Summary
TheLord of the Ringsfranchise hasn’t had the best track record for video games recently. While Monolith’sMiddle-Earthseries is widely regarded as some of bestLord of the Ringsgames out there, it’s been a good while since they released, and the most recentLOTRtitle has overshadowed them massively. Released back in May,The Lord of the Rings: Gollumis currently front-running the list of 2023’s worst games. But not all hope is lost, withThe Lord of the Rings: Return to Moriaon the horizon.
UnlikeGollum,The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moriahas released quite a few gameplay trailers and previews over the last few months, and it’s clear that the developer behind the game is proud to show off what it’s done with the license. And whileLord of the Rings: Return to Moriaprobably won’t be winning anyGame of the Year awards, it does look like a promising, fun little title, and one that’s definitely worth checking out for long-time fans of the franchise. But before diving into its depths, there are a few things fans should know aboutReturn to Moriabefore its October 24 release date.
RELATED:The Best ‘Lord of the Rings’ Video Games, Ranked
What To Know About Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria’s Story
Set in the Fourth Age of Middle-Earth,The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moriatakes place fairly soonafter the events of theLord of the Ringstrilogy. With Sauron defeated and his dark armies scattered to the farthest reaches of Middle-Earth, the Dwarven people set their sights on their old homeland of Moria, which had been taken over by the forces of evil and remade as Khazad-dum. Upon the request of Lord Gimli Lockbearer, players make their way back to Moria, where they’re tasked with slowly rebuilding the ancient Dwarven mine, and rebuilding Dwarven society in the process. While working their way through the Mines of Moria, players can expect to encounter plenty of authenticLord of the Ringsreferences, and a good deal of lore ripped straight out of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books.
What To Know About Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria’s Gameplay
A survival-crafting game in a similar vein toMinecraftandValheim,The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moriasees players control a Dwarf as they head deep into the depths of the Misty Mountains. The general gameplay loop ofReturn to Moriawill have players mining walls and deposits in order to collect valuable resources, which they can then use to craft new structures, weapons, or defensive items like armor and consumables. Players will also need to manage their Dwarf’s various life stats, ensuring that they have enough food, that they’re warm enough, and that their sleep levels are kept normal.
The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moriacan be played solo, or in online co-op, allowing for up to eight players to join together and explorethe Mines of Moriaas a team. While the whole game can apparently be played solo, some ofReturn to Moria’s tougher foes might need a few extra helping hands to be defeated, such as the mysterious “Shadow” that apparently lurks deep beneath the Misty Mountains. According toReturn to Moria’s official storepage, players will need to ensure that they don’t make too much noise when upgrading their gear or crafting, as that could draw the Shadow’s attention, leading to a confrontation that players might not be ready for.
Being a procedurally-generated game,The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moriaensures replayability, with the start of each game heralding a completely new and unique world with its own layout and resources. To top it all off,Return to Moriaalso includes a fairly detailed character creator in which players can create their very own Dwarf. With the addition of unique craftable armors, players should be able to make some pretty distinct characters.
The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moriareleases digitally on October 24 for PC and PS5. An Xbox Series X/S release is due early 2024.
