10 Best Lord of the Rings Games

Before Shadow Of War, there was Middle-Earth: Shadow Of Mordor. Set between the events of The Hobbit and Lord Of The Rings, this title drew inspiration from Tolkien's legendarium and Jackson's films to create its own original story set within an expansive recreation of Mordor.

The plot follows Talion, a captain of Gondor who becomes bound to the spirit of Celebrimbor after he's killed by Sauron's generals for a ritual. Using his new-found supernatural powers, Talion seeks revenge on those who murdered him and his family while Celebrimbor searches for answers about his past.

Although this game's scope wasn't as ambitious as its sequel, Shadow Of Mordor's smaller size worked to its advantage. Without the need to connect its narrative to the wider lore, it was free to tell a more focused story.

Despite culminating in a final boss encounter with Sauron that boiled down to a series of anticlimactic quick-time events, the combination of stylish combat and its revolutionary Nemesis system was strong enough to make up for its handful of missteps. Without doubt, this is the LOTR game that every fan needs to play.

However, with Monolith's closure in 2025, it's unlikely that there will ever be another installment in this series.