The Lord of the Rings should be ripe for the video gaming scene, but recent times have seen the franchise struggle. We’re hoping the launch of The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria on Xbox, PlayStation and PC changes that.
Originally set to launch in 2023, then pushed back, The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria is now available to purchase and play on Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and PC today. Has that delay allowed the teams at Free Range Games and North Beach Games to hone this into something special? Time will only tell. Or maybe our upcoming review will…
A return to Moria
If you’ve played a Lords of the Ring game in recent times, it would probably be that of Gollum – a game that struggled from the get go. The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria works a completely different take to that though, focusing on the Dwarves as they look to reclaim their home. And yep, that means Return to Moria plays as a survival crafter, one in which you’ll be left to build and explore like there is no tomorrow.
The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria is on the Xbox Store, playable as a current-gen only title on Xbox Series X|S. It’s on Steam too, and runs cross-platform cooperative play, so you and some mates (up to 4 players) can head to the Misty Mountains as a clan, putting heads together in order to survive.
The world of Moria is procedurally generated here and that should mean that every time you play The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria, it’ll be different to the last. In turn, your crafting, mining, exploring, building and more will therefore stay fresh, all as you look to grab precious metals and – ultimately – learn the secrets of the Shadow within.
“We are ecstatic to bring The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria to Steam and Xbox, providing the opportunity for a whole new audience to delve into the Mines of Moria,” said John Miller, CEO, North Beach Games. “With the addition of all of the new features and content in The Golden Update, Return to Moria delivers the deepest look yet at a survival-crafting experience based on The Lord of the Rings, and we cannot wait to hear what players think.”
“The development team has put in so much work since we first launched in October 2023 and we’re really proud of how far the game has come,” said Jon-Paul Dumont, Game Director, Free Range Games. “From Crossplay to Sandbox mode, to all the new content and improvements based on player feedback, we’re more excited than ever for fans to play Return to Moria.”
Key features
If you’re a big fan of The Lord of the Rings, Return to Moria should well appeal. Get your eyes on the key features and let us know what you think…
- Feel the Fellowship: Experience the Fellowship of the Dwarves like never before, with the rich lore of the iconic fantasy world from J.R.R. Tolkien interwoven into the very fabric of The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria.
- Survive the Dark: To survive the treacherous Mines of Moria players must conserve resources, hunt and gather for food and manage their sleep, temperature and noise levels. Battle unspeakable evils and survive hordes of monstrous Orcs in visceral combat, while uncovering the secret of the Shadow that looms within the mountain.
- Base Building: Find solace from the darkness. Reveal and clear new locations to create architecture on a grand scale. Get creative and construct bases from scratch or build upon the existing environment. Beware the evils which seek to destroy Dwarven progress.
- Rebuild and Reshape Moria: Restore the long-lost ancient kingdom of Khazad-dûm to its former glory, recovering Dwarven landmarks as the story progresses. Resurrect old mines and refire their forges to yield their untouched resources.
- Explore: Delve into the depths of the Mines of Moria. Procedurally generated environments are abundant with resources and fraught with mystery and danger, providing a unique experience each and every time.
- Co-op Multiplayer: Adventure alone or band together with friends in online cooperative multiplayer.
- Craft Dwarven Tools, Weapons and More: Craft and loot legendary Dwarven armor, tools, weapons and structures. Rebuild ancient forges to strengthen, repair and enchant gear. Upgrade and unlock new technologies and fantastical machines.
- Uncover Magic Artifacts: Discover ancient magic items including swords that glow when Orcs are near, maps of long-dormant Mithril veins, books with forgotten crafting plans and amulets that give strength or wisdom.
- Mine Ore and Jewels: Establish mines to unearth deposits of precious resources such as iron, gold, and quartz; and fantastical materials such as Mithril. Access crafting stations and forges to convert ore to ingots and upgrade gear. But be prepared, mining is loud and can awaken what lurks in the darkness.
- Comprehensive Dwarf Builder: Players become part of Dwarven Legend as they create their own Dwarf in the custom character creator. Dwarves can be customized in a variety of ways to create a unique Dwarven identity. During gameplay, players can find and craft armor and weapons to further enhance their unique style.
Buy now!
You can purchase and play The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria on Xbox Series X|S today. Just head over to the Xbox Store and you’ll be treated to an exploration adventure fully entwined in the LOTR world.
Alternatively, play it on PlayStation 5 or PC via Steam. Your call.
The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria Description
The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria™ follows the Dwarves as they embark on a new adventure to reclaim their legendary home of Moria beneath the Misty Mountains. Players will join forces to survive, craft, build and explore the iconic, sprawling mines. Courageous expeditioners will need to be vigilant as mysterious dangers await.
