Some of the latest news in the realm of entertainment is about the new Lord of the Rings movies, and, considering how popular they are, it's easy to forget about the rest of the vast franchise. Even the books tend to fade into the background. While fans wait for more news on the upcoming television shows and movies from everyone's favorite high-fantasy IP, the video game branch of the LOTR franchise is also leading forever on and on
Gollum is the release that everyone is waiting for in 2023, but the library of video games for The Lord of the Rings franchise extends into everything from MMORPGs to point-and-click. Despite this variety, a few locations in Tolkien's vast world have still to host their own game although they've been featured as a location in others. Not everything has to be a AAA title or an MMORPG, and there are styles from the olden days that have been revamped for the contemporary market.
1 Rhûn
The obscure kingdom of Rhûn is often the last name shown on the maps as they move further east. A few games in the LotR franchise include this region as a mod or a strategic battle location from the Second or Third Age. An adventure about previous times, including the very beginning of Middle-earth, could easily be its own adventure game.
The setting also has a lot of potential for those who want to see a side of Middle-earth that differs from the medieval European aesthetic. The area around the sea of Rhun has more of a Grecian or Eastern European look, with a climate that yields grapes and olives, and there's also the looming evil of the Cult of Melkor depending on the period.
2 Númenor
This game would take place during the Second Age, before the kingdom sank into the ocean, or perhaps the cataclysm that sank the island continent could be part of the story. The place is big enough that it could have its own MMORPG, and it's technically not part of Middle-earth, but several other interesting possibilities exist.
World-building and survivalist games are also popular, and players could take control of the Numenorean survivors, escaping from the ruins of their former kingdom to build a new one. Alternatively, they could play the Easterlings as marauders or pirates from the mainland in an attempt to stop them.
3 The Stronghold Of Thu
The earliest version of Beren and Luthien was a story called "The Tale of Tinuviel," and it was slightly different from the final draft. The main character, Tinuviel, who would eventually become Luthien, has to infiltrate the stronghold of Thu, who would evolve into Sauron, and rescue Beren so he can retrieve a Silmaril. Their enemies include Wargs, malevolent spirits, and giant cats.
It's the type of video game that could take place in a small area, even a single building. Old-school styles like side-scrolling, point-and-click, or even FPS would make a great game for the Stronghold of Thu.
4 Helm's Deep
Helm's Deep includes a vast area in addition to the Hornburg, the fortress that takes center stage for a portion of the story in The Two Towers. It also includes part of the White Mountains, Helm's Dike, and the Glittering Caves. That's plenty of space for a strategy game or an adventure title that includes exploration and leveling.
The Glittering Caves would be a stunning location to see brought into a game, a place so intricate and beautiful that it left Legolas speechless. Gimli became the lord of a colony in this realm until he crossed to the Grey Havens with his friend.
5 The Castle of Queen Berúthiel
Another idea for a more contained video game, like a platformer or a stand-alone adventure with some RPG elements, would take place at a time in history when Gondor was ruled by Queen Berúthiel and her nine cats. She wasn't a benevolent or well-like ruler and was eventually exiled by her own husband, yet another indication that Tolkien was probably a dog person.
The quest could be to fight through the levels of the city until reaching the castle and then fighting through each level. Players would have to fight a cat boss at the end until reaching the Queen herself, of course, with her final boss-spy cat.
6 Rhovanion
How come there aren't any survivalist games in the LotR franchise? This genre is getting more popular all the time, and if it's a big scary forest that draws players in, there are a few in Middle-earth that can be pretty intimidating.
There are several instances in the movies and series when the forests of Rhovanion play a role. Fanghorn is a part of the vast forest that makes up this region's heart, as is Mirkwood, and in ancient times it was one great forest that spread across the continent. Instead of just trying to get through it, the goal would be to find a place to settle and survive.
7 Bree-land
Another old genre that's getting a lot of new creative ideas and media attention is the simulator. Designers are rediscovering all the possibilities of simple pleasures like cooking, sorting, and gardening, which may make some players think of the Shire. So why not a sim featuring a panty, a garden, and a cozy little Hobbit-hole?
Bree-land is the region that includes several other smaller townships and neighborhoods where both Hobbits and humans, but mostly Hobbits, live and work. That means places like Buckland as well as the Shire. A game in which a player inherits or buys a house and then tends to it, Hobbit-style, would make a great sim. Add minigames like fishing and smoking to the daily activities to make them uniquely Tolkien-esque.