There are many games based on The Lord of the Rings, even though you can no longer buy most of them on modern platforms. An iconic title has suddenly returned and gives fans hope for more revivals.
Which game is it? Without any announcement, developer and publisher Aspyr Media released the Legacy Edition of The Lord of the Rings: War in the North on 11.08.2026.
This is an action RPG originally released in 2011, set during the time of the first film trilogy, blending film and book content. The game’s story occurs concurrently, and what is special about this return is that the game was delisted in 2018. Nowadays, the opposite is often true, which is why initiatives like Stop Killing Games exist.
Another side in the war against Sauron
What makes the game special? The game is an action RPG where you have 3 playable characters, including a Dúnedain ranger, an elf with magic, and a dwarf as a melee fighter. You can play alone and switch between the characters or play together in co-op (there’s even a 2-player splitscreen).
Unlike in the films, War in the North presents a much darker Middle-earth with even more dangers and monstrosities. As a reward, despite the parallel storyline, you will also encounter familiar characters from the trilogy.
The Legacy Edition is not a major remaster, but it still offers some quality-of-life features, such as improved resolution and framerate. You can play the new release on Steam, PS5, Xbox Series S and X, and the Nintendo Switch 2.
How is the new edition received? Many players seem pleased with the return, especially since no one had likely thought about it anymore. Often, licensed games that were delisted remain so. For Zombie_Slaya79 (Reddit), the new version is great news; he writes: This game is absolutely incredible. Give it a try… I was totally thrilled about it back then and I’m so happy it was re-released.
Many players agree with him in his post, while others wish for the return of other games, like the legendary strategy game The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth. They are not alone in this; building expert and Twitch streamer Maurice Weber also wishes to see the title return, as he stated on x.com.
However, there is also criticism. DerivitivFilms (Reddit) writes: I think it’s great that it is back on sale and updated, but it would have been nice if the original ‘owners’ of the game had received the update.
What about you? Are you getting the old game again today and which title would you like to see return? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments. You can also experience more stories from Middle-earth in the MMORPG for the franchise: In the MMORPG for The Lord of the Rings, you can soon experience what you otherwise would have to read the dry Silmarillion for
Your opinion is important to us!
Do you like the article? Then let us know!