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

Gaming in Middle-earth - State of play report May 2023

🎲 The dice are still rolling favourably for Middle-earth though it has gone a little quiet on the release front with some delays to games. Nevertheless, for gamers and those who love J.R.R. Tolkien’s works, there is a lot of choice open to you. From board games, card games, roleplaying games, mobile games and PC/console games.

Embracer now own Middle-earth Enterprises, with an announcement made on 18 August 2022. They also own matching rights “in other Middle-earth-related literary works authorized by the Tolkien Estate and HarperCollins, which have yet to be explored.”

Lars Wingefors, Embracer CEO and co-founder, discussed the Tolkien acquisition during the Q2 earnings report on 17 November 2022. He stated that: “Embracer now has four licensed “Lord of the Rings” games in production with external developers.”

Moving forward to 2023, the Embracer Group Interim Report Q3 October-December 2022 (PDF link) was released on 16 February 2023, it states:

"In the quarter, Freemode closed the previously announced acquisition Middle-Earth Enterprises. For Freemode, this acquisition has generated a lot of interest among both internal and external partners for the Lord of the Rings IP, across different media formats. There are currently five games in production by external partners, to be released in financial year 2023/24. There is also one film in production by an external partner. Freemode continues to make selective key recruitments in various parts of its business to strengthen the organization." (my bold)

So there are five expected games. The Embracer Group Interim Report Q3 presentation can be found here (PDF link). Embracer Group has recently (24 May 2023) released their Q4 & Full 22/23 Report here (PDF link here). I covered some of it in a Tweet thread here. Some games have been delayed, some just released. The big announcement (15 May 2023) was the Amazon Games LOTR MMO. See the Amazon Games entry below for all the official announcements.

Daedalic Entertainment/Nacon’s “The Lord of The Rings: Gollum” has just been released as well as Electronic Arts’ “The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth”. Free Range Games/North Beach Games’ “The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria” has been delayed, expected date unknown. No updates on the WĒTĀ Workshop/Private Division.

The five announced games above are all now known. They are:

Daedalic Entertainment/Nacon – “The Lord of The Rings: Gollum”
Electronic Arts – “The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth”
Free Range Games/North Beach Games – “The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria”
WĒTĀ Workshop/Private Division - Unnamed LOTR game
Amazon Games - unnamed MMO.

📜 Previous Gaming in Middle-earth: State of play – 12 June 2022 | 16 February 2023

🎲 New and update resources: Crib sheets & Tolkien Trewsday

A weekly event I run on Twitter every Tuesday called #TolkienTrewsday had the theme of “Gaming” this week (30 May 2023). I’ve given some time to update this “Gaming in Middle-earth - State of play report” blog post and also update some of the crib-sheets I had provided to help fans see what is currently available in terms of games.

“Caraes in three moves”: A quick look at dice and tabletop games in Tolkien adaptions
for #TolkienTrewsday (Theme: "Gaming", 30 May 2023)
Crib-sheet: Released and upcoming games
Crib-sheet: Digital(PC/console/mobile games)
Crib-sheet: Free League TTRPGs
Crib-sheet: Games you may have missed

📌 A to Z of game companies and their recent and upcoming products

🎮🎲 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.

AMAZON GAMES
The Lord of the Rings MMO (currently unnamed)

Type
MMO

Social media

https://twitter.com/amazongames

Press releases
Press release: Amazon Games (15 May 2023)

Press release: Embracer (15 May 2023)

Press release: About Amazon (15 May 2023)

Press release: Amazon Games Orange County Studio (15 May 2023)

ARES GAMES
War of the Ring and Hunt for the Ring
http://www.aresgames.eu/games/war-of-the-ring-line

Type
Board game and card 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
War of the Ring - The Card Game

Expected releases
War of the Ring - The Card Game: Against the Shadow (2023)
Hunt for the Ring: Light and Shadow (2023)
War of the Ring: Kings of Middle-earth (2023)

Type
App (Virtual experience through fitness/exercise)

Social media
https://www.facebook.com/MyVirtualMission/
https://twitter.com/myvmission
https://twitter.com/getTheConqueror

