The Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO) – Classic fantasy with much depth
Developer/Publisher: Turbine/Warner Bros. | Release: April 24, 2007 | Model: Free-2-Play | Platform: PC | Download: LOTRO Homepage
What kind of game is this? The Lord of the Rings Online is a classic MMORPG that shows its age. However, the game is still popular with its players and continues to provide new content.
You play in the world of the novel/film series The Lord of the Rings. However, you do not embody Frodo, Gandalf, or Legolas, but rather play the “B-Team” of Middle-earth’s defenders, who play important but side stories independent of the novel/film narrative.
You get to choose between the usual fantasy races, which were inspired by the novels. So dwarves, elves, hobbits, and humans in well-known roles such as warriors or rangers.
The combat system is a static tab-targeting system where you take aim at opponents and then unleash your skills.
What are the highlights? The highlights of LOTRO are clearly the story focus, the lovingly crafted world of the original, and the helpful community, especially in the RPG area.
Over the 14 years that the game has been online, many updates and expansions have been implemented. This lets you follow the storyline of the previous novels and films, and even after the end of the Ring, the story continues. The developers have also clarified in a roadmap that they will not face a shortage of new content anytime soon.
The game also offers many fun activities when you are not carrying a ring to Mordor.
If you like, you can indulge in a complex housing system and treat your friends to a hearty hobbit meal and cake. Since the LOTR setting appeals to many role-playing fans, there has always been an active and helpful RPG scene in the game that not only engages in quests, dungeons, and raids but also plays them appropriately in the game and stays “in character”.
Why is it a good alternative to ESO? ESO and LOTRO share a lovingly designed fantasy world that invites you to dive in. Only here, it has hobbits instead of khajiit.
Both games are also known for their accessibility to role-players. So if you enjoy RP in ESO, you certainly won’t be disappointed by the community in LOTRO.
Speaking of community: Like in ESO, the player base here has a good reputation and is very helpful. There are also elaborate farewell ceremonies for deceased guild members.
