Back in August 2022, the infamous Embracer Group bought the rights to bothThe Lord of the RingsandThe Hobbit, a deal that set the company back $395 million. While the last few years have seen a handful ofMiddle-earth gamesrelease, fans of the fantasy franchise can expect to see a whole lot more in the coming years, likely encompassing a surprising range of different genres.
Last year broughtReturn to MoriaandGollumto the table, two very differentLord of the Ringstitles that experimented with two very different genres, with the former being a survival crafting game while the latter is a stealth adventure. The nextLord of the Ringsgame up to bat is Weta Workshop’sTales of the Shire, a cozy Hobbit life-sim now set for release next year. It seems like any genre could be on the cards forThe Lord of the Ringsfranchise, and a hero shooter might be an interesting avenue to explore.
Tales of the Shire Paves The Way for a Lord of the Rings Hero Shooter
How a Lord of the Rings Hero Shooter Could Work
Though even just saying the words might get some fans' hackles up,aLord of the Ringshero shootercould work really well if it was done right. Throughout its three novels/movies,The Lord of the Ringsbrings fans face to face with a plethora of characters, many of whom have a distinct ability set and personality. And with these being the most vital components for a good hero shooter, anOverwatch-likeLord of the Ringsgame could feel like a logical next experiment for the franchise.
ALord of the Ringshero shooter already has plenty of characters that would fit the usual genre class archetypes. Legolas would be a ranged sniper with high agility, similar toOverwatch’s Hanzo. Aragorn would be a melee-focused tank, able to buff his teammates with a rousing speech. Gandalf would be a great support hero, being able to blind enemies, buff allies, and attack with his staff. And Samwise would be a good choice for a healer, providing his allies with food pickups that increase their health. That’s all just scratching the surface.
ALord of the Ringshero shooter would also have all the other pieces of Middle-earth fiction to draw from for its roster.The Hobbit’s Thorin Oakenshield would make a good damage hero,The Silmarillion’s Morgothwould be a powerful tank, and the mysterious, oft-cut Tom Bombadil would make a really interesting support character. ALord of the Ringshero shooter could even borrow characters from shows and fellow video games, such asThe Rings of Power’s younger version of Galadriel, andMiddle-earth: Shadow of Mordor’s Talion.
It’s The Best And Worst Time for a Hero Shooter to Launch
The hero shooter genre is busier than it ever has been before.Overwatch 2is still fairly popular,Marvel Rivalsmade a big impression with its Beta and is set for full release in December, andValve’sDeadlockis already getting a lot of buzz. While a good hero shooter can become very successful right now, it needs a distinct hook that sets it apart from the competition.Concord is the perfect example of this. Thankfully,The Lord of the Ringshas brand recognition and a fantasy niche, both of which would distinguish it from the crowd.
