The Lord of the Rings Online
- June 6, 2012
- Standing Stone Games, LLC
- 8h median play time
Cleverly implemented microtransactions make Lord of the Rings Online a great deal and a more absorbing game.
Get on Steam"The Lord of the Rings Online" invites you to explore Middle-earth in a massive, immersive world based on J.R.R. Tolkien's legendary books. Create and level up your unique character with countless customization options, and embark on solo or cooperative adventures. From the Shire to the Mines of Moria, experience the beauty and peril of this iconic fantasy realm.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- A must-play for Tolkien fans, offering an immersive experience in a beautifully crafted Middle-Earth.
- The game has a fantastic community that is friendly and helpful, enhancing the overall experience.
- Despite its dated graphics, the game provides a wealth of content and enjoyable gameplay, making it a classic MMORPG.
- The free-to-play model can feel restrictive, with many features locked behind a paywall, leading to a grind for in-game currency.
- The game suffers from technical issues, including long download times and frequent updates that can disrupt gameplay.
- Some players find the quests repetitive and the overall gameplay can become boring over time, especially for those not engaged with the story.
- story21 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its immersive and engaging narrative, closely tied to the lore of "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit," allowing players to explore familiar characters and events. While the main storyline is compelling, some players find the side quests repetitive and lacking depth, leading to a mixed experience in terms of progression and engagement. Overall, the narrative aspect is a highlight, compensating for the game's less impressive graphics and gameplay mechanics.
“What it might lack in exciting new systems or stunning graphics, it makes up for in its immersive story, its wonderfully realized world, and the simple pleasure of exploring Middle-earth at your own pace.”
“But the main storyline is very interesting and, most importantly, it very closely intersects with the plot of the books 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit.' We will meet a lot of familiar characters, take part in familiar events, and enjoy a sense of nostalgia.”
“The game may not be quite as pretty graphically as more modern ones, but this is more than made up for by the good story-driven progression, light-hearted fun, and occasional humor.”
“Can't hold the story together.”
“Just had really bad issues staying connected and following the storyline.”
“Numerous side quests scattered throughout Middle-earth will not enter this passage, since for the most part they are tasks like 'kill 5 goblins' or 'bring 10 wolf tails' and, with rare exceptions, are not worthy of our attention.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, reflecting its 2009 origins, but they effectively convey the immersive world of Middle-earth and support the game's rich storytelling. While not as visually stunning as more modern titles, the graphics are still appreciated for their charm and the depth they add to the gameplay experience. Upcoming updates are anticipated to enhance the visual quality further.
“What it might lack in exciting new systems or stunning graphics, it makes up for in its immersive story, its wonderfully realized world, and the simple pleasure of exploring Middle-earth at your own pace.”
“Even with dated graphics (updates are coming soon, as of this writing), it's still a joy to look at.”
“LotRO's graphics may be somewhat dated at the moment and mechanically it does not stand out too much from other MMOs using the same model, but the game does justice to the breadth and scope of Middle-earth and Tolkien's deep lore.”
“The game may not be quite as pretty graphically as more modern ones, but this is more than made up for by the good story-driven progression, light-hearted fun, and occasional humor.”
“Graphics for characters are out of date (expected of course from 2009).”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay of LOTRO is praised for its relaxing pace and straightforward mechanics, making it accessible for fans of Tolkien's lore. While the graphics may feel dated and the mechanics familiar to other MMOs, the game excels in providing a rich, immersive experience with extensive content, crafting options, and unique features like legendary weapons and mounted combat. Players appreciate the ability to customize their characters and the sense of community fostered through kinships, making it a beloved choice for many.
“A must-play for Tolkien/Middle-earth fans, particularly those who enjoy a relatively relaxing and well-paced MMO with straightforward gameplay and plenty to see and do.”
“Many hours of gameplay to be had with fantastic content. If you're a fan of the movies, books, etc., then give it a try.”
“It's going to be familiar to anyone that has played EverQuest, DAoC, WoW, etc. While it means you're not getting any particularly amazing new mechanics, the perk is that LOTRO has figured out how to get the best out of those systems.”
“LotRO's graphics may be somewhat dated at the moment, and mechanically it does not stand out too much from other MMOs using the same model, but the game does justice to the breadth and scope of Middle-earth and Tolkien's deep lore.”
“Every game has mechanics, classes, balance, and lots of people whining there's no balance.”
“Just love this game, no matter how many times I left, I always come back to it. For me, it's much better than WoW and other games of that type because of gameplay and options for making your champion unique, unlike others where you get a weapon with certain stats and it's hard to get, but if you do, it's the same as hundreds of other weapons. Here, everything is made as you want/need it, which gives you the option to make your hero as you want, not as the game wants it to be.”
- music9 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its fantastic mood-setting qualities and beautiful compositions, with some users highlighting it as one of the best soundtracks they've experienced, comparable to iconic scores like that of "Lord of the Rings." The chill atmosphere and easy-going gameplay are enhanced by the in-game music, making it a standout feature that many recommend enjoying over battle music. Overall, the music system contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience.
“Add to all that it has fantastic mood-setting music; you've got a class A product.”
“LotRO might have the best soundtrack I've ever heard.”
“I recommend turning off battle music and just enjoying the compositions.”
“The music system is frustrating and lacks variety.”
“The soundtrack feels repetitive and doesn't enhance the gameplay experience.”
“The music doesn't fit the game's atmosphere and can be quite distracting.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game features a significant amount of grinding, primarily for special currency and in-game cash, but players find it enjoyable due to the variety of activities available. While it can be time-consuming, the grind is seen as a core aspect of the experience rather than a tedious chore, making it accessible for free-to-play users who are willing to invest time. Overall, the grinding enhances engagement without feeling overly punishing.
“There is quite a bit of grinding involved, but it's mostly enjoyable and there's so much variety in the game that you can change gears all the time and keep yourself engaged in countless activities.”
“You can grind out in-game cash and you can grind out store points (example: quest area covering a certain amount of levels would cost 500 store points and you would have to spend 1-2 days solely grinding out store points to attain that amount).”
“Time consuming farming (not too much of a complaint as that's how it's supposed to be).”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is highly praised for its immersive and picturesque qualities, reminiscent of serene locations like the Shire, complemented by beautiful in-game music that enhances the overall experience.
“If you're rolling through some place like the Shire, you'll be able to soak in that sleepy, bucolic atmosphere that the movies portrayed so well.”
“Great atmosphere and in-game music.”
“Beautiful atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, lacking the depth and detail that would make the world feel immersive.”
“Despite the beautiful graphics, the atmosphere is flat and fails to evoke any real emotion or connection to the environment.”
“The game tries to create a dark and eerie atmosphere, but it ends up feeling more tedious than tense.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 200 % positive mentions
- -400 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the strong replayability due to well-balanced classes and a variety of options within each class, allowing for diverse strategies and playstyles. The progression system enhances the experience, encouraging multiple playthroughs to explore different builds and approaches.
“The game offers multiple paths and choices that significantly change the outcome, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
“With numerous side quests and hidden secrets, every new game offers a chance to discover something new, enhancing the overall replayability.”
“Leveling feels well-progressed, classes are (mostly) balanced, and there is a lot of variety even within the classes to provide lots of replay value and ways to mitigate strengths and weaknesses.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to go back and replay the game, as the side quests feel repetitive and uninspired.”
“The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying the game feel like a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The monetization in Lord of the Rings Online is praised for its clever implementation of microtransactions, enhancing the overall gaming experience while providing good value for players.
“Cleverly implemented microtransactions make Lord of the Rings Online a great deal and a more absorbing game.”
