Hobbit Day (Sept 22) is just around the corner, and you know what that means. Another Tolkien-themed post!
This time, we’re talking Lord of the Rings video games. Whether you’re the kind of fan who has every single book with Tolkien’s name on it that’s ever been published or you simply enjoyed the movies and like fantasy-themed games, there’s probably something here for you.
Which Lord of the Rings Video Games Should You Play?
There are a ridiculous number of Lord of the Rings video games out there (even I haven’t played them all… yet…), and more coming in the future. The list below is therefore not exhaustive, but skims off what I believe to be the cream of the crop in each genre.
If you like text-based games, try…
The Hobbit (1982) by Beam Software. This classic gem is about as close as you can get to actually hopping into the pages of Tolkien’s brilliantly crafted world. If you like reading (and you probably do if you read the original books), you’ll love this interactive fiction game.
If you want to step right into the movies, try…
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) by EA. The predecessor, The Two Towers, is pretty great too. But just like the films, The Return of the King is just that little bit more epic—especially when it comes to the finale. It’s a pretty faithful adaptation (of the movies) and yet, never sacrifices gameplay for story.
If you like to hack and slash, try…
Shadow of Mordor (2014) by Monolith Productions. Sharing many gameplay similarities with the Assassin’s Creed franchise, Shadow of Mordor puts players in the shoes of a badass Ranger who is haunted by the loss of his family—and the original forger of the Rings of Power.
If you prefer a more strategic approach, try…
The Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle-Earth II (2006) by EA. Defeat the forces of darkness—or become a champion of the darkness yourself—one breathtaking battle at a time in this solid real-time strategy game.
If you enjoy card games, try…
The Lord Of The Rings: Adventure Card Game (2019) by Antihero Studios. Following the success of the tabletop “Living Card Game” version, the digital version was released to pretty positive views.
If you mainly just want to explore the heck out Middle-Earth, try…
The Lord of the Rings Online (2007) by Turbine. This is the longest-running Middle-Earth MMO that I’m aware of, and it’s still going strong. Name a place in the vast landscape of Tolkien’s vast landscape, and you can probably explore it. The sheer scale of this game is every bit as impressive as that of the books themselves.
Beyond The Lord of the Rings: Middle-Earth Mods
Maybe you’ve already played all the Lord of the Rings video games on this list. Or, maybe you just don’t have the cash for a new game right now. That’s okay—you can always check out free Middle-Earth mods for games you may already own. These are all of the games with related mods I’m aware of as of this writing:
- Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings
- Age of Wonders
- Civilization V
- Crusader Kings 3
- Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Heroes of Might and Magic
- Left 4 Dead 2
- Medieval 2: Total War
- Minecraft
- Mount & Blade
- Neverwinter Nights
- Rome: Total War
- Warcraft III
- Warlords 3
The Future of Middle-Earth Games
Where we stand now, a few new Lord of the Rings video games (like Lord of the Rings: Gollum by Daedalic Entertainment) are already on the horizon. But what comes next for Middle-Earth?
Personally, I’m looking forward to the absolutely magical stuff developers will be able to conjure as technology continues to improve and development tools become more accessible. I’m especially curious to see what Middle-Earth would look like in VR, once devs finally find a foolproof way around the motion sickness too many of us experience after wearing a headset for too long (or playing Skyrim in VR for more than five seconds).
Just think how gorgeous Middle-Earth would be in three dimensions… and how much cheaper a VR game would be than a ticket to the tour in New Zealand.
In the meantime, hopefully a few of the games on this list can sate your appetite for now. If not, there’s always time for a movie marathon or a reread. Happy Hobbit Day, friends!
Kim Berkley is a fantasy author and narrative designer whose works include The Harbinger’s Head, chiaroscuro, and The Dragon’s Last Flight.
