I have a deep-seated passion for the Lord of the Rings universe, a fascination that has led me to memorize countless scenes from the films and even drag my partner to an all-day cinema marathon of the uncut trilogy. My childhood was spent navigating the treacherous landscapes of Mordor as Talion in Shadow of Mordor, and I have longed for another game that captures the same intensity and depth as Monolith’s celebrated series. Although recent offerings in the realm of Lord of the Rings games have not quite hit the mark, whispers of a new project from Warhorse, the studio behind Kingdom Come Deliverance, have sparked a flicker of hope. The anticipation has now been validated, as the developer has officially confirmed its involvement in a Middle-earth adventure.
Exciting Developments from Warhorse
In a post shared on X on May 20, Warhorse stated, “You might have heard the rumours, it’s time to reveal what we are working on.” The announcement detailed plans for “an open world Middle-earth RPG,” alongside a new installment in the Kingdom Come series. While the specifics regarding whether this will be Kingdom Come Deliverance 3 remain unclear, the news has certainly invigorated my Wednesday.
The post, however, offered little additional information, with Warhorse promising to share more details “when the time is right.” As I observe the growing excitement reflected in likes and shares, it’s evident that many others are equally thrilled by the prospect.
Despite the success of Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, which received a commendable 9/10 rating from Lowell in our review, the landscape for Lord of the Rings-themed games has been less than favorable in recent years. Although Return to Moria garnered a respectable 80% rating on Steam, it did not achieve the impact that its creators had envisioned. Similarly, the cozy farming game Tales of the Shire, rated at 82%, faced significant challenges during its development, with reports of staff working under strenuous conditions. And then there’s the infamous Gollum game, which, despite my own morbid curiosity leading me to watch a full playthrough, left much to be desired.
With the 25th anniversary of the film trilogy having recently passed, the timing seems ripe for a resurgence of the franchise, especially with the upcoming release of The Hunt for Gollum. Given Warhorse’s expertise in crafting immersive open-world medieval RPGs, they appear to be the ideal candidate to breathe new life into this beloved universe. As I await further news, I find myself yearning to revisit LOTRO. Should I vanish from the digital realm, consider it a sign that I’ve succumbed to the allure of Middle-earth once more.
