Summary
- Look forward to more Middle-earth mods in one's favorite games, from Fellowship parties to iconic weapons.
- Discover how popular games like Skyrim and The Sims 4 are transformed into the world of Lord of the Rings.
- Get immersed in the epic battles of Middle-earth through mods in games like Total War and Minecraft.
Despite its age, The Lord of the Rings franchise remains beloved by fans across the world, and over the years many video games inspired by Middle-earth have been released to varying degrees of success. On top of proper games, many dedicated fans have enjoyed making and playing Lord of the Rings mods for their favorite games.
13 Games That Have Great Game Of Thrones Mods
Gamers who want to revisit the world of Westeros can do so with these excellent Game of Thrones mods.
The best games to feature Lord of the Rings mods are naturally those that share a medieval fantasy theme with Middle-earth, or alternatively, those in which the presence of Gandalf or Gollum would be hilarious.
Updated September 21, 2024 by Joe Grantham: With how popular Lord of the Rings is, it is unsurprising that many games both old and new have mods set in Middle-earth. Mods for the franchise are always in development, and even after release the mods continue to receive updates from their dedicated creators.
In fact, some popular moddable games such as Skyrim and The Sims 4 have multiple Lord of the Rings mods, ranging from small character and prop mods to huge total conversion mods. Some older games that aren't as popular anymore can even be revived by great Lord of the Rings mods.
1 A Few Great Mods & More To Come
Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate 3
- Released
- August 3, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, macOS
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Link to Fellowship of the Ring - by nexus1118
- Link to Anduril and The One Ring from The Lord of the Rings movies (reforged) - FullGameReady - by KiderionLykon
The worlds of Baldur's Gate 3 and Lord of the Rings have a lot in common with Tolkien's work being one of the many inspirations for DnD. As such, it makes sense for players to make LotR mods for BG3, and while there are currently only a handful, players can surely expect more in years to come. One existing mod is Fellowship of the Ring, which uses another great BG3 mod, Party Limit Begone, to have all nine members of the fellowship in the player's party. On top of all these iconic characters looking familiar, they also have suitable Guardians such as Bilbo to watch over the four hobbits.
Anduril and the One Ring is another LotR mod for Baldur's Gate 3 and instead of characters, it focuses on items. As the title suggests, the main highlights are Aragorn's sword Anduril, which levels up with the player, and the One Ring, which fittingly grants the Invisibility spell and other stealth bonuses. Lastly, with BG3 receiving official modding tools and support, there's a possibility of more comprehensive LotR mods in the future.
2 Many Great Mods
Elden Ring
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Link to Sauron (Lord of the Rings) - by MrMorritos3D
- Link to Lord of the Rings - Weapon's Pack - by externethd
Elden Ring is another great fit for LotR mods and there are a few of note. The first is a mod that replaces Blaidd's Set with Sauron's armor, allowing players themselves to take on the role of The Lord of the Rings and The Elden Lord. The mod is simply known as Sauron (Lord of the Rings).
Another great option is Lord of the Rings - Weapon Pack, which adds eight iconic weapons from the series. From Gandalf's staff and sword to Gimli's axe, and even a Morgul blade, there should be something for everyone.
3 Civ Of The Rings (LotR Mod): Civilizations
Civilization 6
Sid Meier's Civilization 6
- Link to Civ of the Rings (LotR Mod): Civilizations - by Aldollin
Civ of the Rings (LotR Mod): Civilizations is a mod that introduces eleven playable leaders from Lord of the Rings into Civ 6. These include Aragorn for Gondor, Galadriel for the Silvan Elves, and Peregrin for the Hobbits, as well as more evil characters such as Sauron and Saruman for Mordor and Isengard, respectively.
Each leader has unique abilities and their own civilization, all of which come with their special units, districts, and other features.
4 The Dawnless Days
Total War: Attila
Total War: Attila
- Released
- February 17, 2015
- Developer(s)
- Creative Assembly
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, Tactical
- Link to The Dawnless Days by The Dawnless Days Development Team
The Total War series is perfect for Lord of the Rings-inspired mods, as the lore is fraught with long and brutal wars fought in a myriad of beautiful locations. The Dawnless Days mod for Total War: Attila is one of the latest attempts to combine the two much-beloved franchises, and with more modern graphics than other attempts, it is certainly the best-looking one so far.
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The mod emphasizes the unique units and models that players can lead into war, and the developers are currently focused on the multiplayer and battle aspects of the game, with more work on a campaign to follow in the future.
