The third and the last in our series of media like the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, this article focuses on games that capture a similar spirit – deep mythology and world-building, epic battles, the fight of good and evil and questions of morality, and much more.
Similar to the two previous articles, the choices below will cover where and how they fit in with the legendary trilogy, while also outlying the differing factors.
For the most part, the games down below are RPGs – the ones that let you make your own decisions as you write your story and decide the fate of the world. Will you be the shining paragon of justice, or will you be the first to jump into the abyss?
Lord of the Rings Online
If you were to ask anyone to suggest a Lord of the Rings-themed game that stays as true to the original as possible, the first and most obvious answer would be the Lord of the Rings Online MMORPG.
Featuring over a decade of content, LotR Online invites you to immerse yourself in Middle-earth as you have never seen it before. The developers have faithfully recreated many familiar and mythical locations: from the crumbling, shadowed ruins of Weathertop to the ageless, golden wood of Lothlórien, oppressive darkness of the Mines of Moria, and peaceful, verdant fields of the Shire.
You will be able to create your own hero, choosing from a variety of races, classes, and professions, plus earn countless titles, skills, and traits, and take on the world solo or with other players.
If it is the world of Middle-earth and its stories that you crave, LotR Online has all of that and more, in a neat package. If the trilogy is your only connection to the world of the Lord of the Rings, you will also be amazed at the depth of its worldbuilding beyond what was shown in the movies.
Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor & Shadow of War
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War can be described as a love-letter and almost fanfic to the established canon events of the Lord of the Rings universe. It is certainly not for lore purists, but it features fantastic combat, meaningful RPG progression and a fresh look on the familiar universe.
In Shadow of Mordor, you will get to fight through Mordor itself, uncovering the truth of the spirit that compels you and discovering the origins of the Rings of Power. In Shadow of War, you will forge a new Ring of Power and get your own orc army to conquer fortresses and dominate Mordor.
As comes from just the description of the games, while they do take place in the familiar world, featuring familiar locations and enemies, their pace, tone, story, and message differ drastically from the beloved trilogy.
Dragon Age Series
The Dragon Age series invites you to the world of Thedas, full of ancient histories, diverse cultures, striking characters, powerful magic, epic battles, and rich storytelling.
In the first game of the series, you play a member of the Order of Grey Wardens, elite fighters who dedicate their lives to the fight against the Darkspawn. Your task: fell the Archdemon, a giant dragon that urges these orc-like creatures to gather into an army and attack.
But it is not just the Darkspawn and their corruption that will stand in your way. In the trying times of Thedas, your characters would need backup. A cast of people from various backgrounds will come to your aid and will be fighting by your side on the battlefield… as long as you can keep them from leaving your party.
Your decisions will echo across history, carrying over to the other games and affecting the world state. The series consists of four games: Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age: Inquisition and Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
The Elder Scrolls Series
Developed by Bethesda Game Studios, The Elder Scrolls is a sprawling high-fantasy action RPG game series that takes place on Tamriel, a continent on planet Nirn. TES III: Morrowind, TES IV: Oblivion and TESV: Skyrim have been particularly successful, enjoying the attention of a large playerbase. There’s also The Elder Scrolls Online, a huge open-world MMORPG with a constantly evolving story.
If you were looking for a massive, immersive open world to explore, enjoying your freedom to become who you want to be while encountering a diverse cast of elves, orcs, humans, and more, you can’t go wrong with The Elder Scrolls.
The game also boasts deep, myth-rich worldbuilding that features ancient deities, beast-folk, magic, dragons, and much more. The themes center around prophecies, destinities and free will, which will be explored at depth by your own protagonist – always rising from humble beginnings and starting an unforgettable journey that will decide the fate of the world.
There are even ancient artifacts of great power, The Elder Scrolls themselves.
Pathfinder: Kingmaker
Coming from developer Owlcat Games, Pathfinder: Kingmaker and Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous are incredibly deep and complex cRPGs taking place in the fantasy world of Golarion.
In Kingmaker, explore the Stolen Lands, a region that has been contested territory for centuries. Hundreds of kingdoms have risen and fallen in these lands, and now it is time for you to make your mark—by building your own kingdom! To do so, you’ll need to survive the harsh wilderness and the threat of rival nations… as well as threats within your own court.
Create your own character, meet a wealth of unique companions and NPCs to share in your journey, and claim this region for your own. But beware – something dark and sinister lurks in the shadow, and as the new King or Queen of the Stolen Lands, it’s your duty to meet it on the battlefield.
Ancient prophecies, trickster gods, curses, artifacts and more await you in this story.
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
The indirect sequel, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous takes place in the same world but in a different region.
Wrath of the Righteous tells the story of a large-scale conflict between mortals and demons where players are invited to immerse themselves in a world under siege from demonic forces. Your journey will take you to the Worldwound, where the opening of a rift to the Abyss has unleashed all-consuming terror across the land.
For over a century, the neighboring nations have tried to withstand the threat coming from the portal and drive the enemy back, but to little avail. Now you have the chance to put an end to this conflict, but the path to salvation is far from clear-cut. Your crusade will set in motion a chain of events that will change the world – and you – forever.
Similar to its prequel, WotR also features a diverse cast of characters that you will encounter – some of them will join you to form an unlikely brotherhood, while others will oppose you.
Baldur’s Gate 3
(Honorable mention: Divinity: Original Sin 2)
Coming from developer Larian Games, Baldur’s Gate 3 is an epic adventure alongside the unlikely cast that will take you to the Forgotten Realms in a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power.
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Resist, and turn darkness against itself. Or embrace corruption, and become ultimate evil. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms together with your companions – the bonds of trust that you build within your party could be your greatest strength..
Depending on your choices, Baldur’s Gate 3 story could be an uplifting tale of a band of misfits managing to save the day, or a horror story of the rise of a new dark god.
If you’ve enjoyed it, check out another game from the developer: Divinity: Original Sin 2.
The Witcher 3
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a story-driven open world RPG set in a visually stunning fantasy universe full of meaningful choices and impactful consequences. You play as professional monster hunter Geralt of Rivia tasked with finding a child of prophecy in a vast open world rich with merchant cities, pirate islands, dangerous mountain passes, and forgotten caverns to explore.
The world is much darker and bleaker than that of LotR, however, with many narrative points being centered on the real corruption stemming from humans. It does not stop it from being an epic story that involves you in the conflict that would decide the fate of this world and its inhabitants.
