Maniac Mansion Remaster Teased by Lucasfilm Games Executives

Lucasfilm Games Considers Maniac Mansion Remaster After Return to Monkey Island Launch Lucasfilm Games, renowned for its pioneering work in the adventure game genre, may be poised to revisit one of its most beloved classics, Maniac Mansion.

The recent release of Return to Monkey Island on Nintendo Switch, alongside MacOS and Windows platforms, has reignited interest in the company’s iconic portfolio, and key figures at Lucasfilm Games are hinting at further revivals from the LucasArts back catalog. On September 21, 2022, Lucasfilm Games executive producer Craig Derrick suggested that fans might want to prepare for a possible return to Maniac Mansion.

"I imagine there will be more to say in the coming weeks and months, but for now, I'm on standby for when it's time to head BACK TO THE MANSION!" Derrick wrote on Twitter, alluding clearly to the 1987 graphic adventure.

However, Derrick later tempered expectations by clarifying his comments as "just wishful thinking and manifesting the future." Craig Derrick is no stranger to remastered classics.

He initially pitched the well-received Secret of Monkey Island remasters in the late 2000s while leading a new heritage initiative at LucasArts.

Although plans to revisit Maniac Mansion were shelved then, the positive reception to Return to Monkey Island and Lucasfilm Games’ recent push to honor its legacy could mean a renewed focus on cherished titles for platforms like the Nintendo Switch and the eShop. Series creator Ron Gilbert has also fueled speculation about a Maniac Mansion remaster.

In a message to veteran Lucasfilm Games designer David Fox—best known for titles such as Zak McKraken and the Alien Mindbenders and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure—Gilbert proposed the idea of a remaster retaining the original story and setting but featuring new puzzles and possibly a fresh playable character.

Fox enthusiastically agreed, joking that the project "should only take a couple of months." While there’s no formal announcement for a Maniac Mansion remaster at this time, these statements reflect a genuine interest within Lucasfilm Games to revisit its influential catalog.

The recent success of Return to Monkey Island, developed by Terrible Toybox, demonstrates a strong market demand for modern revivals of classic graphic adventures on contemporary hardware such as Nintendo Switch. Gilbert previously shared his thoughts at the 2011 Game Developers Conference, expressing a desire to see Maniac Mansion updated in the same way as the Monkey Island series.

He noted that a remaster could provide an opportunity to improve puzzle design and make the game more accessible to modern audiences—a sentiment echoed by many long-time fans. As Lucasfilm Games enters a renaissance period, with new projects spanning from Star Wars and Indiana Jones games to celebrated franchise revivals, a Maniac Mansion remaster would be a fitting homage to its legacy.

With executives and original creators expressing interest, fans of Nintendo Switch and classic adventure games alike should stay tuned for potential updates in upcoming Nintendo Direct events or eShop announcements.

Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch Craig Derrick Maniac Mansion Maniac Lucasfilm Games Ron Gilbert David Fox LucasArts Return to Monkey Island Disney EA Bethesda Indiana Jones Terrible Toybox Day of the Tentacle Monkey Island