In a significant announcement for fans of classic adventure games, Jonathan Ackley and Larry Ahern—well-known for their landmark work on The Curse of Monkey Island—have revealed they are collaborating on a brand-new comedy narrative adventure.
The duo, celebrated for their contributions to 1990s LucasArts point-and-click titles, are now actively seeking a publisher to help bring their latest project to life. Ackley’s storied career in game development began at LucasArts, where his programming and creative design skills helped shape genre-defining games such as Day of the Tentacle, Full Throttle, and Sam & Max Hit the Road.
Alongside Larry Ahern, Ackley co-directed The Curse of Monkey Island, the acclaimed third entry in the beloved Monkey Island series, which has been fondly remembered by adventure game enthusiasts since its release in 1997. After departing LucasArts, Ackley spent several years lending his design expertise to LEGO before moving on to Walt Disney Imagineering in 2001.
At Disney, he contributed to significant theme park attractions, including "Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom" and "Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure." Ackley left Disney in December 2020 and has since been gearing up for his return to game development. The new project, which has been teased across LinkedIn and Twitter/X, is described as "a modern take on the classic genre." According to Ackley, the game promises "a confounding mystery, a hapless butler, and an interplanetary threat." The development team behind the project is reportedly assembled and ready, with Ackley putting out the call for potential publishing partners to help bring this next comedy adventure to a broad audience. "It's a modern approach to the treasures of classic adventure gaming—full of wit, mystery, and a memorable cast of characters," Ackley noted in his announcement.
The statement captures the spirit of the games that both designers are renowned for within the industry. While details about visuals or a release date have not yet been disclosed, the return of Ackley and Ahern to their roots in comedy-driven narrative adventure is already generating excitement among fans and industry watchers.
Their combined history spans some of the most celebrated adventure game milestones, making this upcoming title one to watch as it searches for the right publishing partner. As the project develops, fans of LucasArts classics and point-and-click adventures will be eager for updates.
For now, the promise of a new, original comedy adventure led by two of the industry's veterans is already energizing a genre with deep nostalgic appeal.
The duo, celebrated for their contributions to 1990s LucasArts point-and-click titles, are now actively seeking a publisher to help bring their latest project to life. Ackley’s storied career in game development began at LucasArts, where his programming and creative design skills helped shape genre-defining games such as Day of the Tentacle, Full Throttle, and Sam & Max Hit the Road.
Alongside Larry Ahern, Ackley co-directed The Curse of Monkey Island, the acclaimed third entry in the beloved Monkey Island series, which has been fondly remembered by adventure game enthusiasts since its release in 1997. After departing LucasArts, Ackley spent several years lending his design expertise to LEGO before moving on to Walt Disney Imagineering in 2001.
At Disney, he contributed to significant theme park attractions, including "Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom" and "Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure." Ackley left Disney in December 2020 and has since been gearing up for his return to game development. The new project, which has been teased across LinkedIn and Twitter/X, is described as "a modern take on the classic genre." According to Ackley, the game promises "a confounding mystery, a hapless butler, and an interplanetary threat." The development team behind the project is reportedly assembled and ready, with Ackley putting out the call for potential publishing partners to help bring this next comedy adventure to a broad audience. "It's a modern approach to the treasures of classic adventure gaming—full of wit, mystery, and a memorable cast of characters," Ackley noted in his announcement.
The statement captures the spirit of the games that both designers are renowned for within the industry. While details about visuals or a release date have not yet been disclosed, the return of Ackley and Ahern to their roots in comedy-driven narrative adventure is already generating excitement among fans and industry watchers.
Their combined history spans some of the most celebrated adventure game milestones, making this upcoming title one to watch as it searches for the right publishing partner. As the project develops, fans of LucasArts classics and point-and-click adventures will be eager for updates.
For now, the promise of a new, original comedy adventure led by two of the industry's veterans is already energizing a genre with deep nostalgic appeal.
