The Lord of the Ringsfranchise is one of the most successful names in fantasy, and its powerful presence in pop culture persists. J.R.R. Tolkien’s works have helped define the genre, and the live action film series headed by Peter Jackson only expanded its reach. To this day,The Lord of the Ringsis commonly mentioned and adapted in the media, and there has been an attempt to ignite somewhat of a renaissance with the franchise, especially in gaming.
Survival crafting titleReturn to Moriawas met with mixed reviews, whilelast year’sGollumwas panned as one of the worst games of 2023. Now with the cozy life simTales of the Shireset for release on March 25, it will soon become clear ifThe Lord of the Ringsfranchise has a new worthy game spin-off or not.Tales of the Shiremay be compelling for fans of its genre, but the broaderLord of the Ringsaudience may not gravitate toward the project. Due to this slump, developers have the perfect opportunity to find inspiration in one ofLord of the Rings' best game adaptations:Return of the King.
Return of the King’s Co-Op Formula Brought a Special Experience to Life
Playing to Iconic Characters' Strengths
There have been many games inspired by Tolkien’s world, and some have been quite successful.Shadow of MordorandShadow of Warwere intriguing takes on the series, butlooking toReturn of the Kingmay be the key to reigniting the franchise’s gaming power. Despite the hack-and-slash title now being over 20 years old, it is still hailed by many as one of the best game adaptations ofThe Lord of the Rings. Not only does it nail its tie-in moments with the films, but it offers a strong co-op that still fills many gamers with nostalgia.
What makes theReturn of the Kinggame such a strong co-op experience is that it emphasizes the unique skills of each character. This combat diversity can create an incredibly dynamic playthrough, as players need to really harness the fighting strengths that their chosen characters have.The characters ofThe Lord of the Ringsall bring something special to the table, and theReturn of the Kingfully honors this through its co-op.
Return of the King’s Playable Characters and Their Strengths
Depending on which combination of character players choose in co-op, each playthrough can feel vastly different. Out of all the game adaptations,Return of the Kingsits at the top of the list, and its dynamic character roster is one of the biggest reasons why.
Lord of the Rings Adaptations Are Stuck In a Tricky Spot
The ongoing attempts at recapturing the feeling ofthe originalLord of the Ringstrilogyhave failed to reach such heights. There are plenty of strong arguments thatShadow of MordorandShadow of Warshould be the blueprint moving forward, butReturn of the Kingneeds to be considered as well.
The Lord of the Ringsgames have been missing a unique spark, andReturn of the Kingmakes a compelling case for focusing on a balanced and customizable co-op title. The media is playinga risky game withThe Lord of the Rings, butReturn of the Kingcould be the special ingredient needed to kickstart this desired gaming renaissance.
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is one of the most iconic names in entertainment. The franchise started with novels from J. R. R. Tolkien before being adapted onto the big screen by Peter Jackson in one of the most critically-acclaimed film trilogies of all time. There have also been numerous The Lord of the Rings video games of varying quality.
