Tolkien's Middle-earth games

Recommendations by Fredrik (Nässjö, Sweden)

Games that are explicitly set in the fantasy world Middle-earth, created by J.R.R. Tolkien.

1. The Hobbit
by Philip Mitchell and Veronika Megler
(1983)
Average member rating: (28 ratings)

Fredrik says:

The classic.

2. Lord of the Rings: Game One
by Philip Mitchell, Michael O'Rourke, Paul Kidd, Lyn C
(1985)
Average member rating: (7 ratings)

Fredrik says:

Melbourne House/Beam Software's followup to The Hobbit. Much more complex, but nowhere near as good.

3. Shadows of Mordor
by Philip Mitchell, John Haward
(1987)
Average member rating: (2 ratings)

Fredrik says:

The third of the Beam Software games, based on The Two Towers.

4. The Crack of Doom
by Philip Mitchell, Norton Truter, John Haward
(1989)
Average member rating: (2 ratings)

Fredrik says:

The final game in Beam Software's series.

5. Bilbo, by Nils Eng (1989)
Average member rating: (1 rating)
Fredrik says:

Swedish language game loosely based on The Lord of the Rings. Nice atmosphere, but takes some liberties with the plot.

6. The Hobbit: The True Story, by Fredrik Ramsberg and Johan Berntsson (1993)
Average member rating: (3 ratings)
Fredrik says:

Interesting implementation (adventure from the DOS prompt) but nothing much in terms of gameplay.

7. The Hobbit, by Serhei Makarov (2005)
Average member rating: (3 ratings)
Fredrik says:

An unfinished game, and it shows. Both the language and the code could live with some polishing.

8. Memorias de un hobbit, by Javier San José (1989)
Fredrik says:

Game in Spanish. I have not played it (yet).

9. El Hobbit (demo), by Josep Coletas Caubet
Fredrik says:

Seems to be an adaptation of a small part of The Hobbit (the passage under the Misty Mountains). Heavily influenced by the Melbourne House game.

10. Sombras de Moria
by Jesús Espinar Amate
(2002)
Average member rating: (1 rating)

Fredrik says:

Game in Spanish. I have not played it (yet).

11. El Anillo Regente, by José Baltasar García Perez-Schofield (2002)
Fredrik says:

Game in Spanish. I have not played it (yet). Interesting because the player takes the role of The One Ring!

12. El Señor de los Anillos, by Dimas Caparrós Gómez
Fredrik says:

Game in Spanish. I have played it long ago, but mostly remember being rather disappointed.

13. Der kleine Hobbit, by Michael Nickles (1984)
Average member rating: (1 rating)
Fredrik says:

Not much of a game, but still decidedly based on The Hobbit.

14. Mario, by Harald Bornfleth and Herbert Grosser (1985)
Average member rating: (1 rating)
Fredrik says:

In spite of the title, this game is decidedly (explicitly, even) based on The Lord of the Rings. It has some cute graphics and terrible guess-the-verb puzzles.

15. Adventure
by William Crowther and Donald Woods
(1976)
Average member rating: (93 ratings)

Fredrik says:

While directly or indirectly influenced by Tolkien, this game has earned its place in this list through the first version released by Level 9, titled Colossal Adventure, which added direct references to Tolkien's Middle-earth. Later versions from Level 9 (those with graphics) again removed all such references.

16. Adventure Quest
by Mike Austin, Nick Austin, and Pete Austin
(1983)
Average member rating: (7 ratings)

Fredrik says:

Original game was explicitly set in Middle-earth, later versions had such references removed.

17. Dungeon Adventure
by Mike Austin, Nick Austin, and Pete Austin
(1984)
Average member rating: (7 ratings)

Fredrik says:

Original game was explicitly set in Middle-earth, later versions had such references removed.

18. Bored of the Rings
by Fergus McNeill
(1985)
Average member rating: (5 ratings)

Fredrik says:

As the title indicates, it was inspired by the novel Bored of the Rings that parodied The Lord of the Rings. But the game is otherwise independent from the book.

19. The Boggit
by Fergus McNeill and Judith Child
(1986)
Average member rating: (4 ratings)

Fredrik says:

Parody of The Hobbit. Perhaps the best of the parodies.

20. Bulbo and the Lizard-King
by John Wilson and Sean Doran
(1987)
Average member rating: (3 ratings)

Fredrik says:

One of many parodies, very loosely connected to Tolkien.

