X Marks the Spot

The Secret of Monkey Island, created by George Lucas’s game company Lucasfilm Games in 1990, is a classic adventure game where you play as Guybrush Threepwood, a hapless young aspiring pirate, and save the beautiful local governor from the evil undead pirate LeChuck.

In Part One: The Three Trials, three important-looking pirates give you three important-looking tasks: mastering the sword, excelling in thievery, and treasure-hunting. This guide will help you with the third task, finding the lost treasure of Melee Island.

Any pirate worth their salt must be good at finding treasure, so here’s how to dig up this one!

Obtaining Your Tools

For this part of the quest, you will first need money. If you haven’t already done so, leave town and talk to the bickering circus performers in the “clearing” on the map. Use the pot from the Scumm Bar’s kitchen (the one under the table, not the one on the stove) as a helmet, and then collect 478 pieces of eight.

Once you have the money, it’s time to spend it. Go east past the Scumm Bar, and then west past the Citizen of Melee to the next archway to reach the town. You can buy a shovel from the shopkeeper in the shop on the right. It’s located on the upper level of the shop, so pick it up and pay him 75 pieces of eight. If the shopkeeper isn’t in the building, by the way, just hit the bell on the desk and he’ll come hobbling back in.

Now for the map, go talk to the suspicious-looking Citizen of Melee that you passed earlier. He will ask if you have a cousin named Sven. Tell him about your barber, Dominique. This answer will satisfy him, and he’ll sell you a treasure map for 100 pieces of eight.

Where to Dig for the Treasure

To get to the treasure, leave town and hover your mouse near the crossroad to find the fork. Click on it and look at your map. No, don’t worry – you haven’t been scammed. Although these dancing lessons may not look like a map, they work as one. Follow the first word in each line to get to the treasure. By the way, back counts as the left doorway on this first screen.

If you’re in the right spot, you should see some yellow flowers. Take the path to the left. Now on the next screen, don’t enter any doorways – just go right on the path.

On the following screen, go on the left path. Cross the log and go to the right path. You should see a stump on the left side of the screen. Go through the back doorway.

This room has a rock and red flowers. Take the path on the right and you should be in a room with a ravine on the right side, blocking off that path. Go left here. Finally, go through the back doorway to reach the treasure’s location. Go to the right, and you’ll see the “X” on the ground. Use your shovel on it, and you’ll find the treasure!

If this is your last task of the three, go back to town to talk to the important-looking pirates and celebrate your victory.

Did you enjoy your treasure hunt? If you had treasure, where in the world would you hide it? Discuss in the comments!