The Lord of the Rings is one of the most popular and important fantasy IPs of all time. Tolkien's grand vision created a bunch of tropes that are still going strong in the fantasy genre to this day.
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That being said, it's understandable if some people aren't huge fans of high fantasy and can't get into the epic storytelling featured in The Lord of the Rings. However, this shouldn't dissuade them from checking out some of the best games in the series that keep fans coming back for more.
8 Middle-earth: Shadow Of Mordor
The Brutal Gameplay And The Nemesis System Enhance The Title's Unique Charm
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
- Released
- September 30, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
Shadow of Mordor was a pleasant surprise when it came out, combining elements of the Assassin's Creed series and the Arkham games for a delectable combination. Players loved scouring the land of Mordor as Talion and subjugating orcs to his will.
The satisfying melee combat and fun Nemesis system make this game worth checking out for players, even if they aren't huge fans of The Lord of the Rings. They should be familiar with most fantasy tropes to enjoy the ride this game takes them on, with its gameplay loop being simple yet satisfying.
7 The Lord Of The Rings: The Third Age
A LOTR RPG Perfect For Final Fantasy 10 Fans
The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age
- Released
- November 2, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T // Blood, Mild Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Final Fantasy 10 is one of the greatest JRPGs ever made, which is why fans were puzzled that this game didn't spawn too many imitators. However, what they're not aware of is that EA greenlit a Lord of the Rings game that aimed to channel this title's strengths.
Players who got their hands on The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age were pleasantly surprised by how captivating the turn-based combat was. If someone wants to check out a game in the same vein as Final Fantasy 10, they'll have a blast with The Third Age regardless of how familiar they are with LOTR's world.
6 The Lord Of The Rings Online
An MMORPG That Makes The Most Of Middle-earth's Rich Setting
The Lord of the Rings Online
- Released
- April 24, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Blood and Gore, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Genre(s)
- MMORPG
An MMORPG set in The Lord of the Rings universe sounds like a winning combination. Not only will players fulfill their wildest fantasies of living out their lives in this fantasy world, but it also opens the floodgates for newcomers to get a taste of what LOTR is all about.
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The Lord of the Rings Online is perfect for MMORPG veterans to dip their toes in this rich high fantasy series. Players may be enamored by this world just enough to read the books and watch the movies if they haven't already.
5 The Lord Of The Rings: Return To Moria
A Survival Game Set In Tolkien's World
The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria
- Released
- October 24, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Use Of Alcohol, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Survival
Moria is one of the most legendary locations in The Lord of the Rings, and this game lets players control the dwarves who will try and retake their homeland in a fun survival experience. It may not be the most groundbreaking take on the survival genre, but Return to Moria does just enough to keep fans coming back for more.
Fans of the survival genre can give this game a shot with their friends to see whether things click. Chances are that players may find this game to be more riveting than they expected, even if they aren't hardcore LOTR fans.
4 The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring
A Fun Action-Adventure Game That May Strike A Chord With People Who Don't Necessarily Care About LOTR
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
- Released
- September 24, 2002
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T // Blood, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
A lot of people are nostalgic about The Fellowship of the Ring video game, which lets players control three unique protagonists with a diverse range of powers. It may be pretty janky by modern standards, but players who don't mind its retro trappings will have a great time playing The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Players who want to check out a cult classic video game will find this title to be right up their alley. Even if they're not familiar with the story of LOTR, this game has other strengths that will keep fans coming back for more.
3 Middle-earth: Shadow Of War
A Sequel With Polished Gameplay And An Expanded Nemesis System
Middle-Earth: Shadow of War
- Released
- October 10, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
While Shadow of War suffered from its fair share of publisher mismanagement, the final game is still a blast to play through. Players who loved Shadow of Mordor and wanted more of the same with a few gameplay refinements will love how comfortable the sequel feels.
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The Nemesis system is expanded upon further to give players more toys to play around with in the game's open world. Despite its connections to The Lord of the Rings, there's something about Shadow of War that will appeal to fans regardless of whether they're LOTR fans or not.
2 The Lord Of The Rings: The Battle For Middle-earth 2
A Fun Fantasy RTS With Riveting Gameplay
Given the large-scale wars that take place in The Lord of the Rings, it's easy to see why this franchise would be perfect for an RTS game. The Battle for Middle-earth and its sequel are two great titles in this genre that fans will love, with the sequel being just polished and refined enough to keep fans entertained.
Players who love real-time strategy games but aren't familiar with The Lord of the Rings should still check out The Battle for Middle-earth 2. Chances are that the core gameplay loop will be captivating enough to keep these fans coming back for more.
1 Lego The Lord Of The Rings
Another Great Entry In The Lego Series Full Of Collectibles And Fun Adventure Gameplay
LEGO The Lord of the Rings: The Video Game
- Released
- October 30, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ // Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth 2
- Released
- March 2, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T // Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy
The Lego brand has done a great job of permeating most other entertainment mediums, and video games are no exception here. Lego The Lord of the Rings is a great game for the entire family to check out, regardless of how familiar they are with the LOTR universe.
It's the perfect game for kids and parents to check out, with adult fans possibly using this game as a way to slowly introduce Tolkien's magical world to their kids. Chances are that kids will be enamored by this franchise, compelling them to dive into a rich fantasy world full of magic, otherworldly threats, and heroic conquests.
- Created by
- J. R. R. Tolkien
- Current Series
- The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
- Where to watch
- HBO Max
- Video Game(s)
- The Lord of the Rings Online (dupe), LEGO Lord of the Rings , The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age, The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, Middle-Earth: Shadow of War, The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, The Lord Of The Rings: Battle For Middle-Earth
- Movie(s)
- The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King