Middle-earth: Shadow of War

Everything about this game outdoes the first, and with the expanded Nemesis System, superb combat, and epic story, you'll be immersed for a long time.

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In Middle-earth: Shadow of War, players continue the story of Talion and Celebrimbor, seeking to defeat Sauron's forces and create their own army of orcs. The game features a Nemesis System, allowing for unique personalities and behaviors among enemies, and an expanded Fortress Siege system for large-scale battles. The open world of Mordor is enhanced with various side quests and regional challenges, all set in J.R.R. Tolkien's iconic Lord of the Rings universe.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 31,136 reviews

story3,331 positive mentions

monetization189 negative mentions

story
10,624 mentions
31 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The story of "Middle-earth: Shadow of War" continues the journey of Talion and Celebrimbor as they forge a new ring of power to combat Sauron, intertwining original narratives with established lore from Tolkien's universe. While some players appreciate the engaging character arcs and plot twists, many criticize the story for being convoluted, repetitive, and lacking depth, often overshadowed by the game's innovative nemesis system that generates unique player-driven narratives. Overall, the story is seen as a mixed bag, enjoyable for some but disappointing for those seeking a faithful adaptation of the lore.
- “The story is gripping, and I found, in places, deeply, sadly touching, and it's this I mean when I say they've done something great with Tolkien, whilst keeping what made his world great.”
- “The story continues Talion's fight against Sauron, though it lacks emotional depth.”
- “The story is captivating and a great legacy of the LOTR book and movies.”
- “The story is absolutely awful and the game is a tad bloated compared to its predecessor, but there's still a lot to love here with the nemesis system and the various personalities of the orcs.”
- “The story and missions are absolute garbage.”
- “The story my god the story seems to be written by a 10 year old.”
gameplay
5,061 mentions
41 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Middle-earth: Shadow of War" is generally praised for its engaging combat mechanics and the innovative nemesis system, which adds depth and replayability by creating unique interactions with orc captains. However, many players note that the gameplay can become repetitive over time, particularly due to the grindy nature of fortress sieges and the frequent interruptions from unskippable cutscenes and orc dialogues. While the game builds upon its predecessor with improved mechanics and a larger world, some players feel that it lacks significant innovation and can be bogged down by clunky controls and tedious gameplay loops.
- “The new additions and improvements to the nemesis mechanics make the game fun and always a new experience.”
- “Gameplay is amazing and the nemesis system makes the game super replayable.”
- “The gameplay itself is a massive improvement on Shadow of Mordor, as Talion now finds himself wielding new forms of killing Uruks, including (but not limited to) a hammer to finish off grounded enemies, taming dragons, a freaking glaive?!?”
- “Overall gameplay is not well developed.”
- “Great if you need a repetitive experience to keep your hands busy for a time, but it offers nothing meaningful in either its narrative or gameplay.”
- “The gameplay loop is repetitive, but is supported by excellent combat and an interesting upgrade path for various skills.”
graphics
1,822 mentions
53 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Middle-earth: Shadow of War" have received mixed reviews, with many players praising the stunning visuals and attention to detail that bring the world of Middle-earth to life. While some noted that the graphics hold up well even years after release, others felt that they were a step down from its predecessor, "Shadow of Mordor," citing issues like blurry textures and occasional graphical glitches. Overall, the game is generally regarded as visually impressive, especially with the addition of high-resolution texture packs, but some players experienced performance issues on lower-end systems.
- “The graphics are stunning, capturing the dark and atmospheric essence of Mordor with breathtaking landscapes and attention to detail.”
- “The game successfully brings the world of Middle-earth to life with stunning visuals and an immersive narrative.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, the story is great, and the gameplay is phenomenal with action, storylines, and just an overall amazing game play and feel.”
- “The graphics are passable for 2017 but certainly nothing breathtaking.”
- “The graphics hold up to today's standards very well.”
- “The graphics are a downgrade from its predecessor and the combat feels like they added training wheels.”
monetization
1,306 mentions
8 % positive mentions
77 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of "Middle-earth: Shadow of War" has been a contentious topic among players, primarily due to its initial implementation of microtransactions, which many viewed as a cash grab. While the microtransactions have since been removed, players still express mixed feelings about their past presence, with some noting that the game was designed around these features, leading to a grindy experience. Overall, many players now appreciate the game without microtransactions, emphasizing that it can be fully enjoyed without spending additional money, despite the lingering impact of its monetization history.
- “The good news is they've long since cut all the microtransactions that the game used to be plagued with, and the scars from its surgery have healed.”
- “Despite the problems with monetization upon the game's launch, and the rough launch week it had, the game is now a fantastic experience without the microtransactions.”
- “The developers listened to the community and completely removed the microtransactions, huge props.”
- “This game was clearly just a cash grab.”
- “The game is an uninspired cash grab from people who make money with games but don't play their own games.”
- “The short of it is that microtransactions killed the potential of this game.”
