Monkey Island Creator Secures Funding for New Game from Wealthy Backer to Escape Poor Publisher Deals

2017’s Thimbleweed Park is a rare gem in the gaming world, a point-and-click adventure that feels like a throwback to a bygone era. Created by Ron Gilbert, the mastermind behind Monkey Island, the game was a success, and now, a decade later, he’s gearing up for a sequel without the usual crowdfunding or publisher involvement. Instead, he’s found a straightforward solution: a wealthy backer to fund the project.

In a recent interview, Gilbert, who has been in the game development scene for around 40 years, shared that while he hasn’t always had negative experiences with publishers, the deals have often been less than favorable, and the situation has only worsened over time.

“I don’t mind the publisher earning back their money,” Gilbert explained. “It’s just that once they’ve recouped their investment, they still want the lion’s share. Or they impose strange conditions, like you don’t see any profit unless it’s a blockbuster. I’ve always thought that was unfair.”

After a successful stint at LucasArts, where he helped create classics like Maniac Mansion and Monkey Island, Gilbert ventured out to develop his own games through various studios. In 2014, he and his team at Terrible Toybox raised over $600,000 on Kickstarter to bring Thimbleweed Park to life. The retro-inspired adventure was well-received upon its 2017 release, selling over 300,000 copies.

Recently, Gilbert felt the pull to create a sequel. However, funding was a concern. He opted against another Kickstarter campaign and noted in a blog post that while publishers showed interest, their offers were lacking. That’s when a friend connected him with a wealthy fan of Thimbleweed Park who was eager to finance the sequel. Initially skeptical, Gilbert agreed to discuss it further.

“This isn’t the first time I’ve been approached like this,” he remarked. “I said, ‘Sure, give me his email.’” After a conversation with the anonymous investor, Gilbert realized the commitment was genuine. He crafted a budget and development plan for Thimbleweed Park 2, which he described as “very realistic,” requesting just over a million dollars to support two years of development. His goal was to ensure fair compensation for the team involved.

The investor was on board with the plan, and they struck a deal that Gilbert claims surpassed any terms he received from publishers. Now, Thimbleweed Park 2 is officially in the works, set to launch in early 2028. But will there still be an audience for this style of game in 2026? Gilbert believes so.

“We’re nearly ten years post-release of the original, and it’s still selling,” he noted. “That indicates there’s a market for this type of game and others like it.”

So, there you have it. Perhaps the key to revitalizing the gaming industry lies in securing funding from affluent fans of specific genres or franchises. While it’s a lighthearted notion, it’s exciting to see Gilbert get the chance to create another adventure game, and fans are hopeful for the success of Thimbleweed Park 2 when it arrives in 2028.