5 CK2: Middle Earth Project
Crusader Kings 2
Crusader Kings 2
- Released
- February 14, 2012
- Developer(s)
- Paradox Development Studio
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Strategy
- Link to CK2: Middle Earth Project by CK2: MEP Team
Crusader Kings 2 is one of the best grand strategy games of all time, and while it has been subsequently surpassed in quality by its successor, it does have the advantage of being free to play. This means that anyone with access to a decent PC or laptop can play a fantastic Lord of the Rings mod for free: CK2: Middle Earth Project.
Thanks to CK2's stellar strategy gameplay, and engaging warfare mechanics, players will take part in some of the most epic battles ever seen in Middle-earth. Dozens of factions, races, and iconic characters are available for players to take control of and turn the chosen era into one of their own.
6 Legends Of Middle Earth
Age Of Mythology
Age of Mythology
- Released
- October 30, 2002
- Developer(s)
- Ensemble Studios
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy, Tactical
- Link to Legends of Middle Earth by Venlesh
The Legends of Middle Earth mod for Age of Mythology claims to be the biggest and most ambitious mod for the game and certainly delivers. The mod is a complete overhaul and brings the world of Lord of the Rings to life with hundreds of new units, plenty of playable civilizations, new maps, and even its unique mechanics.
One of the most striking aspects of this mod is its beauty, which is particularly impressive seeing as Age of Mythology is far from ranking among the best-looking games ever made.
7 Many Great Mods And Custom Content (CC)
The Sims 4
Sims 4
- Link to Hobbit Hole Round Doors and Windows by Jwoods
- Link to Elven Bedroom Set by Lethe_s
The Sims 4 and Lord of the Rings don't exactly go hand in hand, but that hasn't stopped die-hard Tolkien fans from recreating aesthetics from Middle-earth in their favorite life simulation game.
19 Simulation Games That Have Great World Building
These simulation games do a great job at world-building by creating interesting lore and context, making players feel more immersed in the gameplay.
From Evenstar necklaces and sweeping Elvish gowns that would easily fit in at Rivendell and in the Mirkwood to building pieces such as round Hobbit hole doors, there is plenty for Lord of the Rings fans to try out. For players with one of the best The Sims 4 expansion packs, Discover University, there are even some unique Middle-earth-themed majors they can take with mods.
8 Last Days Of The Third Age
Mount And Blade: Warband
Mount & Blade: Warband
- Link to Last Days of the Third Age by Swyter
For Tolkien fans who want to get up close and personal with Orcs and experience what it would be like being a warrior in Middle-earth, The Last Days of the Third Age mod for Mount and Blade: Warband, is an absolute must-try.
This classic mod is still receiving updates and allows players to play out the War of the Ring, which is essentially the conflict of the main trilogy. However, this time, players themselves will be able to determine the outcome of the war, hopefully in favor of the faction they opt to play as. Fans of the Mount and Blade series should also keep their eyes peeled for news of Kingdoms of Arda, an upcoming LotR mod for Mount and Blade II: Bannerlord.
9 Third Age Total War
Medieval 2: Total War
Total War: Medieval 2
- Released
- November 10, 2006
- Developer(s)
- Creative Assembly
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy, Turn-Based Strategy, Tactical
- Link to Third Age -Total War by TW_King_Kong
The Total War series has many great total conversion mods, including many Lord of the Rings mods, chief among stands Third Age - Total War, a mod for Medieval 2: Total War. The mod not only features 14 unique factions such as Gondor and Isengard, all with their custom units but also many iconic locations where battles and sieges take place.
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Gollum is not the most exemplary character in Lord of the Rings, characterized by his eternal greed for the ring. These are his worst deeds.
Players can either try and recreate their favorite scenes from the movies or instead play the extensive campaign, which will make them forget they are playing a Total War mod and not a real Lord of the Rings game.
10 Middle-Earth
Minecraft
Minecraft
- Released
- November 18, 2011
- Developer(s)
- Mojang
- Platform(s)
- 3DS, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Wii U, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PS Vita, Xbox One, Xbox 360
- Genre(s)
- Sandbox, Survival
- Link to Middle-Earth by PakPacman
Minecraft players are known for completely recreating their favorite fictional worlds. It's no surprise that Middle-earth has also been lovingly brought to life. By downloading this Lord of the Rings mod for Minecraft players will be able to experience Tolkien's world like never before with a fully open world map that is waiting to be explored.
Players will find dozens of beautifully recreated iconic locations from the books and movies, as well as more niche structures that only the most die-hard Tolkien fans will recognize. However, this mod is not just about exploration, as it also offers players the opportunity to engage with characters and quests, making it easily one of the best mods for Minecraft.