The Lord of the Rings franchise is a massive one, and it’s no secret that gamers love it. This is especially true when it comes to LOTRO, which has been around for over 15 years and continues to innovate with new expansions and a huge player base.
With Embracer Group acquiring Middle-earth Enterprises last year, we’re going to see more LotR games coming out in the near future. In fact, the company recently revealed that it has five LotR titles in development with external partners.
1. The Lord of the Rings: Gollum
Embracer Group, the company that holds the franchise rights to Lord of the Rings, has announced five games are expected to launch in the next 2 years. These include the upcoming The Lord of the Rings: Gollum from developer Daedalic Entertainment and the co-op survival game Return to Moria.
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is a video game that’s being developed by German studio Daedalic Entertainment. It’s based on the books written by J.R.R. Tolkien instead of the movies, and it’s releasing in 2022 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
It’s a stealth-based action-adventure that will allow you to play as Gollum, the beloved dwarves from Middle-earth who was twisted and manipulated by the One Ring. You’ll be able to use stealth, agility, and cunning to overcome enemies, and you’ll have the ability to assassinate or dispose of them in creative ways.
2. The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria
In the Third Age of Middle-earth, the dwarves in Khazad-dum delved too deep and accidentally awakened the Balrog of Morgoth. As a result, the ancient kingdom was ravaged by goblins, orcs, and cave-trolls.
In The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria, players assemble a team of dwarves and control them as they rush back into their homeland in order to reclaim it from the horrors that have engulfed it. You’ll mine, craft, build, and explore the depths of Moria – but be wary, as mysterious dangers lurk within the mines that will awaken the darkness beneath you.
To survive the claustrophobic Mines of Moria, players must conserve resources, hunt and gather for food, and manage their sleep, temperature, and noise levels. You’ll also utilize dynamic light systems for safety, blaze a path deeper into the mines, and battle unspeakable evils as you make your way to the very heart of Moria.
3. The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth
The Lord of the Rings trilogy is one of the most iconic pieces of literature ever written. The fantasy world of Middle-earth is ripe for video games and experiences that bring the series’ themes to life.
Now, with five Lord of the Rings games in development, the time has come to bring these stories back to life. The upcoming release, called The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth, will bring this rich universe to mobile devices in the next two years.
Based on the appendices that are part of Tolkien’s book series, this new game takes players thousands of years before the events in The Hobbit. Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, it features a plethora of characters that you can bring into battle against each other.
4. The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth is a real-time strategy game based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s original trilogy and Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings film series.
The game features two campaigns: a good campaign and an evil one. The good campaign follows the storyline from the movies, including the battle at Amon Hen, the Battle of the Hornburg, the Ents’ conquest of Isengard, the siege of Osgiliath and Sam’s search for Frodo in Shelob’s lair.
The evil campaign follows an alternate version of the War in the North. Mordor’s overwhelming forces attack Esgaroth and Erebor, and Elven reinforcements from Mirkwood led by Thranduil save the Dwarves from Sauron’s grasp. The Goblin army then attacks the Grey Havens by land and sea. Gorkil then leads a relentless march west, besieging Fornost and capturing the Dwarves of Eriador.
5. The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Mount Doom
Lord of the Rings fans have been waiting a long time for new games to come out that explore the world of Middle Earth. But now, a number of titles are in the works and set to release within the next 2 years.
If you’re a fan of the LOTR franchise, you can’t go wrong with any of these five games! They’re all free-to-play, offer a deep lore and bring you closer to the beloved books and movies than any other game.
In The Battle for Mount Doom, players will take on the role of Frodo Baggins and head off on a quest to destroy the One Ring in the fiery belly of Mordor. They’ll travel across Middle-earth on a board, using Tolkien’s characters and locations to fight their way through each stage of the adventure.