23 Years Later, This Lord Of The Rings Game Remains An Undefeated Adaptation

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Aragorn and Gandalf in The Return of the King

Published Aug 24, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT

James is a gaming writer from London who has spent thousands of hours exploring titles from every genre. Though he has a particular affinity for multiplayer titles like World of Warcraft, Destiny 2 and League of Legends, he has also put thousands of hours into single-player experiences, from deep RPGs to epic PC strategies. When he's not playing or writing, he can usually be found supporting his beloved Brentford FC.

Over the years, us dedicated Lord of the Rings fans have been treated to some genuinely brilliant games, across a broad variety of genres. Part of that success comes down to the original works of Tolkien, which provide the most immense framework to be found anywhere in the fantasy genre.

Your own favorite likely comes down to the type of games you like to play, and which platforms you had access to growing up, but there are some standout options that do tend to rise above the rest. One of those broke the stereotype that film adaptations rarely do well when making the jump to a video game format, and it became one of the best action games of all time in the process.

The Return Of The King Is A Spectacular Action Game

Anyone who grew up with a PlayStation 2, will almost certainly have played the official The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King tie-in. EA Redwood Shores' exceptional 2003 release opens up at the Siege of Helm's Deep, at the moment of the crucial intervention of Gandalf the White.

From there, you work through all the key moments in the story, including the Battle of Pelennor Fields and the culminating Battle of the Black Gate, all on a scale that was scarcely believable given the hardware capabilities of the time.

Though it's undoubtedly similarly set-up to its predecessor, it makes some major improvements that elevate the experience significantly. In the first instance, there are a lot more characters to choose from when you're playing the campaign, split into the three paths of the former members of the Fellowship. At the same time, there's a lot more interactivity in each level, with players able to take control of siege equipment and other items to cause devastation on the battlefield.

What really defines the game, though, is the combat. Though it's relatively simple in setup, it's actually hugely rewarding if you're willing to put the time in. Each character has unique combos, and you earn experience based on the skill with which you dispatch enemies, with each kill scoring a rating of Fair, Good, Excellent and Perfect.

For Frodo

Viggo Mortensen as aragorn in lord of the rings fellowship of the ring

The Return of the King adaptation has also held up remarkably well considering its over two decades old at this point, and if you go back and play it today, you shouldn't find it visually jarring. Interestingly, Aspyr Media recently brought back The Lord of the Rings: War in the North as a remaster, after that spent years as the subject of rights issues, so let's hope they set their sights on this one next.