We Haven’t Had a Great Lord of the Rings Game in Years

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Middle-earth is a fantasy world unlike any other, evoking strong emotions in fans through its books, movies, and rich history. The Lord of the Rings is arguably the most impactful fictional universe ever made, and it’s been featured in many video games over the years, some of which were truly excellent. However, recently, the quality of Lord of the Rings games has declined. While other popular franchises have successfully updated their games for modern audiences, Middle-earth hasn’t been able to recapture the same level of magic it once had in the gaming world.

I used to love playing Lord of the Rings games. I have great memories of titles like The Two Towers and Conquest when I was younger, and even Shadow of War more recently. I always looked forward to exploring that world. But recently, I’ve been disappointed with each new release. While other franchises, like Star Wars, are doing really well, the lack of a truly great Lord of the Rings game is becoming really obvious.

Lord of the Rings Games Used to Be Good

In the early 2000s, The Lord of the Rings games were consistently excellent. Games like The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age, and Battle for Middle-earth delivered thrilling action, deep role-playing experiences, and large-scale strategy to both consoles and PCs. These games were well-made, stayed true to Tolkien’s books, and often felt innovative for their time. I still have fond memories of playing co-op campaigns with friends, commanding huge armies at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, and truly feeling immersed in Tolkien’s world.

Aside from films, even more unusual game adaptations proved successful. The Lord of the Rings: War in the North offered a strong cooperative action role-playing experience, while The Lord of the Rings Online, released in 2007, still has a loyal player base. Both games clearly benefited from developers who deeply understood and respected the world of Middle-earth, allowing players to truly feel immersed in it.

The success continued with Monolith Productions’ Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Middle-earth: Shadow of War, released in 2014 and 2017. These games featured the groundbreaking Nemesis System – one of the most creative gameplay additions of the last ten years – and were simply excellent. Sadly, Shadow of War still stands as the last truly outstanding Lord of the Rings game, demonstrating the franchise’s potential when combined with bold ideas, smart design, and a respectful approach to the source material. Since its release, however, that level of quality hasn’t been seen again.

Middle-earth Deserves Better Than Its Recent Games

Since the release of Shadow of War, the Lord of the Rings video game series hasn’t fared well. Instead of improving on the success of that game, newer titles have been largely forgettable or disappointing. The Lord of the Rings: Gollum received particularly harsh criticism for its poor gameplay, weak story, technical problems, and for failing to capture the spirit of the source material, becoming a clear low point for the franchise. Even subsequent releases, like The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria and Tales of the Shire: A “The Lord of the Rings” Game, were, at best, only average.

Recent projects based on this popular universe have been met with varied reactions, and many fans feel underwhelmed. While these projects try to delve into individual characters or unexplored parts of the story, they often lack the quality and refinement fans expect. They haven’t managed to recreate the grand scale, intense drama, and emotional depth that make the original world so captivating. Given the wealth of source material, it’s disappointing to see Middle-earth sometimes feel restricted by uninspired choices or a lack of ambition.

It’s hard to overlook the potential here, especially when you look at the success of recent Star Wars games like Jedi: Fallen Order, Jedi: Survivor, and Star Wars: Squadrons – with even more Star Wars games on the way. These releases prove that well-known franchises can flourish when paired with talented developers and strong creative vision. In contrast, gaming in Middle-earth feels stuck. Many fans have lost hope of seeing another truly great game in the franchise. Now, there’s some hope for a new project rumored to be similar to Hogwarts Legacy, but set in the world of Middle-earth.

How Does One of the Greatest Franchises Continue to Fail the Gaming Industry?

It’s surprising that The Lord of the Rings, such a huge and important franchise, hasn’t had more success with its video games. One issue might be the complexity of the license itself. Middle-earth is a richly detailed world, and game developers often find it hard to strike a balance between being true to the source material and taking creative risks. This can result in games that feel too cautious. However, the popularity of Shadow of Mordor showed that fans appreciate innovation, as long as it’s done well.

A key problem is that game studios are increasingly focused on projects that will consistently generate revenue, like games with ongoing services and purchases. While the world of Middle-earth could be a great fit for this approach, recent games haven’t fully explored its rich stories. Without a strong, long-term creative vision, the franchise gets stuck in a cycle of smaller, less ambitious projects that don’t generate much enthusiasm or trust. This leads studios to create safe, uninspired games instead of truly memorable ones.

What Middle-earth really needs is a game developer who deeply respects the original stories while also being creatively bold. Fans want more than just a copy of the books and movies; they’re hoping for compelling narratives, characters they’ll remember, and gameplay that truly captures the spirit of Tolkien’s world. Until a team approaches the franchise with the same passion and quality as Respawn did with Star Wars, Middle-earth will keep falling short of its potential. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a truly great The Lord of the Rings game, and it’s time to deliver. Until then, fans will understandably be hesitant and expect little from any new attempt.

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2026-02-05 22:13