Thimbleweed Park 2 is moving ahead with an unusual funding model. Ron Gilbert, the creator of Monkey Island, has secured development money from a wealthy private investor rather than returning to crowdfunding or accepting a conventional publishing deal.
As explained in a new interview with Bloomberg, Gilbert has spent around 40 years making games and says publisher agreements have often offered poor terms. He does not object to publishers recovering their investment, but criticises arrangements where they retain most of the revenue after breaking even, or where developers earn nothing unless a game becomes a major hit.
From Kickstarter success to a private investment
After a lengthy period at LucasArts, where he helped create influential adventures including Maniac Mansion and Monkey Island, Gilbert went on to develop games through several companies. In 2014, he and his studio Terrible Toybox raised more than $600,000 through Kickstarter to make Thimbleweed Park.
Released in 2017, the retro-styled graphic point-and-click adventure was well received by critics and players. It has reportedly sold more than 300,000 copies, giving Gilbert confidence that there remains an audience for this type of game.
Gilbert later began considering a sequel but decided not to run another Kickstarter campaign. He wrote in January that publishers had shown interest, although none of the proposed agreements were attractive enough. A friend then introduced him to an anonymous, wealthy person outside the games industry who was a devoted Thimbleweed Park fan.
Gilbert was initially sceptical because this was not the first time somebody had suggested a potential backer. After receiving the investor’s email and speaking with him, however, he became convinced that the offer was genuine.
A two-year development budget
Gilbert prepared a development plan and budget he described as realistic, requesting slightly more than $1 million to cover two years of work. A key priority was making sure the developers received proper pay throughout production.
The investor accepted the proposal, and Gilbert says the resulting agreement was more favourable than any publisher terms he had been offered. Thimbleweed Park 2 is now in development, with a planned release in early 2028.
For readers who enjoy classic adventure games and the wider history of interactive entertainment, RETROCADE’s Arcade Blog covers more industry and gaming news. Those exploring a dedicated home setup can also browse arcade machines or compare options in the Arcade Machine Buying Guide.
Is there still an audience?
Gilbert believes the answer is yes. The original game continues to sell almost a decade after its release, which he sees as evidence that players still want Thimbleweed Park and similar point-and-click adventures.
This arrangement is an unusual alternative to the familiar publisher-and-crowdfunding routes. It gives Gilbert the opportunity to make another adventure game while securing a two-year budget and better conditions for the development team. Fans will have to wait until early 2028 to see whether the sequel fulfils that promise.
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