge meaning we will finally get to see what Ron Gilbert had initially planned for the third game before leaving the studio.
After years of hanging out here on Nintendo Life on a daily basis, without an account, I made one just to say:
Best gaming news in years!
@FragRed I have mixed feelings, on one hand, I want to see what was the planned story for Monkey Island 3 before Ron Gilbert left and the people who stayed at LucasArts finished the game in a different way, but I don't want The Curse of Monkey Island to become non-canon, and even though Escape From Monkey Island has many continuity errors, keep it canon and find explanations to fix the plot holes, same goes for the Telltale entry, Tales of Monkey Island, keep it canon.
Ron Gilbert should have at least released his plans on the internet, and I still hope that this is a Monkey Island 2.5 that makes the bridge between Monkey Island 2 and 3, making both still canon.
Hopefully they also drop the updated first 2 games on Switch. So that I can finally try them. In fact, I only played the Telltale games. So I want to play everything prior to that!
I saw a photo of somewhere recently that was the spit of Puerto Pollo.
I think CoMI is my fave, but the fourth is very much the least of the four that I've played.
Very much looking forward to this
OMG OMG OMG this is unexpected and incredible news. I am so happy. Please come to Switch. Please. If not, then just tell me what I need to play it. 2022 has a shot, you guys. This is great
@victordamazio Gilbert confirmed Curse won't be cut of canon: https://twitter.com/grumpygamer/status/1511022135191384067
@victordamazio
Actually its rare to find a ranking where the second is not considered the best. I dont think I ever remember seeing one. I guess might be some where the first is the best but I'd surprised if in some ranking third would be as #1.
Some examples fast.
https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/18643
https://adventuregamers.com/forums/viewthread/4659/#84816
https://www.ign.com/articles/the-best-100-video-games-of-all-time
The fourth is considered the worst for sure. Only one Ive only completed once. The rest three Ive played at least 10 times each.
@Erigen, I recently reviewed the Limited Run Games Monkey Island Anthology with all the previous games: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi82Cajxass
But yes, a more accessible bundle of games, and for more than just PC, would certainly be welcome to console gamers.
That's the second biggest announcement I've ever seen!
I’m so happy 🥲 I already don’t like the artstyle (love the 3 games’ looks, and I think 2 and 3 both look absolutely incredible in their own way) but I’ll keep an open mind… I would’ve signed for this blindly and I’m sure it’ll look good in the end. RG at the helm on a new SOMC, incredible… best gaming news ever. Now gimme Zac MacKracken 2!
The second best thing about this announcement is that this means we’ll get at least the first 2 games re-released on modern platforms and hopefully the 3rd one after Return comes out.
@victordamazio "Curse of Monkey Island is still widely considered the best in the series"
What? Absolutely not.
@Grogro Monkey Island fans are divided in which of the three first games is the best.
Maybe most of them prefer Monkey Island 2, but Monkey Island 3 is also the favorite of many.
@wrb357 Good.
Hoping that this game will be Monkey Island 2.5, showing how Guybrush escaped from the Carnival of the Damned, where he became a prisoner in the end of the second game:
And the game ends with him escaping on a bumper car, the same he is in the beginning of the third game:
You can search an interview regarding the sales of Thimbleweed Park and Ron did say he couldn't imagine not bringing his next game to Switch. Here's his next game!!
Wait wait wait.
Disney, as the owners of Lucasfilm Games and the Monkey Island franchise, are paying Ron Gilbert and Dave Grossman to write and design a new entry, AND they're letting Devolver publish it?
What kind of bizarro world is this?!
I love it, but I'm SURPRISED. ^^
Fist pump from middle aged gamer here too.....ha.
Haven't played this series since the Wiiware releases.
Wow use to enjoy these on the Wii and Steam, would definitely looking forward to this one.
I hope this spreads better than the LeChucken Pox.
Ask me about LOOM.
@Bobb Pretty sure the originals will run on a toaster these days. They're definitely on Steam and IOS, guessing Android too but haven't looked at looked. Switch seems to be the only platform that doesn't have them.
@AndrewR I didn't know that. Steam sounds good!
Thank you
Only ever played the first two, more than 25 years ago. Always wanted to play more but the moment has never arisen. Eagerly awaiting a Switch collection, please.
@Shiryu Technically speaking, the new price is $43.41, if you adjust for inflation.
This is the best news i have had in a long time!)
This is gonna be great!
I do enjoy the first 2 games, but I enjoyed the 3rd the most. I don't hate the 4th, but wasn't quite on board with the controls, or the monkey fighting. I think tell tale was okay, seeing Murry brought a smile to my face. I remember the first thing I said to him "Can I call you Bob?"
Aw memories. . .
@Scapetti https://grumpygamer.com/if_i_made_another_monkeyisland
"Twelve - It would be called Monkey Island 3a. All the games after Monkey Island 2 don't exist in my Monkey Island universe. My apologies to the all talented people who worked on them and the people who loved them, but I'd want to pick up where I left off. Free of baggage. In a carnival. That doesn't mean I won't steal some good ideas or characters from other games. I'm not above that."