21. An Everyday Tale of a Seeker of Gold
by John Wilson and Sean Doran
(1986)
Average member rating: (4 ratings)

Fredrik says:

One of many parodies, very loosely connected to Tolkien.

22. Retarded Creatures and Caverns, by John Wilson (1989)
Average member rating: (2 ratings)
Fredrik says:

One of many parodies, very loosely connected to Tolkien.

23. Fuddo & Slam, by John Wilson (1988)
Average member rating: (1 rating)
Fredrik says:

One of many parodies, very loosely connected to Tolkien.

24. Not the Lord of the Rings, by Andy Remic (1991)
Average member rating: (2 ratings)
Fredrik says:

Extremely pathetic attempt to write a satire. Seems more based on the books than the game.

25. The Hoppit
by Gareth Pitchford
(2018)
Average member rating: (2 ratings)

Fredrik says:

Simple but pretty amusing parody of the goblins' dungeon in the game The Hobbit.

26. The Mines of Moria, by Sam Ruby (1985)
Average member rating: (3 ratings)
Fredrik says:

The first of many Eamon games set in Middle-earth. Not one of the better. (In fact, one of the worse.)

27. The Forest of Fear, by Sam Ruby (1985)
Average member rating: (3 ratings)
Fredrik says:

Another Eamon game.

28. Thror's Ring, by Tom Zuchowski (1985)
Average member rating: (2 ratings)
Fredrik says:

Another Eamon game. This one is really good, and was at one time voted the second best Eamon adventure ever. The game is set in Middle-earth, but the story is not based on the books.

29. The Ring of Doom, by Sam Ruby (1986)
Average member rating: (3 ratings)
Fredrik says:

Another Eamon game.

30. The Iron Prison, by Sam Ruby (1986)
Average member rating: (2 ratings)
Fredrik says:

Another Eamon game.

31. Assault on Dolni Keep, by Tom Zuchowski (1987)
Average member rating: (2 ratings)
Fredrik says:

Another Eamon game. This one is a follow-up to Thror's Ring. Like its predecessor, it is very good and it was at one time voted the best Eamon game ever.

32. The Hunt for the Ring, by Sam Ruby (1987)
Average member rating: (1 rating)
Fredrik says:

Another Eamon game.

33. Quest of Erebor, by Sam Ruby (1987)
Average member rating: (1 rating)
Fredrik says:

Another Eamon game.

34. Return to Moria, by Sam Ruby (1987)
Average member rating: (1 rating)
Fredrik says:

Another Eamon game. As the title implies, it is a follow-up to The Mines of Moria. Confusingly, it is at the same time the first part of a new sub-series titled War of the Ring.

35. Haradwaith, by Sam Ruby (1987)
Average member rating: (1 rating)
Fredrik says:

Another Eamon game.

36. The Bridge of Catzad-Dum, by Nate Segerlind (1988)
Average member rating: (2 ratings)
Fredrik says:

Another Eamon game. This is an adaptation of the parody with the same title written by Mark Rogers. Rogers' story features Samurai Cat as the protagonist.

37. Defenders of Gondor, by Nathan Lindsell (2002)
Average member rating: (1 rating)
Fredrik says:

Nathan Lindsell's best game, which does not really say that much. Feels unfinished.

38. The Hobbit, by QuestHobbit (2002)
Average member rating: (1 rating)
Fredrik says:

The story from The Hobbit with elements from The Lord of the Rings mixed into it. Full of bugs and some very strange game-play.

39. The Hobbit: Vol I, by Nathan Lindsell (2000)
Average member rating: (1 rating)
Fredrik says:

Ouch! In spite of being created with a commercial authoring system, this barely deserves the label IF.

40. The Hobbit II: Search for Smaug, by Nathan Lindsell (2000)
Average member rating: (1 rating)
Fredrik says:

Just as bad as the first part.

41. Lord of the Rings, by Olivia Tilson (2012)
Fredrik says:

I have not played this one yet.

42. A babó (The Hobbit)
by Robert Olessak
(1997)

Fredrik says:

My Hungarian is... somewhat lacking, so I havenothing to say about this game.

43. Barrow Escape, by MistrBlue (2013)
Average member rating: (3 ratings)

44. A Hobbit Trek
by Crispin
(2013)
Average member rating: (2 ratings)

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