Lucasfilm
5 Classic Lucasfilm Video Games You Can Play Right Now
Revisit the adventurous history of Lucasfilm Games.
Lucasfilm Games has been one of the most lauded and groundbreaking names in video games for over 40 years. An important initiative for George Lucas, the team worked on original ideas and expanding their technology and storytelling capabilities, turning LucasArts into one of the most popular adventure game companies of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.
A lot of these games, including Maniac Mansion, Full Throttle, and Sam & Max, have gone down in video game history as some of the best, most innovative games of their time. And, luckily for fans and new players, many of these classics have now been remastered and reuploaded for a new generation to play. There is no better time to dive into Lucasfilm history and explore some of these worlds. Here are five suggestions to get started — especially if you’re looking to stay in and cool down from the summer heat. (If you’re looking to also play some Star Wars games, check out StarWars.com’s list of five galactic greats to play this summer, too.)
1. The Secret of Monkey Island
“I want to be a pirate!” The first in a long-standing series of fan-favorite adventure games beginning in 1990, The Secret of Monkey Island follows the misadventures of wannabe pirate, Guybrush Threepwood. Taking inspiration from pirate lore, ghost stories, and a famous ride at Disneyland, the hilarious world of Monkey Island has expanded and lives on to this day.
The franchise’s latest entry, the critically successful Return to Monkey Island, launched last year, while the team at Rare recently released the first of three Monkey Island Tall Tales in Sea of Thieves: The Legend of Monkey Island.
With one-liners, buried treasure, and hidden puzzles, it is still perfect for any fans of swashbuckling fun and great puzzling.
Availability: Tale One of Sea of Thieves: The Legend of Monkey Island is available now on Xbox and PC, and the Special Editions of the original The Secret of Monkey Island are available on PlayStation store, Xbox, and Steam.
2. Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
Considered one of the most successful adventure games of all time, Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis sees the legendary archaeologist… searching for the lost city of Atlantis. The Man with the Hat is back and in a race against Nazi agents as they attempt to discover the mystery of what actually caused Atlantis to sink into the ocean.
Availability: Mac and PC on Steam.
3. The Dig
Quieter than most of the other video games from its time, The Dig is a deliberate, challenging puzzle game that offers a rewarding look into a science-fiction world. With a story from Steven Spielberg, dialogue written by Orson Scott Card (and custscenes composed by Industrial Light & Magic), this exciting look into a mysterious asteroid still makes for a near-perfect puzzler. With a main character voiced by Robert Patrick (Terminator 2, Peacemaker), the acting and design is still top notch.
Availability: Mac and PC on Steam.
4. Loom
At the time of its 1990 release, Loom promised to be a “tale of magic, music, and dragons unlike any game you’ve ever seen.” It remains a perfect starter game for any beginning adventurer, as a simple engaging puzzle game that still stands the test of time.
You play the role of a young Weaver named Bobbin during the Age of the Great Guilds. Of course, you hold the fate of the Universe in your untrained hands. Players use drafts (a musical equivalent to magical spells) to proceed through the game.
As part of their experience, players were also given a cassette that would play an audio drama prologue, to fully immerse themselves into the world of Loom.
Availability: Mac and PC on Steam.
5. Grim Fandango
A dramatic and mythical story of crime, set in a surreal world inspired by Aztec folklore, Grim Fandango is often heralded as one of the best video games of all time.
Its protagonist, Manny Calavera, has the ultimate dead-end job, employed by the “Department of Death” to bring people to the Land of the Dead. Drawing inspiration from the Day of the Dead, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, and film noir, Grim Fandango stands alone as a completely unique vision. Its stylized visuals, soundtrack, voice acting, and writing led Grim Fandango to win multiple PC Game of the Year awards.
Availability: The remastered game is available for Mac or PC, through Steam, as well as PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox.
Brandon Wainerdi is a freelance writer and interviewer, who also contributes to Star Wars Insider and the iconic horror magazine FANGORIA. He is the host of Talking Bay 94, an award-winning podcast that interviews the cast and crew of the saga. He lives in Austin with his wife, as well as his growing collection of West End Games RPG sourcebooks. In his free time, he watches Blu-ray bonus features.