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

Gaming in Middle-earth - State of play report January 2024

🎲 Back in 2023 the dice were definitely rolling favourably for gaming set in Middle-earth. As we move through quarter one of 2024 the playing field is a little unclear.

"The Lord of the Rings: Gollum" game received a huge amount of criticism forcing the closure of the development unit at Daedalic Entertainment. The studio now focuses on publishing-only moving forwards.

Meanwhile Embracer (owner of Middle-earth Enterprises) is going through a lot of changes and refocusing assets and making cuts in some places. How this will affect future projects set in Middle-earth remains unclear, however there promising statements from Embracer that the Tolkien franchise is important to them.

After the acquisition of Middle-earth Enterprises by Embracer, they hinted at being interested in a wide range of Tolkien materials. Back on 18 August 2022 Embracer stated 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.”

On 16 November 2023 Embracer published its “Interim Report Q2, July-September 2023”. The report praises the releases of the “The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth” expansion for Magic the Gathering (Universes Beyond label) and “The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria” PC game. It is clear from their statements that Embracer are interested in future products (Note: my bold/red emphasis):

“In the quarter, our Entertainment & Services segment again performed above management expectations, growing by 13 % organically with an Adjusted EBIT margin of 16 %. The higher margin is primarily driven by strong licensing revenues to Middle-earth Enterprises for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth™. The game was successfully released in late Q1 as part of Middle-earth Enterprises’ long-term partnership with Wizards of the Coast, receiving notable acclaim from fans and critics. Our strong IP portfolio is a key part of our long-term strategy, and we have exciting plans for the Lord of the Rings IP across our segments in the years ahead.”

Just after the report release however, on 11 December 2023, numerous news sources stated that Hasbro had cut 1100 jobs including staff at Wizards of the Coast, both Magic the Gathering and the Dungeons & Dragons staff were affected. The Embracer report makes it clear that Middle-earth Enterprises is in a “long-term” partnership with Wizards of the Coast so I am not sure how Hasbro’s cuts have been received at Embracer/Middle-earth Enterprises.

Of the five upcoming games that Lars Wingefors (Embracer CEO and co-founder) announced back in 2022, three (“The Lord of the Rings: Gollum”, “The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth” and “The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria”) were released in 2023, The fourth (“Tales of the Shire” by WĒTĀ Workshop/Private Division) is expected in 2024. On the 15 May 2023 the fifth game was announced: A MMO based on The Lord of the Rings to be produced by Amazon Games Orange Country. This game will take several years at least to be developed, so we likely won’t see much on it for a while.

Meanwhile The Lord of the Rings Online, produced by Standing Stone Games, continues to publish updates and expand the map and storyline.

In terms of board and paper-and-pen roleplaying games, Ares and Free League are going strong, producing new products for their various lines. Other companies, all through the Sophisticated Games license with Middle-earth Enterprises, are also producing solo board and card games.

On the Sophisticated Games website they make it clear that it is their company who “develops and packages all non-movie The Lord of the Rings™ games under license from Middle-earth Enterprises”, something that is only clear when you look at the logos on any board, card or RPG packaging. All physical gaming products, except for ones based on the New Line/Warner Bros films, come through Sophisticated Games.

For gamers and those who love J.R.R. Tolkien’s works, there is still a lot of choice open to you. From board games, card games, roleplaying games, mobile games and PC/console games.

📜 Previous Gaming in Middle-earth: State of play updates – 12 June 2022 | 16 February 2023 | 27 May 2023

🎲 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)
New crib sheets coming soon.

📌 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
War of the Ring - The Card Game: Against the Shadow
Hunt for the Ring: Light and Shadow
War of the Ring: Kings of Middle-earth

Expected releases
TBA

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
Unknown

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

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 (December 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
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
Released

Upcoming releases
TBA

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
The One Ring: Tales from the Lone-lands
The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying 5E: Ruins of Eriador
The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying 5E: Tales from Eriador

Expected releases
Moria: Through the Doors of Durin (One Ring edition) Kickstarter
Moria: Shadow of Khazad-dûm (The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying 5E edition) Kickstarter

The Kickstarter can be found here (late pledges appear to be open).

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
The Lord of the Rings Playing Cards Vol. 2: The Two Towers

Expected releases
The Lord of the Rings Playing Cards Vol. 3: The Return of the King

MAGIC: THE GATHERING (WIZARDS OF THE COAST)
The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth (Universes Beyond)
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
Released

Upcoming releases
Various

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
TBA

RAVENSBURGER
The Lord of the Rings Adventure Book Game
https://www.ravensburger.co.uk/en-GB/products/games/strategy-games/lord-of-the-rings-adventure-book-game-27542

Type
Board game

Social media
https://twitter.com/RavensburgerNA/status/1617522667464130561

Current products
The Lord of the Rings Adventure Book Game

Expected releases
None

STANDING STONES GAMES
The 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 updates and Events
Update 32: Rangers and Ruins
Update 33: The Yondershire
Update 34: Before the Shadow
Update 35: The Return to Carn Dûm
Update 36: Gondor Renewed
Update 37: The Humble Homes of the Holbytlan
Update 38: Corsairs of Umbar
Combe Forester Event

Expected updates
Update 39 (Q4 of 2024)

Expected 2023 update schedule
https://www.lotro.com/news/lotro-letter-to-the-players-2024-en

Upcoming events and festivals
TBA