Back in the early days of PC gaming, LucasArts' various series of adventure games were considered some of the best gaming experiences around, bringing witty writing, intuitive controls, and a tight narrative to a medium that didn't often have those elements. LucasArts' Monkey Island series was the big standout for many, and after a lengthy hiatus, the series is making a comeback with Return to Monkey Island.
Being helmed by the original series creator, Ron Gilbert, Return to Monkey Island takes the series back to its point-and-click roots, once again putting witty writing and creatively bizarre characters at the forefront of the experience. And according to recently released reviews, Return to Monkey Island is a true return to form for the long-running series. Before players can hop right into the franchise's sixth installment, they may want to give the rest of the Monkey Island series a go first.
Which Monkey Island Games Fans Need to Play Before Return To Monkey Island
Return to Monkey Island is officially set soon after the events of the second Monkey Island game. So, for newcomers to the series, and long-time fans who may have forgotten any plot details, the first two Monkey Island games should probably be played before jumping into the new Return to Monkey Island, though they'll likely be able to piece together the important plot beats of the series so far.
For players to get the full picture, they'll need to first play through The Secret of Monkey Island, the original 1990 graphic adventure game. The general plot of The Secret of Monkey Island sees players control Guybrush Threepwood, a charismatic young man whose only goal in life is to become a pirate. Throughout the course of Guybrush's adventure, he'll meet a host of colorful characters, ranging from Stan the used boat salesman, to Governor Elaine Marley. After successfully passing the three Pirate Trials, Guybrush learns of the mysterious Ghost Pirate LeChuck, whose treasure is supposedly located on Monkey Island, and sets off to make his fortune.
Released just a year later, Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge takes place just a few months after the first game, and once again sees players control the lovable goofball, Guybrush Threepwood. This time, Guybrush is seeking the treasure of Big Whoop and must once again face off against LeChuck, who's been resurrected as a zombie. Monkey Island 2 takes players on a globe-trotting adventure across a range of different islands, widening the series' bizarre cast of characters even further with fan-favorite faces like Wally and Largo LeGrande.
The newly released Return to Monkey Island picks up straight after the events of Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge, and sees Guybrush recounting his heroic sea-faring tales to his son, Boybrush. This time, players control Guybrush as he tries to gather a crew and enough resources to return to the titular Monkey Island and finally discover its secret. Though the timeline is a little unclear, it does seem as though the series' third, fourth, and fifth entries are still canon, though they aren't pivotal to Return to Monkey Island's core narrative. And while it isn't essential for players to have experienced the first two games in the franchise, or the later ones, there are sure to be a ton of references and Easter eggs in Return to Monkey Island that might fly over players' heads if they haven't.
Return to Monkey Island is available now on PC and Nintendo Switch.