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In May 2023, Amazon Games announced it would be developing a brand new massively multiplayer online (MMO) game for The Lord of the Rings (LOTR). This is not the first time Amazon has attempted to bring LOTR to the MMO space, and fans are curious as to whether this next attempt will prove successful. 

Tech Crunch, along with various tech and gaming news sites shared the announcement in May about the new LOTR MMO game Amazon is set to develop with the group that owns the IP rights to The Lord of the Rings, Embracer Group. 

The buzz, according to its press release is that the game will be “an open-world MMO adventure in a persistent world set in Middle-earth”. The game is set to feature stories and characters found in author J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit”, and LOTR trilogy. 

Says Amazon Games VP, Christoph Hartmann, “Bringing players a fresh take on The Lord of the Rings has long been an aspiration for our team, and we’re honored and grateful that Middle-earth Enterprises is entrusting us with this iconic world.” 

What an iconic world LOTR is, indeed. With its film adaptations of the LOTR trilogy and The Hobbit snatching major filmmaking awards and the hearts of new fans worldwide, it’s no wonder that the world of Middle-earth endures in today’s digital age. 

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It’s thanks to innovations in both practical and digital special effects that have allowed LOTR to keep its place in pop culture beyond the books. No doubt that WETA Workshop, the digital effects company that LOTR director Peter Jackson worked with to bring his and Tolkien’s vision of Middle-earth to life, was responsible for setting the bar when it comes to artistry in rendering visual effects that wow audiences. 

The LOTR trilogy made film history in the early aughts, and since then there have been a slew of video games set in Middle-earth featuring beloved characters, following the storylines and adventures found in the original texts. Some are memorable, and some are, well,  forgettable. 

Here’s a rundown of the good and the bad! 

My Preciousss: The Best LOTR Video Games

Lego The Lord of the Rings

This game was released in 2012 for numerous video game platforms including the Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStations 3 and Vita, Microsoft Windows, XBOX 360, and even OSX. Lego has been known to release popular and iconic IPs in Lego format, including Marvel and Star Wars. LOTR is part of Lego’s prestigious roster. 

Featuring Lego-fied versions of the LOTR characters, Lego The Lord of the Rings is a rather cheeky and irreverent take on the original Tolkien storyline, bringing fun and funny elements, as well as voice-acted scenes (and the music!) from the movies. 

Fans were saddened to note that after 2019, the game was no longer available to purchase or download. Those who purchased the game were still able to play it and keep the game in their libraries of course, but when Lego’s license for the LOTR IP expired, the game was delisted from video games stores and the Lego catalog. 

The Lord of the Rings Online

As far as MMORPG games go, this is the one that Amazon Games will have to beat when it comes out with its new MMO game. Released in 2007, LOTRO has been a fan-favorite, and is experiencing a resurgence among players in 2023! Though its graphics and combat system feel dated, the retro feel does not get in the way of LOTRO being a challenging and engaging game. 

What fans like about LOTRO is the game’s gorgeous environments, great storyline, musical scoring and voice acting, and plenty of adventure content to explore. On the downside, there is a paywall to play LOTRO, but the gameplay makes it worth it.

Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor

This game was made for the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4. For immersive world-building, gorgeous lifelike graphics, and unbeatable gameplay, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor tops The Gamer.com’s Best LOTR Video Games list. It’s easy to see why when there’s so much action, swordplay, and combat in this game. Players call it cinematic, the ominous environments of Mordor fully captured, allowing players to walk through the wastelands and battle orcs to their heart’s content. 

You Shall Not Pass: The Worst LOTR Video Games

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

This game came out in 2002 for XBox, PlayStation 2PC gameplay, right after the first film was released in cinemas and before “The Two Towers” came out. It tried to capitalize on the LOTR’s sudden popularity, but this game did not have anything to do with the film franchise or the film’s storyline. Players were quick to point out that this game added some scenes not found in the movie (but were found in the book), and that it was overall boring. 

The Lord of the Rings: Tactics

This game was made for the PSP in 2005, and hardly anyone noticed it. Safe to say this game was a flop because it was Tolkien in name only. Players felt this game felt too generic, and had none of the magic found in the books or the movies. 

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (for Nintendo GameBoy Advanced)

Oh, no! Two The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring games ranked as some of the worst LOTR video games! Unfortunately, this title has nothing to do with the aforementioned video game bearing the same title, as this one was made for the Nintendo GameBoy Advanced in 2002. 

Apart from it suffering from the complaints that it lacked the Tolkien magic, players called this game out for its numerous system bugs and the fact that it did not look great on such a small gaming console monitor. 

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