There aren't many people who could honestly say that they were expecting the Monkey Island series to make a comeback in 2022. A teaser trailer for the appropriately named Return to Monkey Island was released on April 4th, 2022, which showed off new artistic visuals and revealed that original creators Ron Gilbert and Dave Grossman would be working on the game, while Dominic Armato would once again voice the main character, Guybrush Threepwood.
The game's announcement has excited gamers for its nostalgic value and because it could spark a boost in popularity for the oft-forgotten point-and-click genre, which suffered a brutally quick fall from grace in the late 90s. It's unlikely that the genre will ever reach its early 90s heights again, though games like Kentucky Route Zero have shown that the genre can still succeed today, while critically-acclaimed RPG Disco Elysium has shown how point-and-click games could adapt and modernize. Fans are already talking about what they do and don't want to see in the highly anticipated return for the series, so we thought we'd get in on the act.
5 No Moon Logic
One of the most common issues people had with point-and-click games from the 80s and 90s was their tendency to implement "moon logic." Moon logic refers to puzzles with a strange, illogical, or ridiculously convoluted solution that will make players say, "how on earth was I ever supposed to figure that out?!" when they inevitably look up the answer online.
Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge had one of the most famous moon logic puzzles of all time, where players needed a wrench, so, logically, they had to find a banana to hypnotize a monkey to use as a "monkey wrench" -- a bizarre enough puzzle for Americans, but a virtually impossible puzzle in the many countries where "monkey wrench" isn't a known term.
The fall of the point-and-click genre's popularity is often attributed to its failure to modernize itself in the late 90s, though the abundance of moon logic puzzles are also responsible. Consequently, it would be a great shame if Return to Monkey Island featured moon logic puzzles, as it would remind players why the genre suffered such a sharp decline.
4 A Revamped Hint System
Following on from the previous point, one of the reasons why point-and-click games had so many excruciatingly difficult puzzles is because the games would advertise tie-in helplines or hint books, that players would often be forced to pay for if a friend couldn't help them out.
Today, players don't have to look too far for solutions if they get stuck, as online guides and YouTube tutorials are there to offer a helping hand. However, many players don't like looking up the answer online, as it ruins their enjoyment. Hints and tips are a great compromise for this, as if they're done right, they can guide players in the right direction without thwarting the addictive feeling of satisfaction that puzzle-solving provides.
The special edition releases of the first two Monkey Island games implemented a new hint system, though it had some issues. For starters, there were usually only two or three tips available that often gave away the solution instantly, unlike hint sites like Universal Hint System, which usually provides well over five tips that gradually expand in explanation. The hint system was also mapped to a button on the controller, making them far too tempting to use. If Return to Monkey Island does feature hints, it would be great if there were revamped to be more of a gradual helping hand that is accessed in a pause menu.
3 Insult Sword Fighting
Insult Sword Fighting is one of the Monkey Island series' most iconic features. Given that the game revolves around pirates, many players expected that sword fighting would play a part in the original Monkey Island, though they weren't sure how it would play out, given Guybrush Threepwood's ineptitude as a pirate.
In a brilliant twist that IGN included at number 55 in their list of the Top 100 Unforgettable Video Game Moments, the sword fights are contested through the use of witty comebacks. Although Return to Monkey Island needs to be careful not to be too nostalgia-heavy, it would be a shame if Insult Sword Fighting doesn't make an appearance.
2 Console Releases
The vast majority of point-and-click games have been exclusive to PC, which should be no surprise given the genre's name. However, point-and-click adventures games did start appearing on consoles in the late 90s, and the special edition remakes of the first two Monkey Island games were released on consoles in 2009 and 2010, respectively.
The console releases brought a new wave of fans to the series and considering that many people are hopeful that Return to Monkey Island could give the genre a boost in popularity, it would be a shame if the release was limited to just one system. At the time of writing, it is unclear which systems the game will be released on, though a PC release is a near certainty.
1 A Reasonable Price
As mentioned before, one of the main reasons why the point-and-click genre faced a freefall in popularity was that it failed to keep up with the fast-moving changes in the gaming industry, such as the jump from 2D to 3D, which made 2D games feel overpriced in comparison. With games like Elden Ring and Breath of the Wild giving players hundreds of hours of content, it should go without saying that Return to Monkey Island needs to bring its cost right down compared to those titles, assuming it's going to feature traditional point-and-click gameplay.
Granted, some fans of the series would be happy paying AAA prices for the game, though it will struggle to reach a wider audience at that price point if the gameplay isn't drastically different from previous entries in the series.
Return to Monkey Island is set to release in 2022. It has not yet been announced which consoles the game is heading to.