Return to Monkey Island vs BioDecoder
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Return to Monkey Island
Embark on a thrilling pirate adventure, continuing the legendary story of Guybrush Threepwood. Solve clever puzzles, explore new and familiar islands, and engage in witty dialogue as you seek the fabled Secret of Monkey Island. Experience classic point-and-click gameplay with modern twists.
- Classic point-and-click gameplay
- Engaging narrative and character interactions
- Puzzle solving and exploration
- Modernized adventure game controls
- New and familiar island exploration
- Context-sensitive interactions and reactive dialogue
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Return to Monkey Island is an unexpected, thrilling return of series creator Ron Gilbert that continues the story of the legendary adventure games The Secret of Monkey Island and Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge developed in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games. It’s been many years since Guybrush Threepwood was last locked in a battle of wits with his nemesis, the zombie pirate LeChuck. His true love, Elaine Marley, has turned her focus away from governing and Guybrush himself is adrift and unfulfilled, having never found the Secret of Monkey Island. Hip, young pirate leaders led by Captain Madison have shuffled the old guard from power, Melee Island has taken a turn for the worse, and famed businessman Stan has been imprisoned for ‘marketing-related crimes’. Banter with old friends and new faces on familiar islands now under dangerous new leadership. Then, take to the high seas and explore the new and unknown as you work your way out of tough predicaments. Clever puzzles, bizarre situations, and devastating ripostes are all that stand between Guybrush and glory. Return to Point & Click Swashbuckling Bringing classic point and click gameplay to the modern-day, intrepid pirates will solve puzzles and explore the islands with a clever evolution of classic adventure game controls. Context-sensitive interactions, reactive dialog trees, and an easy-to-use inventory system make pirating a breeze. Embark on Archipelago Adventures Navigate the sometimes-friendly confines of Melee Island, a familiar place that finds itself under new management by leaders who have put the squeeze on old friends and new faces. Venture out into uncharted lands like the aptly named Terror Island and the chilling outposts of Brrr Muda to make allies and enemies alike. Created by a Legendary Crew The new chapter in the Monkey Island series marks the return of the iconic series’ creator Ron Gilbert, joined by game co-writer Dave Grossman, art director Rex Crowle (Knights & Bikes, Tearaway) and composers Peter McConnell, Michael Land, and Clint Bajakian (Monkey Island, Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge).
BioDecoder
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Enter the world of BioDecoder, a thrilling puzzle experience where logic, memory, and deduction are your greatest weapons. Humanity’s future is on the line – a mysterious code holds the key to survival, and only you can break it. Your mission is simple to explain but challenging to master: uncover the correct sequence before time runs out. Each guess brings you closer to the solution, but also tests your ability to think ahead, eliminate possibilities, and adapt to new challenges. With multiple difficulty levels – from relaxed brain-teasing to extreme code-breaking – BioDecoder is designed for both casual players and true puzzle veterans. Every level offers a fresh challenge, ensuring the game stays engaging no matter how many times you play. Features: • Engaging code-breaking gameplay inspired by timeless classics, with a modern twist. • Four difficulty levels: Beginner, Medium, Hard, and Extreme. • Stylish, clean interface for an intuitive and immersive experience. • Built-in haptic feedback for a tactile feel to every action. • Play at your own pace or race against the clock in timed modes. Whether you have a few minutes to spare or want to sink into an intense puzzle session, BioDecoder offers the perfect mental workout. Can you crack the code and save humanity?
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: BioDecoder at fortnightly against Return to Monkey Island's every 5 months. Return to Monkey Island's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.5). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Return to Monkey Island sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and BioDecoder sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Return to Monkey Island ships an update every 5 months, BioDecoder fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Return to Monkey Island | BioDecoder |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (171 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 59.6% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 171 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 18.5 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3.4 GB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Devolver Digital, Inc. | Richard Magney |
Bugs and requests
Return to Monkey Island
Reported bugs
2 issues- Game prompting to repurchase after previous purchase
- Difficulty with touch controls in certain situations
Requested features
3 requests- Restore purchase option for previous owners
- Bring back the original Monkey Island games on iOS
- Add support for more languages
BioDecoder
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Return to Monkey Island
- Buy the full game!$9.99
BioDecoder
- Small Tip$0.99
- Medium Tip$3.99
- Large Tip$8.99
Questions
Is Return to Monkey Island free?
Is BioDecoder free?
Do Return to Monkey Island or BioDecoder have ads?
Which is updated more often, Return to Monkey Island or BioDecoder?
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