State of play report (June 2022)
The dice have definitely rolled favourably for Middle-earth of late. If you are a gamer and love J.R.R. Tolkien’s works, you have a lot of choice open to you. From board games, card games, roleplaying games, mobile games and PC/console games.
With the hugely-anticipated Amazon TV series, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, nearing release date (2 September 2022) and several other big projects expecting to widen interest in Tolkien’s Middle-earth, it’s interesting that we are still waiting to hear about the sale of Saul Zaentz Co.’s Tolkien rights (Middle-earth Enterprises) which includes merchandising and gaming.
The
license as it currently stands (for how much longer?) is explained here.
Previous Gaming in Middle-earth: State of play - 23 August 2021
Below
are the current games, based on the book license, which are out or due to be released.
Please note I don’t cover Games Workshop (mostly due to their license being focused on the films) but you can find their Middle-earth merchandise here.
Note: Images from the various license holders' websites. Used here to illustrate their games.
ARES
GAMES
War of the Ring and Hunt
for the Ring
http://www.aresgames.eu/games/war-of-the-ring-line
Type: Board games
Social
media
https://www.facebook.com/AresGames
https://twitter.com/AresGamesSrl
Current
products
The
War of the Ring Second Edition
Lords
of Middle-earth
Warriors
of Middle-earth
The
Battle of Five Armies
Hunt
for the Ring
The
Fate of Erebor
Expected
releases
War
of the Ring: The Card Game (Late 2022)
Hunt
for the Ring: Light and Shadow (2023)
War
of the Ring: Kings of Middle-earth (2023)
CONQUEROR VIRTUAL CHALLENGES
The Lord of the Rings
Virtual Challenges
https://www.theconqueror.events/lotr/
https://www.theconqueror.events/shire/
https://www.theconqueror.events/fellowship/
https://www.theconqueror.events/moria/
https://www.theconqueror.events/sauron/
https://www.theconqueror.events/mordor/
Type: App (Virtual experience through fitness/exercise)
Social
media
https://www.facebook.com/MyVirtualMission/
https://twitter.com/myvmission
Current
products
The Shire (145 miles)
The Fellowship (98 miles)
Mines of Moria (40 miles)
The Eye of Sauron (95 miles)
Mordor (282 miles)
Expected
releases
None
DAEDALIC ENTERTAINMENT/NACON
Lord of The Rings:
Gollum
https://www.daedalic.com/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1265780/The_Lord_of_the_Rings_Gollum/?curator_clanid=1738300
Type: PC and Platform game
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Social
media
https://www.facebook.com/daedalic
https://twitter.com/daedalic
Expected release: 1 September 2022
News articles:
https://corporate.nacongaming.com/en/press/lotr-gollum-announcement/
https://www.gamespress.com/NACON-and-Daedalic-Entertainment-are-forming-a-fellowship-to-publish-a
ELECTRONIC ARTS
The Lord of the
Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth
Type: Mobile game
Social
media
https://www.facebook.com/ea.uk/
https://twitter.com/ea
Current
products
N/A
Expected
releases
The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of
Middle-earth (2023)
FANTASY
FLIGHT GAMES
The Lord of The
Rings Living Card Game
and Journeys in Middle-Earth
https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/index/
Type: Board and card games
Social
media
https://www.facebook.com/FantasyFlightGames
https://twitter.com/FFGames
The Lord of The
Rings Living Card Game
https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/products/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-card-game/
Current
products (Lord of the Rings Living Card Game)
Lord
of the Rings: The Card Game Revised Edition
Dwarves
of Durin (starter deck)
Elves
of Lórien (starter deck)
Defenders
of Gondor (starter deck)
Riders
of Rohan (starter deck)
The
Dark of Mirkwood
Expected
releases (Lord of the Rings Living Card Game)
Angmar Awakened Hero Expansion
(MEC107)
Angmar Awakened Campaign
Expansion (MEC108)
Lord of the Rings
Living Card Game (Digital version)
https://www.asmodee-digital.com/en/lord-rings-adventure-card-game/
Journeys in
Middle-Earth
https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/products/the-lord-of-the-rings-journeys-in-middle-earth/
Current
products (Journeys in Middle-earth)
The
Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth
Middle-earth
Gamemat
Villains
of Eriador Figure Pack
Shadowed
Paths
Dwellers
in Darkness Figure Pack
Hunt
for the Ember Crown (DLC)
The
Haunting of Dale (DLC)
Spreading War
Expected
releases (Journeys in Middle-earth)
Unknown
Free Range Games / North Beach
Games
The Lord of the
Rings: Return to Moria
https://www.returntomoria.com/
https://www.freerangegames.com/return-to-moria
http://northbeachgames.com/
Type: PC game (Survival/crafting)
Social
media
https://twitter.com/ReturnToMoria
https://discord.gg/6TNP7as9md
Current
products
N/A
Expected
releases
The Lord of the Rings: Return
to Moria (Spring 2023)
FRI
LIGAN (FREE LEAGUE)
The One Ring
Roleplaying Game and Adventures in Middle-Earth RPG (D&D 5e)
https://freeleaguepublishing.com/en/games/the-one-ring/
Type: Tabletop RPG (Originally on Kickstarter)
Social
media
https://www.facebook.com/FreeLeaguePublishing
https://twitter.com/FreeLeaguePub
Current
products
The
One Ring Core Rules
The
One Ring Starter Set
The
One Ring Loremaster's Screen & Rivendell Compendium
The
One Ring Dice Set (Black or White)
Expected
releases
The One Ring: Ruins of the Lost
Realm
The One Ring: Strider Mode (PDF)
The One Ring: Peoples of
Wilderland (PDF)
The One Ring: Character
Lifepaths (PDF)
Moria?
