Exploring Top Lord of the Rings Games for an Immersive Middle-earth Journey

Top Lord of the Rings Video Games Unconnected to The Rings of Power TV Series

In the vast world of Middle-earth, there are numerous video games that delve into the rich lore of J.R.R. Tolkien and Peter Jackson's film adaptations, distinct from Amazon's The Rings of Power series. Here are some of the most acclaimed titles:

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (early 2000s)

This classic hack-and-slash action game allows players to control members of the Fellowship, including Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli. The game closely follows the movies, especially The Two Towers, with combo-heavy combat and visuals that mimic the films, making it a standout official movie tie-in.

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (2014) and Shadow of War (2017)

Developed by Monolith Productions and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, these games delve into Tolkien’s wider Middle-earth lore, offering original stories and the innovative Nemesis system. Enemies remember past encounters, adding an extra layer of immersion to the gameplay.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (GameCube, PS2, Xbox and GBA versions)

Another well-regarded hack-and-slash title based on the movies, this game boasts cinematic moments from the films and varied character combat styles. The GBA version also offers a top-down, Diablo-like experience.

The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age (2004)

Although less frequently mentioned, this title is often ranked among the best LOTR games. It features a turn-based RPG experience set in the same timeline as the movies, but with original characters.

The Lord of the Rings Online

This MMORPG developed in-house and published by Standing Stone Games, released in 2007, offers a wide variety of races and breathtaking locations. Players can even switch to Sauron's side.

The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria (2023)

A survival crafting game set in the fourth age of Middle Earth, players team up with fellow dwarves and follow in the steps of the Fellowship, excavating the mines to reclaim Khazad-dûm from orcs and goblins.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

This hack-and-slash action game features FMV footage pulled from the Peter Jackson films and recreates some of LOTR's most iconic battles.

The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age (2004)

A turn-based Lord of the Rings RPG developed in the vein of Final Fantasy and Tales franchises, this game offers a different perspective on The Lord of the Rings, featuring Gandalf as a guide with collectible film clips and original narration from the voice actor himself.

LEGO The Lord of the Rings (2012)

In this game, players journey through locations revamped to the tune of LEGO bricks and featuring dialogue straight out of the movies.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

This game features unreleased footage from the movie and offers a longer campaign with updated graphics.

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (2014)

This game was also developed by Monolith Productions and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. It is remembered for its original story set before the events of the films and its Nemesis system.

The Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle-earth 2 (2006)

Developed by EA Los Angeles and published by EA, this game is considered one of the best RTS games of the early '00s.

In addition, there's a new game on the horizon, Tales of the Shire, developed by Weta Workshop and published by Private Division. This cozy game set in Middle-earth's Shire promises a fresh take, but reviews suggest it struggles to create meaningful goals and can feel lifeless at times, while being still buggy in its current state.

[1] Source: PC Gamer

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, a classic action game from the early 2000s, mirrors the movies with its combo-heavy combat and visuals that mimic the films, making it a standout official movie tie-in.
Developed by Monolith Productions and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War delve into Tolkien’s wider Middle-earth lore, offering original stories and the innovative Nemesis system.
Based on the movies, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King offers cinematic moments from the films and varied character combat styles, with the GBA version offering a top-down, Diablo-like experience.
Known for its turn-based RPG experience set in the same timeline as the movies but with original characters, The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age often ranks among the best LOTR games.
The Lord of the Rings Online, an MMORPG released in 2007, offers a wide variety of races and breathtaking locations, allowing players to even switch to Sauron's side.
Set in the fourth age of Middle Earth, The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria (2023) tasks players with reclaiming Khazad-duþm from orcs and goblins as they team up with fellow dwarves and follow in the steps of the Fellowship.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) recreates some of LOTR's most iconic battles with FMV footage pulled from the Peter Jackson films.
The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age (2004), a turn-based RPG in the vein of Final Fantasy and Tales franchises, is a different perspective on The Lord of the Rings, featuring Gandalf as a guide with collectible film clips and original narration from the voice actor himself.
In LEGO The Lord of the Rings (2012), players journey through locations revamped to the tune of LEGO bricks and featuring dialogue straight out of the movies.