The Secret of Monkey Island point-and-click guide
Also known as: Monkey Island, Monkey Island 1
Discover The Secret of Monkey Island, the 1990 point-and-click pirate comedy: story, how the puzzles work, insult sword fighting and tips for new players.
- Type
- Video game
- Players
- 1
- First released
- 1990
- Designed by
- Ron Gilbert
- Developer
- Lucasfilm Games
- Publisher
- Lucasfilm Games
- Platforms
- MS-DOS, Amiga
The Secret of Monkey Island is a point-and-click adventure game from Lucasfilm Games, released in 1990 and designed by Ron Gilbert. You play Guybrush Threepwood, a young man who arrives on Mêlée Island with one dream: to become a pirate. On the way he meets a sharp governor named Elaine Marley and a ghost pirate called LeChuck, who has his own plans for her. The game is famous for its jokes, its friendly design and its music. It became a model for many story-driven adventure games that followed. A Special Edition with redrawn art and voice acting appeared in 2009, so new players can choose between the classic pixel art and a modern look.
Our verdict
If you enjoy stories and clever puzzles more than fast reactions, this is one of the best places to start. The humour still works today, and the writing gives every character a clear personality. Because you cannot fail in a way that ruins your save, you can try strange ideas without fear. Solving a puzzle after thinking about it for a while feels very satisfying. It is also a useful piece of game history, showing how adventure games became friendlier to players.
What works
- Clever writing and humour that still hold up.
- Fair puzzles and almost no way to get permanently stuck.
- A memorable cast and soundtrack.
What does not
- A few puzzles rely on odd logic that may need a hint.
- The original version has dated controls on modern screens.
How to play The Secret of Monkey Island
You move Guybrush by clicking on the screen. At the bottom you choose an action, such as Look at, Pick up, Use, Open, Talk to or Give, and then click on a person or object. You collect items in an inventory and combine them with the world to solve puzzles: for example, you might need to find a way to cross a guarded bridge or win a contest. Conversations let you choose lines of dialogue, and many of them are jokes. In the first part, you must pass three trials to prove you are a pirate, including a sword fight that is won with clever insults and replies rather than fast reflexes. Unlike many adventure games of its time, Monkey Island almost never lets you die or reach a dead end, so you can experiment freely. The game is divided into chapters that move the story across several islands.
Tips for new players
- Talk to everyone and try every dialogue choice; many hints are hidden in conversations.
- Write down insults and their replies during sword fights, then use the best ones later.
- If you are stuck, try using each inventory item on the thing that blocks you.
- Play in short sessions; a fresh mind often solves a puzzle at once.
Good for
The Secret of Monkey Island: common questions
Can you die in The Secret of Monkey Island?
Almost never. The game was designed so you cannot lose or get stuck without warning, which lets you explore freely.
What is insult sword fighting?
It is a duel where each pirate says an insult and the other must give the correct reply. You learn new insults and replies by losing and listening.
Should I play the original or the Special Edition?
Both tell the same story. The Special Edition adds new art and voices, and you can switch to the classic look at any time.
The Secret of Monkey Island belongs to its owners. Playdonya is not connected to them and does not sell this game; the cover is our own illustration.
