The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria

Lore & Background

Return to Moria takes place after Sauron's defeat, exploring a post-apocalyptic scenario where players uncover the history of the dwarves and the legacy of their clans. The narrative delves into the impact of these events on the orcs and the wider world of Middle-earth. The introductory cinematic shows Gimli leading a company of dwarves to the Doors of Durin, only to lose contact with them, hinting at the adventures within the mines.

The game is set within a procedurally generated version of the mines of Moria. Players mine for materials such as iron, gold, quartz, gemstones, and mithril across three distinct mountains to create tools, weapons, armor, and structures. Survival mechanics require managing hunger, sleep, body temperature, willpower, and noise levels. The mines are inhabited by orcs, cave trolls, and other mythical creatures, and players must engage in combat or employ stealth to survive. Exploration reveals ancient items, such as swords that illuminate in the presence of orcs, and allows players to recover and rebuild ancient dwarven structures.

The game supports online cooperative multiplayer, allowing a single host to invite up to eight other players to explore and survive within their version of Moria. Dwarven characters can be customized through a character creation system.

Reader's Guide

The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria is notable as a licensed survival game set in Tolkien's Middle-earth, specifically focusing on dwarven lore and the Fourth Age. Its development was inspired by games like 7 Days to Die, Stranded Deep, Subnautica, Valheim, and The Forest. The developer, Free Range Games, conducted extended research, held team book clubs, and consulted Tolkien experts Corey Olsen, T. S. Luikart, and David Salo, who developed new Khuzdul phrases. Art director Bradley Fulton led a small team of concept artists to create 2D concept art, with game director Jon-Paul Dumont stating the goal was to 'recreate the grounded, real-world setting of Middle-earth' by combining expressive character designs with realistic materials, lighting, and animation. The game features a soundtrack of songs written and inspired by Tolkien, and Gimli is voiced by John Rhys-Davies, who portrayed him in the 2000s films. The game was first revealed on June 10, 2022, at the 2022 Epic Games Summer Showcase, and was originally planned for spring 2023 before its October 24, 2023 release. The Windows version was sold exclusively on the Epic Games Store until August 27, 2024, when it was released on Steam. Reception was mixed or average according to Metacritic, though the Xbox Series X/S version received generally favorable reviews. Critics noted that while it follows the standard survival game formula and lacks polish, it offers a moody, atmospheric descent through Tolkien's world, with an authentic and authentically grueling experience.

Did You Know?

• The game is set in the Fourth Age of Middle-earth, after the events of The Lord of the Rings novel.
• The game was inspired by survival titles such as 7 Days to Die, Stranded Deep, Subnautica, Valheim, and The Forest.
• The Windows version was exclusive to the Epic Games Store until August 27, 2024, when it launched on Steam.