There have been many Lord of the Rings video games over the years, ranging from excellent adaptations and new stories to some disappointing ones. But one game consistently gets overlooked: Lord of the Rings: War in the North, released by Snowblind Studios eleven years ago. It’s faded into obscurity, but is it truly a game that deserves to be forgotten?
If you enjoyed the classic RPG Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance, you’ll be interested in War in the North. The studio behind it, Snowblind Studios, later merged with Monolith – the team that created the highly acclaimed Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. Before that, in 2011, they released The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, and it’s a surprisingly fun game worth revisiting.
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North Brought a Co-Op Focus to the LOTR RPG
The game War in the North was launched on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and was also made available for PC. Its story, inspired by both the original Lord of the Rings books and films, takes place at the same time as the main events, but follows a different group of heroes. Players control three adventurers who are on a quest to find and defeat Agandaur, one of Sauron’s allies, and stop him from attacking the North.
This older Lord of the Rings role-playing game is an action-packed adventure built for cooperative play. Players choose to play as one of three heroes: a Ranger, a Dwarf, or an Elf. While these characters are new to the story, their relationships and teamwork are very similar to those of Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas.
While you can play War in the North by yourself with computer-controlled companions, the game is really designed for online co-op with up to three players. Playing with friends unlocks special combat moves and hidden secrets, especially if someone controls each of the three characters. However, this strong focus on co-op might be why War in the North hasn’t become as popular as other Lord of the Rings RPGs that prioritize single-player experiences. Though solo players can still enjoy the game, it’s clear the developers built the campaign with multiplayer in mind, which may have disappointed some who prefer playing alone.
When War in the North first came out, critics had a mixed reaction, giving it a score of 66 on Metacritic. This likely contributed to lower-than-expected sales for Warner Bros. With fewer people playing it when it was released in 2011, the game hasn’t stuck with many gamers. But does that mean it’s truly an average game, as some reviews suggest?
Did War in the North Suffer Deserve To Be Forgotten?
When Lord of the Rings: War in the North was first released, it didn’t receive rave reviews. Many critics found the combat to be bland and repetitive, and some felt the three main characters weren’t very well-developed, feeling like weaker versions of other heroes. However, the game’s current obscurity might not be solely due to its shortcomings.
While not flawless, War in the North is fondly remembered by many RPG fans. The game allows players to experience the world of Middle-earth during the events of The Lord of the Rings, offering a faithful and expansive story that doesn’t alter the original trilogy. Despite its flaws, it was an enjoyable game, and the ability to play with friends in a multiplayer setting was a major draw. It likely would have gained more popularity despite mixed reviews if it hadn’t been released at an unfortunate time.
Fall 2011 was an amazing time for video games. September brought us the challenging Dark Souls, which captivated many players. Then, just over a week after War in the North was released, The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim arrived and quickly became a phenomenon. It’s clear how successful Skyrim was, considering we’re still referencing its iconic moments – like getting hit by arrows in the knee and playfully stealing sweet rolls – years later.
While War in the North didn’t win any Game of the Year awards, a lot of players actually liked it. Its lack of popularity was likely just bad luck – releasing an RPG in the same month as Skyrim made it hard to stand out. With so many other major games coming out around November 2011, War in the North probably got lost in the shuffle, rather than being a truly bad game.
This Lord of the Rings game isn’t considered a classic, but it’s a decent RPG set in Middle-earth. What set it apart for its time was its online co-op feature, which wasn’t common in games then. It used to be available on Steam, where players generally liked it, but the online servers were shut down in 2018 and it was removed from sale. Now, the only way to play is to find an old physical copy. However, there’s always a chance it could be remade or re-released digitally in the future.
Have you ever played The Lord of the Rings: War in the North? Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!
Read More
- Assassin’s Creed Shadows Is Coming Soon to Switch 2: Release Date Revealed
- Jim Parsons Doubles Down On The Big Bang Theory Reboot Chances: “I Could Imagine, But…”
- Jujutsu Kaisen’s Sequel Fixes the Original Series’ Biggest Mistake
- Kim Kardashian Reveals Whether She’s Hooked Up With Travis Barker
- Banjo-Kazooie Director Gregg Mayles Announces Departure from Rare After Over Three Decades
- No Upgrade Path for the Belated PS5 Version of Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut
- One-Punch Man Director Deletes Social Media Following Season Three Backlash
- ‘My Name Is Jeff’: Channing Tatum Played Another Jeff In Roofman, And Is Considering Legally Changing His Name
- October 2025 PS Plus Essential Games Available to Download Now
- 10 Most Badass Moments From Arrow
2025-11-01 17:15