What to Know About The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria…

Summary

The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria is a promising game that has released several gameplay trailers and previews.
Set in the Fourth Age of Middle-Earth, players are tasked with rebuilding the Dwarven mine and society in Moria after Sauron's defeat.
The gameplay involves survival-crafting mechanics similar to Minecraft and Valheim, with players exploring the depths of the Misty Mountains, collecting resources, and managing their Dwarf's life stats.

The Lord of the Rings franchise hasn't had the best track record for video games recently. While Monolith's Middle-Earth series is widely regarded as some of best Lord of the Rings games out there, it's been a good while since they released, and the most recent LOTR title has overshadowed them massively. Released back in May, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is currently front-running the list of 2023's worst games. But not all hope is lost, with The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria on the horizon.

Unlike Gollum, The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria has released quite a few gameplay trailers and previews over the last few months, and it's clear that the developer behind the game is proud to show off what it's done with the license. And while Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria probably won't be winning any Game of the Year awards, it does look like a promising, fun little title, and one that's definitely worth checking out for long-time fans of the franchise. But before diving into its depths, there are a few things fans should know about Return to Moria before its October 24 release date.

What To Know About Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria's Story

the lord of the rings return to moria key art

Set in the Fourth Age of Middle-Earth, The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria takes place fairly soon after the events of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. With Sauron defeated and his dark armies scattered to the farthest reaches of Middle-Earth, the Dwarven people set their sights on their old homeland of Moria, which had been taken over by the forces of evil and remade as Khazad-dum. Upon the request of Lord Gimli Lockbearer, players make their way back to Moria, where they're tasked with slowly rebuilding the ancient Dwarven mine, and rebuilding Dwarven society in the process. While working their way through the Mines of Moria, players can expect to encounter plenty of authentic Lord of the Rings references, and a good deal of lore ripped straight out of J.R.R. Tolkien's books.

What To Know About Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria's Gameplay

lord of the rings return to moria ruins concept art

A survival-crafting game in a similar vein to Minecraft and Valheim, The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria sees players control a Dwarf as they head deep into the depths of the Misty Mountains. The general gameplay loop of Return to Moria will have players mining walls and deposits in order to collect valuable resources, which they can then use to craft new structures, weapons, or defensive items like armor and consumables. Players will also need to manage their Dwarf's various life stats, ensuring that they have enough food, that they're warm enough, and that their sleep levels are kept normal.

The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria can be played solo, or in online co-op, allowing for up to eight players to join together and explore the Mines of Moria as a team. While the whole game can apparently be played solo, some of Return to Moria's tougher foes might need a few extra helping hands to be defeated, such as the mysterious "Shadow" that apparently lurks deep beneath the Misty Mountains. According to Return to Moria's official storepage, players will need to ensure that they don't make too much noise when upgrading their gear or crafting, as that could draw the Shadow's attention, leading to a confrontation that players might not be ready for.

Being a procedurally-generated game, The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria ensures replayability, with the start of each game heralding a completely new and unique world with its own layout and resources. To top it all off, Return to Moria also includes a fairly detailed character creator in which players can create their very own Dwarf. With the addition of unique craftable armors, players should be able to make some pretty distinct characters.