WithThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powermultiple seasons deep in its quest to the bottom of Amazon’s money silo, it would make sense that lots of viewers might be itching to find that same vibe outside of the show itself. J.R.R. Tolkien’s vast world of Middle-earth is very much worth exploring after all, constant wars and orc attacks notwithstanding.
Sure, there areThe Lord of the Ringsmovies. But why sit down for 12 hours of film when you could power through several hundred hours of gaming instead? There are plenty of video games out there that can keep that fantasy feel alive.
Developer Larian’s arguable breakout hit Divinity: Original Sin 2 took everything that made its predecessor engaging and did whatever the fantasy equivalent is of cranking it up to 11. This CRPG creates an incredible feel of adventure and wonder, very similar to what everyone’s favorite little Harfoot Nori must have experienced when she left her nomadic tribeto help the mysterious Strangerfind his way.
Throughout Divinity 2, you find yourself traveling through several unique and fantastical regions. This happens as you search for a way to gain ultimate power, all the while struggling with the knowledge that you may very well become corrupted by it. It may not be the same as forging a bunch of rings, but just like Sauron, you may gain the power to shape the world as you see fit.
If you enjoy the forging scenes in The Rings of Power, then you’ll love how often you find yourself back at the blacksmith in Dragon Age: Inquisition making new armor every time you find a schematic with slightly better stats. But aside from that riveting aspect, the fantasy setting of the Dragon Age series feels distinctly Tolkien-esque in the best ways.
In both Inquisition and the first game,Dragon Age: Origins, you get to take part in some pretty impressive large-scale battles much like those seen in The Rings of Power. But while Origins excels better at the more ragtag story you might prefer as a fan of the show, thebreathtaking locations in each Dragon Age gameare well worth seeing for yourself.
Just because The Lord of the Rings is a Western story doesn’t mean Western creators have a monopoly on its style. Dragon Quest 11 beautifully captures the fantasy setting in its own unique way, telling some surprisingly dark and poignant stories for a game where every monster has googly eyes.
The eclectic cast of Dragon Quest 11, from the deceptively childlike Veronica to the delightfully flamboyant Sylvando, might be a bit less subtle than those in The Rings of Power. But just like how you likely found yourself enamored by Durin and Disa’s brash efforts to fix the chaos of their kingdom, you’re sure to quickly fall in love with these endearing companions as well.
It might be a little too easy to recommend The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim to fans of The Lord of the Rings, but that doesn’t make it any less worth mentioning. Sure, the whole point of pretty much any Bethesda game is getting out there and doing just whatever you want. Sort of a far cry from the super important and not at all convoluted Tolkien storylines.
But you know what else Skyrim has? Magic, monsters, and a whole lot of walking. If that isn’t the definition of a Lord of the Rings-type story, then clearly The Rings of Power isn’t either. No, that isn’t an invitation to a nerd debate. None of us would ever be able to leave.
Just like Skyrim, Baldur’s Gate 3 revels in the magic, the monsters, and the oh-so-much walking. But it also brings noise when it comes to story, writing, and most importantly, characters. Sure, a noble elf like Legolas is a far cry from an evil fancy vampire like Astarion, but you’ll grow to love (almost) every one of them in time.
It can be argued that this game does more to evoke The Fellowship of the Ring than The Rings of Power, given its focus on your companions. But the drama that wouldn’t be out of place on a late-season AMC show drives home the similarities to the latter. Don’t worry,Baldur’s Gate 3 is also very, very funnyat times.
It took a while for someone to finally make a game that makes a strange amount of sense: a survival game set in Middle-earth. The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria sees you play as a dwarf (already a good start) helping take back the infamous Moria from the goblins who had long since overrun the place.
Return to Moria can admittedly get a bit repetitive as you go through the gameplay loop of scrounging and fighting, but it can also get immensely satisfying when you get into that groove and see what you’ve accomplished. Just don’t think about how the cursed Khazad-dum you’re fighting through is the same one Durin and Disa live in on The Rings of Power.
If your favorite part of The Rings of Power is the sense of dread and foreboding that never goes away no matter how hard the heroes fight, then say hello to your new favorite game. Granted, statistically, you’ve most likely already played The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, but there’s no time like the present for a replay.
The Witcher games perfectly explore thedark and gritty aspects of fantasy, and they’re not made for those who want to know the “right” decision for every situation. As Geralt travels and fights through the world, he’ll find plenty of situations where nobody leaves happy, and that gray morality is perfect for those who keep coming back for more exquisite emotional torment in The Rings of Power.
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and its sequel,Middle-earth: Shadow of Warare the quintessential modern Lord of the Rings games. They aren’t set during the main series of books and movies and star an original character, but you get to explore the shadowy land of Mordor, the cursed region whose very birth was featured in The Rings of Power.
But aside from the setting (and creative “Nemesis System” where enemies would remember you), both games also heavily feature the ghost of Elven Smith Celebrimbor, basically Sauron’s punching bag in the show. In the games, he helps the lead character Talion so both can get revenge on Sauron. You know how Sauron’s story ends, but this could be a nice bit of catharsis for those who just want Celebrimbor to get his due.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
While it’s a bit retro at this point (and many will likely be unhappy at that moniker), The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King for PlayStation 2, PC, Xbox, and Gamecube remains amongthe best-licensed gamesout there, especially among The Lord of the Rings games.
It’s a hack-and-slash game taking you through the events of The Return of the King, but with the incredible added twist that you can play as every surviving member of the Fellowship of the Ring (sorry Boromir) with an honestly pretty sick button combo system. It may not be The Rings of Power, but if you’ve ever wanted to pull off some of Galadriel’s rad sword moves, this is as close as you’re going to get.