This is incredible news. Monkey Island is right up there with King's Quest as my favorite gaming franchises. Part 1 was legendary, and still fills me with the same excitement I felt as a kid, every time I boot it up and hear that intro theme kick in. Curse (part 3) is my favorite though, because I was already a fan at the time of the games release, so my hype was out of this world. Also, the introduction of Dominic D'Amato as the voice of Guybrush (who I desperately hope they get for this new game) as well as the beautiful hand drawn 2D art, just took Curse to another level! Also, who can forget the slacking pirates rhyming song!! Classic! Absolutely can not wait for this! In fact, I'll probably buy 2 copies!!
Woow, this is huge news! So stoked.
With all the love for Ron Gilbert though, The Curse is my favourite part. Maybe because it was the first one I played. The art was gorgeous for a PC game at the time, and it also had a really cool PIRATE (pun.. intended?) translation. There was almost no official video game market in my country in those days, yet the pirate release had a really high quality translation and even voiceovers. Ten year old me loved it.
Yaay Murray is back!
Amazing. I hope it won’t come to Switch later than to PC (might happen, I’m afraid).
Also, full support for Ron‘s choice to continue where he left off. He’s the creator of the whole thing.
@NatiaAdamo

@Scapetti
Yeah, thats a bit confusing
Love him.
About the best Title in the Series, i think you have to see 1-3 as whole Thing.
Four could be better, if the would have implemented much better Controls.
Tales was, hmm, i don't know, forgot most of it and that says much.
@Azuris Tales was SOO much better than Escape though.
Omg, yes! Best news I’ve heard in a long time! Now, if they could just rerelease the special editions of 1 and 2.
Day one purchase.
@victordamazio
It’s not widely considered the best. Most true monkey fans like the first two and think how I do about the rest. Monkey 1 and 2 are adventure classics with great humour. Monkey 3 turned the series into a Disney cartoon for ten years olds, full of cringey ten year old humour and Americanisms from start to finish. (Does look great though.)
If you were a true monkey fan you’d know there’s been rumours of rob gilberts monkey 3 which would ignore the crappy sequels for over twenty years, and we’re finally getting it.
My gripe is that they’re keeping Dominic armarto. If it’s unrelated to the others why are they keeping the incredibly lame super American voice actors? British accents. They’re pirates!
My other gripe is the graphics in the teaser look worse than monkey 1 & 2 special editions. I just hope that’s just a teaser and they return to pixel graphics.
@pdl1989 I'm with you on the art style in the trailer, but not Dominic D'Amato. He IS Guybrush! He was just perfect in the role, and was meant to play it. Like Mark Hamill is Luke Skywalker and Michael J. Fox is Marty McFly. The character would never have been the same without him. It wouldn't feel right without him.
@Grail_Quest
Disagree, but I’m a fan of the first two. Aesthetically I think the thirds great, but fails with the humour and writing, and Dominic armarto couldn’t sound like more of a middle American nerd if he was trying. As an Aussie I find his voice work extremely cringey and it completely distracts from the pirate setting. I wish they’d cast a classic British comedian like they did with Simon the sorcerer 1 and the discworld games. Elevated them above the pack (despite discworlds crazy puzzles). Having said that Ill accept it as long as he’s reading Ron Gilbert’s lines or if the Disney world plot is carried on. I guess in that case it makes sense. He probably would be American.
That art style though…
Definitely agree there could never be another Marty Mcfly
@Pod
Well, seeing as how Disney has been hell-bent on making sequels to sequels, reboots, remakes and the like, I can see why they would greenlight this.
Excellent. When my A500 mini arrives, I'll be inspired to load up the original two now!
One of the best gaming news ever!😊 I loved the first two games (despite the non-sense ending of LeChuck's Revenge), enjoyed the third game, and pretty much loathed the fourth and fifth game (though I liked Morgan LeFlay from Tales).
@wrb357: Thats good to hear.🙂
@Erigen The 2 first Monkey games is released on almost any platform ever made...Just saying.
@Bobb
1.) Turn off Switch.
2.) If you look around, you can see that Monkey Island 1+2 exists on like every system ever made, including digital cameras, fridge screens and toasters.
@Guybrush-Threepwood Gabriel Knight 4 would be a dream. But Jane Jensen seems pretty happy writing gay romance novels nowadays.
The only way we're getting 4 is if it a Knight/Mosely romantic romp, it seems!
@Ventilator yeah but how many of them are on handhelds? It doesn’t look like the iOS ports are still available, I don’t fancy paying for a Steam Deck…
@pinta_vodki
Haven't been following her recent work (And it seems I won't be anytime soon) but Gabriel Knight series is among my absolute favorites and I've lost count how many times Ive played Sins of the Fathers. I think the series still has some of the best writing in games.
@Coolmusic
I loved the ending, especially since it was hinted at many times from the off. In retrospect it could be seen as a copout but as a kid I loved it
Bill: We're a pack a´ scurvy sea dogs.
Haggis: Have we pity? Not a dram!
Edward: We all eat roasted garlic-
Haggis: -then sing from the diaphragm!
All: A pirate I was meant to be!
All: Trim the sails and roam the sea!
@TheRealMr_Carpainter
Yeah we’re in the age of reboots alright. Hopefully this’ll be one of the good ones.
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