When I host friends and guests at my flat, they frequently peruse my board game library and point out that I have quite a few Lord of the Rings-inspired board games in my collection. This is a given, as I’m a massive fan of Tolkien’s work, the worldbuilding of Middle-Earth’s greater universe, and the narrative of The Lord of the Rings (LOTR).
Nevertheless, I’m continually amazed by the sheer amount of LOTR board games out there, and even more so by how often they turn out to be amazing, unique and interesting experiences! Furthermore, there always appear to be new LOTR games on the horizon, such as The Lord of the Rings: Circle of Conflict and The Lord of the Rings: Ascension.
I strive to maintain a diverse board game collection and avoid pigeonholing myself into a certain genre, but when it comes to LOTR it’s difficult, because the games are so darn good! So, instead of fighting the accusations, I’ll recommend some of my favourite titles in the genre in the form of a short ranked list to you.
Honourable Mention - War of the Ring: The Card Game
The younger sibling of the behemoth that is War of the Ring, it successfully condenses the epic wargame’s size and length, using various decks of cards. It’s best suited for 4 players, the intended player count, and it can be taught and played much faster.
The game places a stronger emphasis on characters, with more of them featured as cards, and certain ones have unique items and weapons they can equip. Also, it features a greater variety of character interactions, as the majority of them can be used in battles or to aid or hinder the Fellowship's journey, opening the game to multiple narrative possibilities and unexpected turns. However, the game can be heavily influenced by luck, as cards, paths, and battlegrounds are drawn randomly, making strategising harder if players don't draw the right cards.
On a side note, I appreciate that each of the nine Nazgûl has a unique name and abilities that set them apart; unlike other games which usually depict them as identical wraiths flapping around Middle-Earth like a murder of crows. On the other hand, I’m disappointed that Gimli and his axe are the only dwarven cards in the base game, and that, without a specific event card, Gimli can only fight in Moria. How is he supposed to beat Legolas’ kill count with these handicaps? They did my warrior dwarf dirty!
"Let them come! There is one dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath!"
5. Love Letter: The Hobbit – The Battle of the Five Armies
You may think this is a joke, but I am completely serious when I say that this reskin of the classic Love Letter card game is unironically my favourite version of the game, even when compared to the original, and I’m not even a fan of The Hobbit movies!
Unfortunately, it is one of those board games that lazily uses the films’ promotional graphics for the game’s artwork. However, I believe the slight changes in this version enhance Love Letter's outstanding gameplay while also making it surprisingly relevant to the narrative. For example, the One Ring card being worth nothing until the end of a round, when it becomes worth 7, thematically portrays that during the events of The Hobbit, the One Ring isn't yet quite as important as the Arkenstone.
My favourite addition is the Tauriel card, based on a character exclusive to the movies, not featured in Tolkien’s The Hobbit. The card functions as a reverse Baron, or in this case Legolas, by requiring two players to compare hands and eliminating the player with the higher-value card. Therefore, players holding high-value cards become more vulnerable, whereas those with low-value cards have a better chance of eliminating their opponents, making the five Smaug cards even more dangerous when combined with Tauriel.
Additionally, the mere possibility that a player can begin their turn and end up with both Tauriel and the Arkenstone cards in their hand, resulting in them being automatically eliminated from the round, never fails to elicit a burst of laughter from all players at the unlucky player’s misfortune. I’ve never had a bad time playing this game with my mates at the pub, making Love Letter: The Hobbit – The Battle of the Five Armies a guilty pleasure of mine and earning the fifth spot.
"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."
4. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – Trick-Taking Game
As the newest addition to my collection, I haven’t had time to appreciate it as much as the other entries, but I already know it is made of the good stuff! As someone who isn’t the biggest fan of trick-taking games since they tend to be more abstract, typically lacking an emergent narrative through gameplay, this game miraculously manages to achieve exactly that, as if it were made to prove me wrong. Also, the art style is gorgeous, featuring vivid colours and chiselled jawlines that make each card resemble a stained-glass piece from a cathedral.
It’s a game that lulls players into a false sense of security by how unassuming and simple it seems at the start, and then progressively becomes more complex and crunchier with each chapter. The moment the players get comfortable and used to using certain characters, surprise! That character is gone and/or a new character/event is introduced, with new rules/effects to wrap your head around. Crucially, this is what keeps the game fresh and intriguing, constantly evolving from chapter to chapter, and never allowing anyone to get complacent or bored.
For example, during a game night with my siblings and partner, they suggested playing this game as it would be, in their words, “a light and short game that doesn’t require much thinking”. Fast forward two hours, multiple chapters later, and each of us is fully invested, actively thinking and tactically planning every turn to ensure our success. We ended up playing for longer and engaging our brains more than we would have with a more complex game.
The bite-sized nature of the game; the simplicity of restarting after failing a chapter; and the addictive impulse to begin the next chapter after succeeding to see what other surprises and stories the game has to offer easily land The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – Trick-Taking Game in my fourth spot. I’m excited to play The Two Towers and Return of the King versions in the future.
