The best games set in the J.R.R. Tolkien "Middle Earth" world 2021
Looking for a really good game set in the Middle-earth world of J.R.R. Tolkien? Then we have just the thing: The list with the best Middle-earth games.
Who was J.R.R. Tolkien?
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (January 3, 1892 - September 2, 1973) was an English writer, poet, philologist and academic, best known as the author of the fantasy works The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.
Lord of the Rings is one of the most successful books of the 20th century and is considered a foundational work of modern fantasy literature.
Professor of English at Oxford
From 1925 to 1945, he was professor of English at Pembroke College, Oxford - and from 1945 to 1959 at Merton College, Oxford. Tolkien was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II on March 28, 1972, for his works.
Hobby becomes profession - from storyteller to author
When his children were old enough in the early 1920s, Tolkien began telling them imaginative stories on a regular basis. The disappearance of a toy dog belonging to his second son Michael, for example, led to the story "Roverandom." Then in 1930, he began writing the children's story "The Hobbit." Through connections with a publisher through one of his former students, the book "The Hobbit" was then published in 1937.
Work on Lord of the Rings interrupted by World War 2
The direct follow-up project was "The Lord of the Rings," but due to other tasks, World War II, and several publishing disputes, completion dragged on until 1954. Due to paper prices skyrocketing as a result of the World War, the book was published in 3 volumes. Tolkien always rejected the term "trilogy" - actually the book had 6 parts. An unauthorized pirated printing in the USA then finally triggered the wave of success of the fantasy world Middle-earth.
Middle Earth... what is that?
Middle Earth is the fictional setting of much of J. R. R. Tolkien's works. The term corresponds to Miðgarðr of Norse mythology and describes the world inhabited by man. This is the central continent of the Earth in Tolkien's invented mythological past. Tolkien's most widely read works, "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings," are set entirely in Middle Earth. "Middle-earth" has come to be used as an umbrella term for Tolkien's legendary works and his fictional view of the world.
Where is Middle Earth located?
Middle Earth is the main continent of Tolkien's Earth "Arda" in an imaginary period of Earth's past with the end of the Third Age about 6,000 years ago. Tolkien's stories about Middle-earth focus mainly on the northwest of the continent. This part of Middle-earth suggests Europe, the northwest of the Old World, with the environs of the Shire being reminiscent of England (more specifically, the West Midlands, with Hobbiton being on the same latitude as Oxford).
Games based on works by other authors:
A lot of games are based on the works of book authors. Just check out our list of games based on authors below.
List of the best board games from the Tolkien world of Middle-earth that you can buy 2021
The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth
Nominated for 4 awards.
More details for The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth1 - 5 Players
60 - 120 Minutes
14+ years old
Complexity: medium
💸 Too expensive!79€ at.de
Love Letter: The Hobbit – The Battle of the Five Armies
2 - 4 Players
20 - 30 Minutes
8+ years old
Complexity: very easy
Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation
Nominated for 2 awards.
More details for Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation2 Players
30 Minutes
14+ years old
Complexity: easy
War of the Ring: Second Edition
2 - 4 Players
150 - 180 Minutes
13+ years old
Complexity: hard
Video reviews for War of the Ring: Second Edition
The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game – Two-Player Limited Edition Starter
1 - 2 Players
Complexity: medium
Video reviews for The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game – Two-Player Limited Edition Starter
The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game
Nominated for 7 awards.
More details for The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game1 - 2 Players
30 - 60 Minutes
13+ years old
Complexity: medium
👍 Good price!35€ at.de
Video reviews for The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game
Hobbit Tales from the Green Dragon Inn
Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.
More details for Hobbit Tales from the Green Dragon Inn2 - 5 Players
20 - 60 Minutes
13+ years old
Complexity: very easy
The Battle of Five Armies
Nominated for 6 awards.
More details for The Battle of Five Armies2 Players
90 - 240 Minutes
13+ years old
Complexity: hard
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Deck-Building Game
2 - 5 Players
45 Minutes
15+ years old
Complexity: easy
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Deck-Building Game
2 - 5 Players
30 Minutes
15+ years old
Complexity: easy
The Lord of the Rings
2 - 5 Players
60 - 90 Minutes
12+ years old
Complexity: medium
Video reviews for The Lord of the Rings
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Deck-Building Game
2 - 5 Players
45 Minutes
15+ years old
Complexity: easy
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Deck-Building Game
2 - 5 Players
30 - 45 Minutes
15+ years old
Complexity: easy
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
1 - 4 Players
45 - 60 Minutes
15+ years old
Complexity: easy
Middle-Earth Quest
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for Middle-Earth Quest2 - 4 Players
180 Minutes
13+ years old
Complexity: hard
The Lord of the Rings: Journey to Mordor
2 - 4 Players
20 Minutes
8+ years old
Complexity: very easy
Lord of the Rings
2 - 5 Players
20 Minutes
6+ years old
Complexity: very easy
Video reviews for Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings: Strategy Battle Game
2 Players
30 Minutes
12+ years old
Complexity: medium
Der Hobbit: Smaugs Einöde
2 - 4 Players
60 Minutes
10+ years old
Complexity: very easy
👍 Good price!100€ at.de
The Lord of the Rings Labyrinth
2 - 4 Players
60 Minutes
9+ years old
Complexity: very easy
Video reviews for The Lord of the Rings Labyrinth
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
1 - 4 Players
40 Minutes
15+ years old
Complexity: easy
Hunt for the Ring
2 - 5 Players
90 - 180 Minutes
13+ years old
Complexity: medium
🔥 Great price!27€ at.de
Video reviews for Hunt for the Ring
The Hobbit
2 - 5 Players
30 - 45 Minutes
8+ years old
Complexity: easy
💸 Too expensive!69€ at.de
Video reviews for The Hobbit
The Hobbit: Enchanted Gold
2 Players
30 Minutes
8+ years old
Complexity: very easy
💸 Too expensive!10€ at.de
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-Earth
2 - 4 Players
30 Minutes
8+ years old
Complexity: very easy
Lord of the Rings: The Duel
2 Players
45 Minutes
10+ years old
Complexity: easy
Video reviews for Lord of the Rings: The Duel
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Strategy Battle Game
30 Minutes
12+ years old
Complexity: medium
Middle-earth
Nominated for 1 award and won 1.
More details for Middle-earth1 - 5 Players
90 Minutes
12+ years old
Complexity: hard
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – Das Kartenspiel
2 - 4 Players
30 Minutes
8+ years old
Complexity: very easy
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Party
2 - 4 Players
40 - 60 Minutes
10+ years old
Complexity: easy
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