Return to Monkey Island Reviews
A glorious return for one of gaming's most beloved franchises, that provides fan with another satisfying pirate-themed adventure, some clever dialogue and memorable characters.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Ageing fans will be relieved to learn that this comeback game from Ron Gilbert and Dave Grossman is not just a greatest hits rehash
Return to Monkey Island is a thoughtful retread of a genre that was once the pinnacle of adventure games, yet now feels rarely revisited, despite its influence. A lot has changed since The Secret of Monkey Island debuted more than three decades ago, but now Return feels like a fitting conclusion to everything that spawned from the original. Ron Gilbert and Dave Grossman’s own reflection on the series after the game’s conclusion is poignant in its perspective that only years away from the helm could bring.
For those of you who grew up with Monkey Island, Indiana Jones, Quest for Glory and all the other great point and click games of the 90s, Return to Monkey Island is a pure joy to play. Purchase! You won't regret it. Return to Monkey Island does most things right and hopefully this is the first of more new Monkey Island games (directed by Ron Gilbert).
Review in Swedish | Read full review
Return to Monkey Island is fantastic. Brilliantly written and full of charm, the game manages to deliver a fresh experience in a nostalgic world. Even though the new art direction is divisive, the storytelling and humor are top-notch and make this a highlight of the franchise.
Ultimately, with Return to Monkey Island, original creators Ron Gilbert and Dave Grossman have not only crafted a loving throwback to a genre they helped popularise, they've also reinvigorated it.
Though I still remain surprised that Return to Monkey Island even exists, I can't contest what Ron Gilbert and developer Terrible Toybox have wrought here. By masterfully combining the witty and thoughtful point and click escapades of the series past with a newfound warmth and charming aesthetic, Return to Monkey Island is by and large the series return that fans have long been waiting for and is a roaring success in the process.
Return to Monkey Island is a competent nostalgia-filled ride for loyal fans.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Return to Monkey Island ably delivers the charm, humor, and sharp puzzles the series is known for, while offering a few tweaks to make things less intimidating for new crew members. A reluctance to try anything too daring in terms of design or storytelling dampens the proceedings a bit, but longtime Monkey Island fans ought to enjoy the voyage even if the series’ sails are getting a bit well-worn.
Return to Monkey Island is the third episode of Monkey Island that we didn't have, which comes thirty years later with a load of innovations compared to LeChuck's Revenge, but which we now take for granted. The ability to make the most of all the innovations of the genre, combined with the original sense of humor of the series and the extraordinary experience of the authors, makes this game an easy success.
Review in Italian | Read full review
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.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
At the end of the day, there were always some risks involved with Return to Monkey Island, and opinions are going to be divided among the hardcore fans and relative newcomers. What cannot be denied, however, is that this is an amazing point-and-click adventure that retains much of the beloved charm, while still updating the experience to be a more well-balanced affair. This is an excellent return, to say the least, and I can only hope this is the beginning of a new age that Terrible Toybox will be leading from the front.
This franchise returned in the best way, of course, with certain details that possibly will not convince at all. But if you really want to see more adventures of Guybrush Threepwood from now on, it is clear that you should not leave aside this installment. It may not be the best in the saga, but it is the latent proof that there is some interest in returning the life that he lost so long ago.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Despite the many years on his shoulders, the saga created by Ron Gilbert still seems to have a lot to tell. With Return to Monkey Island, the videogame author creates a nostalgic work, but deeply immersed in contemporaneity, which tells with the usual dose of sagacity and irony.
Review in Italian | Read full review
A wonderful love letter to Monkey Island fans that left us with a tear of joy at the end.
Review in German | Read full review
Return to Monkey Island is a fantastic end to Guybrush's compulsive search for the secret of Monkey Island and perfectly encapsulates what made these iconic games so popular in the first place. Despite the 30 year absence, not a step was missed, as Return is just as funny as its predecessors and seeing Elaine, LeChuck, Stan, and the rest of the gang together again is rather bittersweet. Charming characters – old and new alike, great dialogue, fun puzzles, an intuitive hint system, and a story which sees Guybrush visit multiple islands, all blend to make Return everything I had hoped for. I'm glad that I was able to finally uncover the secret of Monkey Island.
Return to Monkey Island returns the series to the highs of the first two games, delivering a hilarious and surprisingly touching story of trying to recapture past glories.
Return to Monkey Island has the same excellent puzzles, laughs, and unpredictability that made the series great, though the ending is odd.
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.