Summary
WhileLord of the Ringsmay be one of the biggest names in fantasy, it has not really dominated the video game landscape. There was a time when titles likeMiddle-earth: Shadow of Mordorwere met with rave reviews, however after its sequel was released, the franchise seemed to vanish from the gaming scene. But things seem to be changing forLord of the Ringswith the release ofReturn to MoriaandTales of the Shire. And so far, the direction that those games have chosen to take the franchise has been great to see.
For years, it felt likeLord of the Ringsgameswanted to purely focus on the core story or classic action-adventure experiences. With these latest games, Middle-earth seems to be branching out a bit by exploring new genres and new cultures. This has not only given fans a diverse catalog of titles to mess around with, but it has also built out this fantasy landscape further in the process. Even if some of these titles have not been met with overly strong reviews, this direction will hopefully not change any time soon.
Lord of the Rings Games Seem to Be Moving in the Right Direction
Return to Moria and Tales of the Shire Have Expanded the Franchise in Exciting Ways
After the release ofMiddle-earth: Shadow of Warback in 2017, theLord of the Ringsfranchise was seemingly put on the backburner outside someLord of the Rings Onlineexpansions and mobile games. And whileLord of the Rings: Gollumwas supposed to be its grand return, that game was critically panned and ultimately led to the closure of the studio. So, it felt like fans really had nowhere to turn to. However, that seems to be quickly changing with a slew of new experiences that started withReturn to Moria.
Lord of the Rings: Return to Moriamay have been met with a mixed reception, but it was unlike anything fans had really gotten before. It brought the franchise to the survival genre for what was mostly a pretty basic experience. However, it also spotlighted the Dwarves and their culture for the first time. The focus was no longeron the One Ring orThe Hobbit, and instead, players got to see a new side of the franchise. Not only that, but they also got to see a time after the main trilogy, which was an exciting prospect.
Tales of the Shirewill also be bringing Middle-earth to a new genre: the life sim. Additionally, it will also be taking the focus away fromLord of the Rings' core story and instead followthe simple lives of Hobbits. Players will be experiencing what it means to be a Hobbit while interacting with a wide variety of new and familiar characters. While it remains to be seen if it results in a memorable experience, the concept alone sounds extremely promising.
Future Lord of the Rings Games Need to Take Notes
BothReturn to MoriaandTales of the Shireseem to be leading a new era ofLord of the Ringsgames thatare less about Sauronand more about simply living in the world. It has given players new ways to interact with this fantasy landscape while also letting them experience the unique cultures of the races that call it home. Even if these titles have not been stellar so far, the trend of exploring these cultures should not stop any time soon.
Letting players get a look at the races that call Middle-earth home has been a fantastic way to further expand Tolkien’s world. Additionally, the wide variety of genres it has explored has helped make this world far more accessible to more players. So, hopefully, there are even more unique experiences like that. While the Hobbits and Dwarves have now gotten their time in the spotlight, there are many more cultures and races just waiting to headline their own fantastical adventure.
