Rich, multifaceted fictional universes like J. R. R. Tolkien's epic fantasy legendarium will often inspire many different types of spin-off content. It's likely that they'll also have a plethora of related video games, each able to explore different aspects of the world thanks to the complexity and detailed construction of the original source material. The Lord of the Rings is a much loved, enduringly popular franchise that has inspired books, films, TV shows, and video games, covering many different mediums.
While there has been a near-endless list of Lord of the Rings video games over the years, Monolith Productions' 2014 action-adventure title Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is consistently considered to be one of the best. Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor combined elements of the franchise's broad canon with original aspects and an innovative gameplay mechanic that has made it hard to beat in terms of ratings, even if other Middle-earth-centered titles have put up a good fight.
Previous Lord Of The Rings Games
Tolkien's works and worldbuilding around the fictional realm of Middle-earth were substantial and extend far beyond The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy of books and films that players might be most familiar with. As such, they've offered fertile ground for reinterpretation and reworking in various video games. With decades of fandom to pull from, it's no surprise that game developers have been so prolific when it comes to the well-known fantasy property. The list of previous games that focus on The Lord of the Rings saga or the world of Middle-earth is impressively large, from the illustrated text adventure The Hobbit from 1982 to the upcoming mobile RPG The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth.
Some of the games produced with Tolkein's work as their inspiration are definitely better than others, and the list is peppered with half-baked film tie-ins and unimaginative interpretations. There are some much better games in the mix as well, with epic RTS titles and some compelling narrative experiences to be had alongside the slightly poorer efforts. Some of the older games that particularly stand out are releases like Traveller's Tales' LEGO Lord of the Rings. This game combined the best of both franchises, with the grandiose storytelling and fan-favorite characters from The Lord of the Rings and the charmingly stylistic gameplay of the LEGO series.
The Lord of the Rings Online, the MMORPG set in Middle-earth, was also a wonderful way for fans to fully engage with the world of elves, orcs, and wizards as they explored the different regions of Tolkien's creation. The expansions over the years have continued to build on The Lord of the Rings Online's story and offer new aspects for the fans to discover. The game fully utilizes the rich world of its source material and offers a comprehensive, fantasy-themed adventure.
Why Shadow Of Mordor Is The Highest Rated
Among the many, many different Middle-earth set video games, there are some truly exceptional examples of the high fantasy world. There are RTS games like The Battle For Middle-Earth and its sequel that let players experience what it's like to lead an army and defend a stronghold, and action-focused titles like The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King which is a thrilling companion to the third film in Peter Jackson's trilogy. However, despite a handful of very strong contenders, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor continually tops the pile when it comes to the highest-rated Middle-earth video games.
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is the perfect example of when a developer respects the source material but still isn't afraid to get creative when it comes to the story. There are canon characters like the wraith of the Elf Lord Celebrimbor who feature prominently, but the protagonist is an original character who helps to take the narrative in new directions. Talion is a captain of Gondor whose untimely death and subsequent supernatural abilities sets him off on a quest for revenge. Set during the sixty year gap between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, the game mixes familiar settings and characters with new narrative dimensions to create a story that has the best elements of the Tolkien universe but still feels fresh.
One of the best aspects of Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor that has catapulted it to the top of the list when it comes to Middle-earth games is the original mechanic that it introduced. The Nemesis System was one of the most impressive things to come out of the game, and has shown that there are plenty of ways to improve upon tried and tested formulas. The system gave meaning to enemy encounters and made sure that each player's experience of Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor was unique thanks to the randomization element. It also ensured that gamers became more invested in the heirarchy of enemies, as each victory or defeat felt much more personal. It's a system that many hope other games will adopt, and it's made Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor stand out among the other great Middle-earth titles.
Upcoming Lord Of The Rings Games
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor may hold the current crown for the highest-rated Middle-earth game, but there are plenty more on the horizon that culd challenge its position. The Lord of the Rings holds a similar cultural space as other multimedia franchises like Star Wars, and their collection of video games will continue to keep growing as their popularity remains consistent. There are a number of games centered around The Lord of the Rings universe that are currently in development from studios like Daedalic Entertainment, Free Range Games, Athlon Games, and Weta Interactive.
These include the upcoming action-adventure game The Lord of the Rings: Gollum. This title follows the titular Gollum before the events of The Lord of the Rings as he's released from his torturous imprisonment in Mordor. It will incorporate elements of stealth and focus on storytelling as players see sides to both Middle-earth and the slippery former ring owner that they've not encountered before.
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is available now for PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.