grinding
1,265 mentions
1 % positive mentions
6 % neutral mentions
93 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of "Shadow of War" has received significant criticism from players, who describe it as excessively tedious and bloated compared to its predecessor. Many reviews highlight that the game requires extensive grinding for upgrades, gear, and army-building, particularly in the late game, which can feel repetitive and unfulfilling. While some players find enjoyment in the grind and the nemesis system, the overwhelming consensus is that the game is designed around grinding, making it less appealing for those who prefer a more streamlined experience.
- “Campaign is great, achievements aren't too grindy if you like to 100% games like me, and man, that nemesis system got me craving a game where you just play as the orcs and fight your way to the top.”
- “With the last update, the supposedly grindy endgame isn't grindy anymore.”
- “I've completed this game 100% it isn't that grindy, just do the side quests, fight some captains, and you'll be almost constantly leveling up throughout the game.”
- “Way too grindy for the casual player.”
- “The overall experience is however tarnished by the unrelenting need to collect followers to assault/defend forts, and post game makes it especially tedious since it's all there's left to do.”
- “The game is filled with tedious and repetitive gameplay which feels more like a chore than anything.”
humor
531 mentions
99 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely driven by the orc characters, whose quirky personalities and hilarious dialogue provide a consistent source of entertainment. Players appreciate the variety of orc interactions, with many finding the banter and unique traits of the orcs to be both funny and engaging, although some feel that the repetitive nature of their monologues can become tiresome over time. Overall, the game's humor adds a lighthearted touch to the otherwise dark setting, making it a memorable aspect of the gameplay experience.
- “The orcs are the stars of the show - they are so funny and have so much personality!”
- “The sheer amount of funny voiced orcs that are in this game is honestly astounding and impressive.”
- “The orc characters range from disturbing to hilarious.”
- “You end up needing to grind for so much morian at the end game; it's not funny.”
- “It's too sad this game is considered done and will never be touched again, besides having really unfunny bugs and no skippable speeches.”
- “The orcs never become unfunny.”
stability
383 mentions
8 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
91 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous players reporting a plethora of bugs and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay. Common issues include frequent crashes, mission-breaking glitches, and problematic controls, leading many to describe the experience as frustrating and at times unplayable. While some players find enjoyment despite these issues, the overall consensus is that the game requires substantial optimization to improve its stability.
- “The game runs great, it looks great and I love the fort aspect of it.”
- “I haven't had any issues with crashing or anything; the game runs great on my system.”
- “Ive become completely immersed in this game and it feels really nice to play a game that is polished, bug-free, and downright addicting to play.”
- “Too many glitches that make the game unbearable most of the time.”
- “The insane amount of game-breaking glitches really dampens the experience, with glitches ranging from an enemy captain saving you from himself to the game leveling you down from max level (80) to level 3.”
- “The game is plagued with some kind of stuttering bug, where every 10 seconds or so the game freezes for a second and then quickly rubber-bands.”
replayability
291 mentions
47 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is highly praised, primarily due to its innovative nemesis system, which creates unique and personalized experiences with each playthrough. Many players find the variety of gameplay mechanics, including fortress sieges and asynchronous multiplayer elements, contribute significantly to its longevity and enjoyment. However, some reviews note that while the initial replay value is strong, it may diminish over time due to repetitive elements and a lack of new content after completing the main story.
- “The game's nemesis system, as it is called, is an excellent method of offering replayability without adding meaningless fluff to the campaign.”
- “The unpredictability of the system ensures that no two playthroughs are the same, enhancing the game’s replay value.”
- “This game has a ton of replayability, the nemesis system will keep you busy for ages while you gather and raise the ranks of the best orcs you can find.”
- “Replayability is questionable to me; that being said, there was so much to do in the first run I can't be mad.”
- “The main story mode doesn't have a ton of replayability, but I do see myself going back and playing the online conquests every once in a while.”
- “There is just not a lot of replayability as when you finish the game, you will just repeat the same process over and over again.”
optimization
286 mentions
50 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its ability to run smoothly on a variety of hardware, including lower-end PCs, while others report significant performance issues such as stuttering, crashes, and inconsistent frame rates. Some users highlight excellent graphics and overall performance, particularly on high-end systems, but note that optimization can vary greatly depending on the specific setup. Overall, while many find the game well-optimized, others express frustration with persistent technical issues that detract from the experience.
- “The graphics are also very nice, and are optimized well enough that lots of fairly low-end PCs can run them.”
- “Very well optimized, runs on solid 60fps on high-ultra settings on my i5 4690k, gtx 1060 and 16 gb ram at 1080p.”
- “The game is well optimized and pretty fun.”
- “Horrible performance, frequent crashes.”
- “Worst keybind optimization I've seen in 20 years of gaming; you change one bind and it'll assign 6-7 other things to that keybind.”
