Highlights
- Most Lord of the Rings games have overlooked the role of Hobbits, but The Hobbit game does an admirable job of capturing the essence of Bilbo Baggins' adventure.
- The Return of the King game allows players to play as all four Hobbits, with smooth combat and thrilling set pieces that pay off their important roles in the narrative.
- The Lego Lord of the Rings and Lego The Hobbit games offer a fun and escapist experience, with unique skills and abilities for the Hobbit characters, and a scaled-down open world to explore.
Numerous Lord of the Rings games have emerged over the years. Some depict the iconic scenes from the mainline trilogy while others explore other pivotal periods and events in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. Both cases have provided plenty of thrills for fans and general audiences alike. Despite that success, however, most titles neglect a key aspect of the setting.
Not many Middle-earth games let fans play as Hobbits. Members of this short species mainly subsist on farming, relaxing, and generally enjoying peace and quiet. One can understand why it'd be tough to make that into a game. That said, these Halflings are instrumental in the Lord of the Rings saga. No one expects much from them, yet they are capable of unparalleled daring and unexpected ingenuity. A precious few titles have utilized those qualities.
4 The Hobbit
Developer: Inevitable Entertainment
Platform: PS2, Xbox, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, PC
This is the sole entry where players only control a Halfling, and that couldn't be more appropriate. Based on Tolkien's original Middle-earth book, The Hobbit follows the eponymous Bilbo Baggins. The humble Hobbit finds himself whisked off on an adventure with a company of Dwarves. Their goal is to reclaim their mountain home and vast wealth from a malevolent dragon. It's a solid foundation for an exciting journey, and the game does an admirable job of building on that foundation.
The Hobbit fashions the adventure into an action platformer with light stealth elements. Progressing through the major story beats leads to welcome variety in levels and objectives. True, the gameplay isn't always as smooth as it should be, particularly with the clunky combat. However, traversing environments works well enough, which is the most important for capturing the tale's sense of exploration. Fans feel like a small guy navigating a world larger than life.
The presentation also helps in that area. The design, music, and cutscenes all have a whimsical style without drifting into cheesiness. They give the impression of playing through a lighthearted storybook. What better way to match the essence of Tolkien's upbeat work?
3 The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King
Developer: EA Redwood Shores, Hypnos Entertainment
Platform: PS2, Xbox, PC, GameCube, Game Boy Advance
People generally regard the Lord of the Rings movie tie-ins as commendable hack-and-slash affairs. The Return of the King represents the most complete version of that concept. Players cut down armies of Orcs in an explosive series of levels. The combat is smooth and rife with combos to unlock. This encourages both experimentation and progression. That goes for all characters. Every member of the Fellowship is available, including the four Hobbits. Each one has weapons to wield, skills to unlock, and levels to play. None of this content is groundbreaking, but it's definitely thrilling in the moment. Of course, it doesn't hurt that these guys have their best moments in the trilogy.
As a narrative, The Return of the King is where every plot thread pays off. Most characters have important roles to play in their respective arcs, all prepared to lay down their lives for the cause. This means all four Hobbit heroes get exciting set pieces. Needless to say, they have some exhilarating tales to tell when they get home, and fans can say the same.
2 Lego The Lord Of The Rings/Lego The Hobbit
Developer: Traveller's Tales
Platform: PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC, Wii, Wii U, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, PS Vita
Previous entries have portrayed Hobbits' adventures in one chapter in Tolkien's saga, but why stop there? Lego The Lord of the Rings lets fans play through the entire trilogy. This obviously encompasses numerous denizens of Middle-earth, including the four central Hobbits. In true Lego game fashion, it includes multiple forms for these protagonists. The developers even throw in a few minor characters on the side, such as Rosie Cotton and Farmer Maggot. What other Middle-earth game can say that?
Also typical of this series are the unique skills of each character. These aid in exploration and puzzle-solving. Having exclusive strengths lets the iconic Halflings differentiate themselves more than ever before. Moreover, it enhances the escapist and friendly fun.
Lego The Hobbit furthers that enjoyment with its own adventure. Granted, Dwarves make up most of the roster, but Bilbo has a number of tricks up his sleeve. The fact that he's the only Hobbit makes him even more distinct from his company. He gains skills and tools as the game progresses, illustrating a personal journey as well as an external one. That external quest is nothing to sneeze at, either.
Both games take place across Middle-earth. The map may be scaled-down, but it's still a sizable open world with all locales from both film trilogies. Within these areas is a plethora of side quests and hidden goodies just waiting for a pint-sized burglar to find. It's a shame The Battle of the Five Armies never got the same Lego treatment, but the loss is forgivable considering how much else is on offer.
1 The Lord Of The Rings Online
Developer: Standing Stone Games
Platform: PC
Active for nearly two decades, The Lord of the Rings Online stands as the deepest and most all-encompassing version of Tolkien's world in a video game format. It has the massive open world of the Lego titles and the stylized aesthetic of The Hobbit, but it lets fans forge their own tale in the War of the Ring.
Hobbits are one of several playable races. What's more is that they come in any number of classes--Bard, Champion, etc. These classes boast radically different skills and attributes. Not only does this lend a welcome variety to the Shire folk, but it enables fans to choose their playstyles and make their journey unique.
They can further increase that sense outside the narrative. Many side quests concern one's class or race. In addition, LOTRO hosts frequent events for players to socialize, do extra activities, and improve their professions. Several of these take place in the Shire, such as the Bywater Festival. The myriad of options means that devout fans can settle comfortably into their Hobbit existence. After all, it's no bad thing to celebrate a simple life.