KINGS WILD PROJECT
The Lord of the Rings
Playing Cards Vol. 1
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kingswildproject/the-lord-of-the-rings-playing-cards-vol-1/
https://kingswildproject.com/products/the-lord-of-the-rings-playing-cards
Type: Card game
Social
media
https://www.facebook.com/kingswildproject
https://twitter.com/kingswildproj
Current
products
N/A
Expected
releases
The Lord of the Rings Playing
Cards Vol. 1 (Pre-order expected December 2022)
Universes Beyond: The Lord of the Rings
https://magic.wizards.com/en
Type: Collectible card game
Social
media
https://www.facebook.com/MagicTheGathering
https://twitter.com/wizards_magic
Expected release: 2023
Press releases
https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/magics-voyages-universes-beyond-2021-02-25
https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/secret-lair-universes-beyond-update-2021-06-07
Exclusives through the Secret
Lair with “curated card drops”?
https://secretlair.wizards.com/uk
https://magic.wizards.com/en/secretlair
Update: 25 Aug 2021
Wizards of the Coast did an
upcoming set reveal at their Magic Showcase 2021 (39 mins in for the
relevant piece) on Tuesday 24th August 2021 including the “Lord of the
Rings: Tales of Middle-earth” set.
Some details:
Full booster set
Tabletop, Magic Online and MTG Arena
Four Commander decks
Secret Lair drops
Modern legal
Release 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPrq5jk5J04&t=2350s
MITHRIL MINIATURES
Lord of the Rings miniatures and accessories
https://mithril.ie/
Type: Gaming figures and accessories
Social
media
https://mithril.ie/facebook/
https://twitter.com/princeaugust
Current
products
Extensive
product list on website
Notes
Though not a producer of actual
games, Mithril Miniatures has been producing gaming accessories for over 30
years.
Mithril Miniatures does boxed sets and also has a special “Fellowship Club” where you can suggest and vote on new miniatures.
NETEASE AND WARNER BROS
Lord of the Rings:
Rise to War
https://www.lotr-risetowar.com/index.html
Type: Mobile strategy game
Social
media
https://www.facebook.com/lotrrisetowar/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/lotrrisetowar/
https://twitter.com/lotrrisetowar
Platform: Apple App Store, Google Play, Samsung Galaxy Store
Current
Release
Season
Three: Rebuilding Glory campaign
Season
Four: The War of the Ring campaign
Expected
release
Season
Five: Tactics Evolved campaign
Press release
https://www.neteasegames.com/news/game/20200616/30576_886887.html
STANDING STONES GAMES
Lord of the Rings Online
https://www.lotro.com/en
Type: Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game (MMORPG)
Social
media
https://www.facebook.com/LOTRO
https://twitter.com/lotro
Current
update
Update
32: Rangers and Ruins
Update
33: The Yondershire
Expected
updates
Update 34
Upcoming events and festivals
Midsummer Festival (16 June to
11 July 2022)
Treasure Bugan Event (21-26
July 2022)
Farmer's Faire (9-30 August 2022)
Tales of the Shipwrecked
Mariner (15-20 September 2022)
Bilbo's Birthday (21-27
September 2022)
Harvestmath Festival (12 October
– 2 November 2022)
Durin's Day Event (15-21
October 2022)
Yuletide Festival (8 December 2022
– 3 January 2023)
THAMES & KOSMOS
EXIT: The Lord of the
Rings - Shadows Over Middle-Earth
https://www.thamesandkosmos.co.uk/product/exit-lord-of-the-rings-shadows-over-middle-earth-due-june/
https://store.thamesandkosmos.com/collections/exit-the-game
Type: Board game
Social
media
https://www.facebook.com/thamesandkosmos
https://twitter.com/ThamesAndKosmos
Current
products
EXIT: The Lord of the Rings -
Shadows Over Middle-Earth
Expected
releases
None
ULTRA PRO/SOPHISTICATED GAMES
Battle for
Middle-earth and
Journey to Mordor
https://www.ultrapro.com/division.php?d=g
https://ultraprogames.com/products/the-lord-of-the-rings-battle-for-middle-earth
https://ultraprogames.com/products/the-lord-of-the-rings-journey-to-mordor
Type: Board games and card games
Social
media
https://www.facebook.com/UltraProInternational
https://twitter.com/UltraProIntl
Current
Products
The Lord of The Rings: Battle for
Middle Earth (SKU: 10892)
The Lord of The Rings: Journey to
Mordor (SKU: 10893)
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