“It's a dangerous business, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.”
3. The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship
What a fantastic idea to implement the Pandemic system into the world of Middle-Earth, allowing players to take on the roles of the iconic heroes and cooperatively battle Sauron, represented by a frighteningly large deck of cards that controls the forces of shadow, ceaselessly marching and sweeping across the land.
The artwork is delightful, with characters rendered in a more exaggerated style and muted colours, giving the game an almost cosy feel. Though my partner enjoys making fun of brunette Legolas and bushy-bearded Aragorn, even I have to admit that Saruman’s beard is frankly ridiculous and a major trip hazard. Nevertheless, it gives the game a distinct vibe when compared to other interpretations of the iconic characters.
The game is practically endlessly replayable, with a large variety of characters and objectives that can be randomised and combined for each new game. It also includes a robust solo mode that interestingly and uniquely alters the way the game is played, which is highly appreciated.
Every component demonstrates the love and care that went into its creation. It even includes its very own cardboard dice tower shaped like Barad-Dur and depicting the eye of Sauron. Moreover, you get to build the tower yourself, which is a joy in itself and makes the game feel like your own. It’s a novelty not necessary to enjoy the game, but it is extremely thoughtful, thematic, and elevates each session.
Finally, the game’s box is perhaps one of the best-designed, with everything fitting snugly, including the dice tower, and the designers even considered sleeved cards. With that said, The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship solidifies its place in my bronze spot.
“One does not simply walk into Mordor… There is evil there that does not sleep, and the Great Eye is ever watchful… It is folly.”
2. The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-Earth
Another instance of brilliantly incorporating an existing board game system, in this case 7 Wonders Duel’s cascading pyramid of cards that players alternately take and reveal in pursuit of multiple competing victory conditions, and applying it to capture the world and narrative of LOTR.
The artwork is my favourite of all the games on the list, with its vibrant colours and stylised art style giving life and energy to every single card. I must admit that I have a soft spot for all games illustrated by Vincent Dutrait, and I may be biased due to the LOTR theme, but I think this is one of his best works, and it is a game I never tire of looking at and admiring. I didn't think I needed Legolas with a fade, but I appreciate that it exists now.
The gameplay is essentially identical to 7 Wonders Duel: simple and accessible, yet strategically satisfying and tense, with a constant push-and-pull as both players simultaneously pursue one of the three victory conditions while also attempting to impede the other player. Nonetheless, there are differences that I believe benefit the game, such as expanding on the war aspect to depict key regions of Middle-Earth and tying the presence of the Strongholds, which function similarly to 7 Wonders, to the map. Personally, I also appreciate short two-player games, as it can be difficult to get a group of people together regularly for a board game night. With this game, my partner and I can have frequent head-to-head matches, even after work, as it lasts no more than an hour.
In conclusion, it is a compact and polished experience that accomplishes everything it sets out to do so well that it only makes me wish there was more of it. The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-Earth comfortably secures the silver spot, being surpassed by only one other game…
“But they were, all of them, deceived, for another ring was made.”
1. War of the Ring: Second Edition
As many of you might have expected, and as anyone who knows me or has even glanced at my other blogs figured, the top spot must go to this ambitious, sprawling, and intricate wargame in which, similarly to Duel for Middle-Earth, each player assumes control over either the Free Peoples or the Shadow and battles for control of Middle-Earth, but on a considerably larger scale in every aspect of the game.
Firstly, the game is ever so faithful to the source material, with a detailed map of every single region in Middle-Earth and every single event card referencing an event or character/s from the LOTR books, no matter how obscure. Then it combines these elements with gameplay to encourage players to engage with the story by eliciting familiar narrative beats and crafting tales of their own in which the iconic events unfold differently.
Secondly, the asymmetrical gameplay is truly masterful: the two sides feel and play completely differently, each with its own set of unique event cards, armies, characters and abilities. The Shadow player is vastly superior in battle, with more troops, dice and hunger for war. Critically, defeated Shadow units can always return as reinforcements, whereas killed Free Peoples troops are permanently removed from the game, which doesn't seem bloody fair. On the flip side, the Free Peoples player has the Fellowship of the Ring, which slowly but surely makes its way across the land in a quest to destroy the One Ring at Mount Doom, presenting the Shadow player with a ticking timer for their conquest of Middle-Earth, forcing them to divert their attention away from war to seek out and attempt to corrupt the pesky hobbits. Still, the game is somehow balanced, albeit in a bizarre, convoluted way, with each player feeling constrained by their limitations and acutely aware of their opponents' strengths.
Finally, War of the Ring’s unapologetic size and complexity are understandably daunting for many people. The fact that it requires hours just to learn the rules, multiple playthroughs to understand comfortably, and a major part of a day dedicated to playing it means it is definitely not a game for everyone. But for those enamoured with the LOTR world and heavy strategy wargames with an emphasis on emergent narrative through gameplay, it will all be worth it in the end.
“I am glad you are here with me. Here at the end of things.”
