Tolkien’s works will never get old or forgotten. It’s the best fantasy lore ever. It’s natural to want games set in Tolkien’s universe. Lucky for both of us, I’ve shared 8 great Lord of the Rings games below. There are strategy, action, adventure, MMORPG, and card LOTR games in this list. So, we have almost everything for everyone!
Let me get this straight. Amazon’s Lord of the Rings series not terrible. But it’s not good either, not even close to the movies. It’s also not following the book %100. These are the reasons most Tolkien fans don’t like it. Why does it do? Simply move us to books and games to enjoy Tolkien universe.
BEST FANTASY RPGS < Monsters, magic, swords, etc.
Look, if you haven’t read the Silmarillion yet, stop whatever you’re doing now and start reading! Because it’s a must for a complete understanding of Middle Earth. Then you can move to LOTR games appreciate them more!
These are the best Lord of The Rings games you can play on your PC now.
1. The Battle for the Middle Earth 1 & 2
It’s too hard to find BFME 1 and 2 officially. The game is not on GOG, not on Steam, not on anywhere. So, you must either buy physical copy from Amazon which is pretty expensive or download it for free from third party sources. Not gonna lie, I’ve done the latter.
Anyway, BFME is a strategy game series. BFME 1, good campaign and gameplay. BFME 2, better graphics. Both are great in their own way.
If you want to experience large army battles, epic sieges, and hero duels of the Lords of the Rings, you must play The Battle for the Middle Earth 1 & 2.
2. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is a movie licensed hack & slash game released by EA in 2003. It’s old but to be honest, still one of the bests.
What makes it so great is the heroes and co-op options. You can play as Aragorn, Legolas, or Gandalf with a friend of yours. All with unique skills, abilities, and battle capabilities. Fighting against hordes of orc side by side with a friend is absolutely amazing. I’m so happy that I was able to play it back in time.
The game is not available on any online store, just like BFME. Thx EA! Still, you can get it via third party sources on the internet. By the way, if im not mistaken, it’s also released for PS2. So, if you’ve the good old PS2 console, maybe it’s time to experience some nostalgia!
3. Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor & Shadow of War
SHADOW OF MORDOR – SHADOW OF WAR
Shadow of War and Shadow of Mordor games are the first AAA Lord of the Rings games. I’ve completed and enjoyed both. Why didn’t I rank them higher? Simply because I wanted to honor old games. Also, Shadow of Mordor / War games does not feature the actual cast of LOTR movies. Instead, we play as Talion and Celebrimbor. We know Celebrimbor from the books, but the main character Talion is not in the books and appear only in the game.
Oh, by the way, Shadow of Mordor is the first open world Lord of the Rings game. You get to explore, help people, fight orcs, and conquer lands freely. That alone makes the franchise worth playing.
4. The Lord of the Rings: Gollum
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is an adventure game featuring the story of, you know, Gollum… The release date for the game is 25 May, 2023. As I type these lines, the game is not released yet. But the trailers, graphics, and hype show it’s going to be a great game. If I’m wrong, do let me know in the comment section below.
In the game you play as Gollum on his quest to retrieve his Precious. Climbing the mountains of Mordor, sneaking around Mirkwood, and making difficult choices along the way.
Well, I can’t wait to play it!
5. The Lord of the Rings Online
Most people don’t know there is an MMORPG called The Lord of the Rings Online. This is the most popular fantasy world ever; how did people miss this game?
The Lord of the Rings Online, LOTRO in short is first released in 2007. In 2010 the game ended subcription-based payment model and become free-to-play. It’s available on Steam too since 2012.
So, LOTRO is pretty similar to WOW. Expect a long story, and interesting arcs on your journey. Then, you can go raid, do PvP, and join a guild.
6. LEGO Lord of the Rings & Hobbit
Lego: The Lord of the Rings and Lego: The Hobbit are officially licensed adventure games. Younger generations are their intended audiences. However, older gamers can enjoy and appreciate too. Because these games are allowing us to re-live the Lord of the Rings journey.
Another key point: Lego games has co-op option. So, you can play LOTR Lego with a partner, friend, brother, sister, nephew, or even your child. Lego games are following PEGI 3, which is suitable for all age groups.
7. The Lord of the Rings: Adventure Card Game
You want a Hearthstone like card game with the characters from Lord of the Rings? You got it. The Lord of the Rings: Adventure Card Game is a thrilling tactical card game released in 2019. It’s fully licensed.
If you liked Gwent in the Witcher 3, or like Hearthstone, try The Lord of the Rings: Adventure Card Game. I’m pretty sure you’ll like it too.
8. The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth
The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth is a fully cooperative board game for one to five players!
This is a good solo or co-op game. However, it’s just the app part that goes with the game. You need the physical board game to play.
To play The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth™, one player must download the free Journeys in Middle-earth app on a compatible device. The app determines the challenges and content that the heroes encounter during the game, from tile and token placement to enemy behavior. The app also lets the heroes save their campaign, allowing them to complete it over the course of several gaming sessions.
As you can see there aren’t many Lord of the Rings games out there, mostly because of the licensing price. However, there are many Lord of the Rings mods for various games. Such as Total War, Mount & Blade, Crusader Kings, and even Minecraft. Modded gaming is a rabbit hole which I don’t intend to delve in at the moment. If the games above not satisfy you, you can google and easily find LOTR mods online.
Thanks for reading this article. Do let me know your thoughts in the comment section below, that’ll make me happy. Take care.
