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Entertainment • Video Game

Monkey Island

Monkey Island is a comedy adventure video game series that began with *The Secret of Monkey Island* in 1990.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Monkey Island is a comedy adventure video game series that began with *The Secret of Monkey Island* in 1990. The games follow Guybrush Threepwood as he tries to become a pirate, confronts the undead pirate LeChuck, and pursues Governor Elaine Marley in a Caribbean-inspired setting.

Overview

Monkey Island is a long-running adventure game series centred on pirate-themed comedy and exploration. It is best known for its distinctive writing, puzzle design, and recurring characters.

Games in the series

The series began with *The Secret of Monkey Island* in 1990 and later expanded through several sequels, including *Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge*, *The Curse of Monkey Island*, *Escape from Monkey Island*, *Tales of Monkey Island*, and *Return to Monkey Island*.

Characters and setting

The main character is Guybrush Threepwood, a would-be pirate whose adventures take place in a fictional Caribbean setting. The series also centres on the rivalry between Guybrush and the undead pirate LeChuck, with Governor Elaine Marley as another major character.

Style and legacy

The games are widely associated with humorous dialogue, parody, and a light-hearted take on pirate fiction. They are commonly cited as notable examples of the point-and-click adventure genre.

Key facts

  • The series is known for humour, pirate parody, and puzzle-based adventure gameplay.
  • The first four games were produced and published by LucasArts under its earlier name, Lucasfilm Games.
  • The fifth game, *Tales of Monkey Island*, was developed by Telltale Games under licence from LucasArts.
  • The sixth game, *Return to Monkey Island*, was developed by Terrible Toybox with Lucasfilm Games and Devolver Digital.
  • The recurring antagonists and story elements include the undead pirate LeChuck and the mysterious Monkey Island.

Frequently asked questions

What is Monkey Island?
Monkey Island is a video game series of comedy adventure games set in a fictional Caribbean pirate world.
Who is the main character?
The main character is Guybrush Threepwood, an aspiring pirate.
Who is the main antagonist?
The recurring antagonist is LeChuck, an undead pirate.
How many Monkey Island games are there?
Commonly, the series is counted as six main games, ending with *Return to Monkey Island* in 2022.
What type of gameplay does it use?
It is best known for point-and-click adventure gameplay with puzzles and dialogue-driven humour.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_Island
    Supports: Series overview, main characters, releases, and genre.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_of_Monkey_Island
    Supports: Original 1990 game, genre, setting, and protagonist.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tales_of_Monkey_Island
    Supports: Fifth game in the series, developer, and release format.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escape_from_Monkey_Island
    Supports: Fourth game in the series and release details.