Return to Monkey Island vs The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition
Which one is worth buying now, with today's prices and each game's recommendation.
Return to Monkey Island wins 11 of 15 head-to-head metrics. Return to Monkey Island is $3.19 cheaper.
Metric by metric
The winner of each row gets a ✓. No row weighs more than another; the recommendation is calculated separately.
| Metric | Return to Monkey Island | The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition |
|---|---|---|
| GameValio scoreRecommendation: Worth It × Maybe | 71 | 60 |
| Quality | 90 | 92 |
| Value | 81 | 50 |
| Popularity | 32 | 30 |
| Current Best Price (USD) | $0.64 | $3.83 |
| Steam Review Score | 91.4% positive | 95.6% positive |
| Average Concurrent Players (14 days) | 26 | 30 |
Where to buy
The 3 cheapest stores for each game
Return to Monkey Island
The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition
GAMIVO Cheapest Key marketplace$3.83−62%Buy 
Kinguin Key marketplace$3.97−60%Buy 
Loaded Authorized reseller$6.69−33%Buy Side by side over time
Return to Monkey IslandThe Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition
Details and requirements
| Item | Return to Monkey Island | The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Release date | September 19, 2022 | July 15, 2009 |
| Developers | Terrible Toybox | LucasArts |
| Publishers | Devolver Digital | LucasArts, Lucasfilm |
| Platforms | Linux, Windows, MacOs | Windows |
| OS (minimum) | TBA | — |
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: Return to Monkey Island or The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition?
Return to Monkey Island won the comparison against The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition based on the head-to-head metric breakdown. Check the metrics table above for a full side-by-side analysis.
How is the comparison calculated?
The comparison winner is determined objectively by counting which game wins more individual metrics in the head-to-head table. No weighting is applied. The GameValio Recommendation shown separately is our own suggestion for each game, based on a weighted score that combines quality (reviews), popularity (player counts), and affordability (price vs value) into a score out of 100. These are two different things: the comparison is objective, the recommendation is GameValio's opinion.
Is Return to Monkey Island worth buying over The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition?
Based on the metrics, Return to Monkey Island won the direct comparison. However, also check the GameValio Recommendation for each game and the price comparison table to make the most informed purchase decision.
Which game has better player reviews?
Review score trends and volume over time are shown in the charts section above. The game with consistently higher positive ratios has stronger community reception.
Which game offers better value for money?
The affordability score and price comparison table above highlight the best deals. Return to Monkey Island currently scores better on value relative to its quality and price.
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Analysis updated: Oct 24, 2026, 04:59 PM UTC