The Green Book of the White Downs: Gaming in Middle-earth

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)

Official announcement
https://news.ea.com/press-releases/press-releases-details/2022/Electronic-Arts-Partners-with-Middle-earth-Enterprises-on-the-Development-of-Upcoming-Mobile-Game-The-Lord-of-the-Rings-Heroes-of-Middle-earth/default.aspx

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)

MAGIC: THE GATHERING (WIZARDS OF THE COAST)
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

News here and here.

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)