Tomorrow, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor hits store shelves. It gives us a closer look at the blasted wasteland that Sauron calls home during the time period between The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring. Our review is pretty positive, so it's definitely a title that should be on your radar…but it isn't the only game set in Tolkien's universe worth playing. If you want to avoid the dreadful licensing cash-ins and focus on more interesting titles rooted in Middle-earth's history, this is what you should be playing.
5. The Hobbit (1982)
You might expect the first official video game foray into Tolkien's world to be a mess, but Middle-earth seemed right at home here. Maybe it's because the text-adventure genre still relied on words more than images to convey the action, but Beam Software crafted a fitting adaptation with this popular PC title. It has a special text parser that allows for more nuanced instructions, leading to more freedom and less frustration than is typically associated with titles of this era. Sure, it seems primitive by modern standards, but it was a surprisingly strong start.
4. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
A third-person action game might have trouble matching the majesty of Peter Jackson's films, but Stormfront Studios still makes it fun to fight through the key events. Despite the name, this PS2, Xbox, and GameCube title includes levels from both The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers. Assuming the roles of Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas, players hack and slash through legions of familiar foes. The experience may not dwell too much on thoughtful characterization or compelling lore, but it still a great way to dip your toes into Middle-earth. Because it emphasizes the action elements, you don't spend time moping around as Frodo; as the other members of the fellowship, you slaughter orcs and defend Helm's Deep, resulting in fun and fast-paced gameplay. Some fans prefer the 2003 follow-up, The Return of the King, but we have fonder memories of this installment.
3. The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age (2004)
The story concept for this turn-based RPG (on PS2, Xbox, and GameCube) is a disaster. It involves a second fellowship containing characters that are basically just copies of actual members of the fellowship, like the ranger, the dwarf, and the man from Gondor. They are always a few steps behind Frodo and the gang, which means that they do all of the same stuff – fight the Balrog, for instance – just in a less spectacular and definitive way. So why is The Third Age on this list? The gameplay is remarkably solid, borrowing combat elements from popular RPGs of the era like Final Fantasy X and Xenosaga. With a decent difficulty level and an emphasis on buffs and debuffs, encounters have a tactical edge and require you to make every turn count. Even if the plot doesn't pay off, the adventure is entertaining.
2. Lord of the Rings Online (2007)
Tolkien's universe is a large place, and few video game genres can faithfully represent. The sprawling zones of an MMO are an ideal fit for Middle-earth, and Turbine brings it to life with epic quests and extensive lore. The standard suite of features – PvP, crafting, group instances – are all here, along with some rock-solid RPG gameplay. Combat is entertaining (though not revolutionary), and the trait and title systems are a satisfying way to progress. All of this is augmented by the inherently rich world, which players are free to explore and learn more about as they see fit. Though it initially launched with a subscription model on PC, the game went free-to-play a few years back, and remains successful today. Achieving a seven-year lifespan isn't easy for an MMORPG – a testament to the quality of Lord of the Rings Online.
1. Lego The Lord of the Rings (2012)
While Lord of the Rings Online lets players explore a vast, open version of Middle-earth, sometimes you only need the highlight reel. That's where Lego Lord of the Rings excels. Traveller's Tales splits the main campaign into separate levels (played solo or co-op), but also lets players explore an open-yet-condensed version of Middle-earth in between. You still get to see all of the iconic locations from Mordor to the Shire, but you don't have days of riding or walking between landmarks. Wandering the world, collecting Mithril blocks, forging items, and doing quests for citizens adds variety to the standard formula. Plus, seeing the story told with the Lego series' signature brand of humor makes this a lighthearted and unique vision of Middle-earth.
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