So far the series consists of five comedy adventure games of the ManiacMansion? variety, almost all released by LucasArts?:
Secret of Monkey Island (1990, ScummVM?), in which would-be pirate Guybrush completes various challenges to become a pirate, falls in love with Governor Elaine Marley, and goes to Monkey Island to face the ghost pirate LeChuck. [:) --KL ]
Monkey Island II: LeChuck's Revenge (1991, ScummVM?), in which now-wealthy Guybrush loses all his money to local bully Largo, goes on to defeat Largo but accidentally gives Largo the (still wriggling) beard of LeChuck with which the dread pirate can be raised from the dead, and goes in quest of the trasure of Big Whoop.
Curse of Monkey Island (1997, excellent cartoon graphics)
Escape from Monkey Island (2000, scurvy-inducing 3D!)
Tales of Monkey Island (2009, released in five episodes by TellTale), in which Guybrush accidentally turns LeChuck into a human who seemingly reforms but also releases an enraging Pox of LeChuck. The Pox turns pirates into savage creatures, and Guybrush must stop it and find out LeChuck's true motives.
(Insert plot summaries, etc.)