Current products
The Lord of the Rings: The Shire (145 miles)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship (98/680 miles)
The Lord of the Rings: Mines of Moria (40 miles)
The Lord of the Rings: The Eye of Sauron (95/668 miles)
The Lord of the Rings: Mordor (282 miles)
Return of the King: Rohan (80/450 miles)
Return of the King: Helm’s Deep (100/370 miles)
Return of the King: Gondor (70/662 miles)

Expected releases
Gandalf, Gimli, Legolas, Boromir, Merry, Pippin

DAEDALIC ENTERTAINMENT/NACON
The 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://twitter.com/GollumGame
https://www.facebook.com/GollumGame
https://www.facebook.com/daedalic
https://twitter.com/daedalic

Expected release
Released (Nintendo Switch expected December 2023)

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

Expected release
Released

Upcoming releases
Press Release: The Journey Ahead (May 2023)
The Bitter and the Sweet (Marquee Adventure)
Mines of Moria raid

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
https://www.ea.com/games/lord-of-the-rings/the-lord-of-the-rings-heroes-of-middle-earth/news/developer-update

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
Angmar Awakened Hero Expansion (MEC107)
Angmar Awakened Campaign Expansion (MEC108)
The Fellowship of the Ring Saga Expansion (MEC109)

Expected releases (Lord of the Rings Living Card Game)
Dream-chaser Hero Expansion
Dream-chaser Campaign Expansion

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
Scourges of the Wastes Figure Pack

Expected releases (Journeys in Middle-earth)
None

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

Expected release
2023?

FRI LIGAN (FREE LEAGUE)
The One Ring Roleplaying Game 2E / The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying 5E
https://freeleaguepublishing.com/en/games/the-one-ring/
https://www.thelordoftheringsroleplaying.com/

Type
Tabletop RPG

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)
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
The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying 5E: Core rulebook
The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying 5E: Shire adventures
The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying 5E: Loremaster’s Screen and Rivendell Compendium

Expected releases
The One Ring: Tales from the Lone-lands (Fall 2023)
The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying 5E: Ruins of Eriador (Fall 2023)
The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying 5E: Tales from Eriador (Fall 2023)
Moria

Lost Odyssey: "The Red Scribe"
Live play adventure for Extra Life using The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying 5E.
Website | YouTube

GAME SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL (MIDDLE-EARTH GAMES)
Champions of Middle-earth and more.
https://gamesystems.com/
https://www.middleearthgames.com/

Type
Turn-based strategy game

Social media
None

Current products
Kin-strife, circa 1450
Third Age, circa 1650
Third Age, circa 2950
Fourth Age, circa 1000
Champions of Middle-earth (just released)

Expected releases
Unknown

KINGS WILD PROJECT
The Lord of the Rings Playing Cards
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
https://kingswildproject.com/products/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-two-towers-luxury-playing-cards

Type
Card games

Social media
https://www.facebook.com/kingswildproject
https://twitter.com/kingswildproj

Current products
The Lord of the Rings Playing Cards Vol. 1: The Fellowship of the Ring

Expected releases
The Lord of the Rings Playing Cards Vol. 2: The Two Towers (Kickstarter now closed, 2023)

MAGIC: THE GATHERING (WIZARDS OF THE COAST)
Universes Beyond - The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth
https://magic.wizards.com/en/products/the-lord-of-the-rings-tales-of-middle-earth

Type
Collectible card game

Social media
https://www.facebook.com/MagicTheGathering
https://twitter.com/wizards_magic

Expected release
23 June 2023

Press releases
25 February 2021
07 June 2021 (Secret Lair)
24 August 2021 (Magic Showcase - 39 mins in)
18 August 2022
🔥 First look (14 March 2023)
🔥 Creating the look (29 May 2023)
🔥 Secret Lair drop: More adventures in Middle-earth (30 May 2023)

Secret Lair website: Main | UK - exclusives via curated card drops
Format legality: Details

Secret Lair: More Adventures in Middle-earth based on the 1978 Ralph Bakshi animated film (on sale 26 June 2023)

Set details (from 2021 Magic Showcase):

Full booster set
Tabletop, Magic Online and MTG Arena
Four Commander decks
Secret Lair drops
Modern legal

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
The 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
Season Five: Tactics Evolved campaign
Season Six: Rings of Power - Kings of Men
Season Seven: Ranger's Rise

Expected release
Season Eight: ?

Press release
https://www.neteasegames.com/news/game/20200616/30576_886887.html