★ The Secret of Monkey Island (1990)

The one that started it all! Young wannabe pirate Guybrush Threepwood arrives on Mêlée Island™ with dreams of becoming a mighty pirate. To do so, he must complete the Three Trials: mastering the sword, mastering the art of thievery, and finding the legendary treasure. Along the way, he falls for the beautiful Governor Elaine Marley, runs afoul of the ghost pirate LeChuck, and discovers the mysterious Monkey Island itself.

Fun Facts:

• The game uses the SCUMM engine (Script Creation Utility for Maniac Mansion)
• Guybrush can hold his breath for 10 minutes — literally, the game times it!
• The "stump joke" in the disk version references non-existent disks 22, 36, and 114
• The Voodoo Lady makes her first appearance here
• Originally sold on 4 floppy disks for IBM PC

★ Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge (1991)

Many consider this the best game in the series — and one of the greatest adventure games ever made. Guybrush is now searching for the legendary treasure of Big Whoop, but LeChuck has returned from the dead as a zombie and is out for revenge!

The game is darker and more complex than the first, with multiple islands to explore, devious puzzles, and one of the most controversial endings in gaming history. What did that ending MEAN?! We still don't know, and Ron Gilbert isn't telling!

Fun Facts:

• First LucasArts game to use the iMUSE interactive music system
• Came on 11 floppy disks! (Amiga version had 11 disks too!)
• The game has "Lite" and "Hard" difficulty modes
• Features the famous "spitting contest" on Booty Island
• The ending has been debated by fans for 7+ years and counting
• Stan the used coffin salesman returns from the first game

★ The Curse of Monkey Island (1997) LATEST!

The long-awaited third installment! Six years after LeChuck's Revenge, LucasArts brought Guybrush back in a beautiful hand-animated adventure. Guybrush accidentally turns Elaine into a gold statue by putting a cursed diamond ring on her finger (smooth move, Threepwood), and must travel to Blood Island to find a way to lift the curse. Along the way, he encounters Murray the Demonic Skull — the reason this site exists!

With full voice acting by Dominic Armato as Guybrush (he's PERFECT for the role), amazing cartoon-style animation, and a hilarious script, Curse is an absolute treasure. And Murray steals every scene he's in!

Fun Facts:

• First Monkey Island game with full voice acting!
• Murray the Demonic Skull became an instant fan favorite
• Features a full musical number: "A Pirate I Was Meant to Be"
• "A Pirate I Was Meant to Be" — when your crew won't stop singing. SO funny
• Sold on 2 CD-ROMs — a far cry from floppy disk days!
• Dominic Armato was cast as Guybrush after auditioning — now nobody else could play him!
• Packed with references to other LucasArts adventure games — see how many you can spot!