- “Additionally, despite several post-launch patches aimed at addressing these issues, many bugs and glitches continue to persist, indicating that further optimization was needed but never came.”
music
255 mentions
47 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack for its ability to enhance the immersive atmosphere and emotional depth of the gameplay, particularly during battles and key narrative moments. However, some players find the music forgettable or repetitive, noting that it often feels like a blend of recycled tracks from the previous game rather than offering a fresh experience. Overall, while the soundtrack is appreciated for its quality and thematic relevance, opinions vary on its memorability and impact.
- “The soundtrack is amazing, one of the best.”
- “The music heightens the intensity of battles and the emotional weight of the narrative.”
- “The soundtrack is another masterpiece, enhancing the emotional depth and epic scale of the journey.”
- “Music feels forgettable, while trying to invoke some of the Lord of the Rings movie soundtrack sensations, but its use is misguided (I hated the comedy music that plays out whenever Ratbag shows up) and it usually ends up drowned out by all the shouting going on.”
- “The music isn't good and the writing and voice acting are laughably amateur.”
- “In this game instead of heavy drums that were raising your heartbeat, you get Star Wars music mixed with Lord of the Rings music; the result is very bad in my opinion.”
emotional
139 mentions
85 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a wide range of responses, with some players finding the story deeply touching and capable of evoking tears, particularly in relation to Talion's journey and the connections formed with orc characters. However, others criticize the narrative for lacking depth and being repetitive, which detracts from the emotional engagement. Overall, while the game has moments of emotional resonance, particularly in its character interactions and soundtrack, it struggles to maintain consistent emotional impact throughout the story.
- “The story is gripping, and I found, in places, deeply, sadly touching, and it's this I mean when I say they've done something great with Tolkien, whilst keeping what made his world great.”
- “The ending even got some tears, which is a feat (I think, I dunno, I've been very emotional lately).”
- “This is honestly one of the most enjoyable and touching games I've ever played; I personally grew extremely attached to Talion and Celebrimbor, and the game endings left me in a state of great melancholy... yet the game never fails to make you smile, decapitating orcs and enemies has never been this fun.”
- “It feels grindy; it feels unsatisfying to do the same thing over and over until the boring story progresses.”
- “The first 6 hours are slow, featuring a boring story that has no relevance until you get to the final hour of the game.”
- “So in short, you spend 99% of your game in a boring combat system mashing buttons to kill an infinite supply of sword-sponges, leading to zero reward or incentive, while running from boring story missions that start with poorly acted cutscenes featuring uninteresting characters.”
atmosphere
84 mentions
48 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in *Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor* is widely praised for its stunning environments, immersive sound design, and attention to detail, effectively capturing the dark and gritty essence of Tolkien's world. Players appreciate the dramatic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, creating a vibrant and alive setting filled with lore and tension. While some critiques mention a shift in atmosphere in *Shadow of War*, the overall consensus is that both games deliver a compelling and atmospheric journey through Middle-earth.
- “The game's lighting effects and atmospheric soundtrack further enhance the overall ambience, making it feel like you're truly part of this epic world.”
- “From the towering spires of Minas Ithil to the shadowy forests of Nurnen, every corner of Middle-earth is teeming with detail and atmosphere, immersing players in a world that feels alive and vibrant.”
- “The graphics and sound design are top-notch, creating an unparalleled atmosphere of Mordor.”
- “Worse graphics, worse controls, worse atmosphere, worse UI, even the story is stupid compared to Shadow of Mordor... I can't make myself to play more with this... the perfect opposite of what I've felt with Mordor... I couldn't put that one down, because that game had a soul, this one is a cash grab.”
- “Brightly colored enemy labels and some of the HUD ruin the dark atmosphere to some extent.”
- “There's no atmosphere at all, very little lore, it doesn't feel like your battles affect anything.”
character development
55 mentions
38 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising the gradual transformation of key characters like Celebrimbor and the engaging Nemesis system that adds depth to orc personalities. However, many reviewers criticize the overall character development as lacking, with some characters feeling underdeveloped or their arcs being clichéd and unengaging. While the game features a solid skill tree and customization options, the narrative and character progression often fail to resonate, leaving players wanting more depth and investment in the story.
- “The narrative is bolstered by strong voice acting and character development; it has one of the richest stories I've seen in a video game in a while.”
- “The character development is astounding, very well done, and the game is an absolute riot.”
- “Love the character development and the fact that enemies return changed due to previous deaths.”
- “The character development is bad and you are really given zero reason to get invested because the overall story – and writing of it – is, at best, one big cliché and at worst actually bad.”
- “Some characters are killed off quite early in the game without any character development whatsoever and you are meant to feel sad for these characters that you don't even know who they are and what they did before they were killed.”
- “The story seems to demean everything the first game built up, the character development of the handful of NPCs that are introduced are beyond poor, to the point of their existence being meaningless.”