The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria
- August 27, 2024
- Free Range Games
- 51h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria" is a cooperative game where players delve into the procedurally generated mines of Moria as a company of Dwarves, on a mission to reclaim their treasures and fortify their hold. With a focus on crafting, building, and survival, players must balance exploration and mining while avoiding the mysterious dangers that lurk in the depths. Every expedition offers a unique experience, either solo or online with friends.
Reviews
- The game captures the essence of the Dwarven kingdom and immerses players in a rich, detailed world filled with adventure and mystery.
- The crafting and base building systems are enjoyable, allowing players to create unique structures and manage resources effectively.
- The game features a strong connection to LOTR lore, with many references and Easter eggs that fans will appreciate.
- Combat feels clunky and unresponsive, with issues related to hitboxes and enemy AI that detract from the overall experience.
- The map and navigation system is poorly designed, making it easy to get lost and frustrating to find objectives.
- There are numerous bugs and performance issues, particularly related to loading screens and frame rate drops, which can hinder gameplay.
- story261 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story in "Return to Moria" is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its integration of Tolkien lore and the immersive atmosphere it creates. While the narrative is described as straightforward and sometimes linear, it effectively guides players through the game, offering a mix of adventure and survival elements. However, some critiques highlight issues with quest progression and a desire for more depth and NPC interactions, suggesting that while the story is enjoyable, it could benefit from further development and polish.
“The story is a perfect continuation of the Lord of the Rings books/movies.”
“The lore, storytelling, and immersion are top-notch - you really feel like you have a reason to care about what you're doing and why.”
“The story elements feel natural and reference the lore gently while being its own thing, and still being rooted in the Fourth Age.”
“The story content is linear, while sandbox mode only randomly generates the same areas without new content.”
“The lord of the rings: return to moria, another fragment of Tolkien’s work ripped from his books and notes and moulded and shaped into a poor excuse of a product; let that be the gameplay, soundtrack, visuals or story.”
“The story is surprisingly cohesive, but it feels like a retelling of the Hobbit, with the Arkenstone and Smaug that had claimed Erebor, only this time it's Khazad-dûm with a non-canon dragon.”
- gameplay222 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Return to Moria" is characterized by a mix of engaging mechanics and notable flaws. Players appreciate the cooperative elements, crafting, and exploration, but many find the core gameplay loop repetitive and the building mechanics clunky and underdeveloped. While the game offers a rich atmosphere and thematic ties to Tolkien's lore, it suffers from bugs and inconsistent mechanics that detract from the overall experience.
“The gameplay is engaging and challenging, offering a perfect blend of exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving.”
“The mining mechanics are engaging, and the sense of exploration is fantastic, with each delve into the depths feeling rewarding and full of mystery.”
“The cooperative gameplay adds a whole new layer of fun, making it an ideal game to enjoy with friends.”
“The game is very repetitive, and even once you get higher levels it's the exact same gameplay loop as the start of the game: find new area, reveal parts of the map, fight orcs, mine nodes, but with upgraded gear that doesn't feel like it's a tangible uplift.”
“The gameplay loop is simple and like many other games in the same genre, but it feels overly linear, with short days and too much time spent running back and forth.”
“The building mechanics are a bit clunky at times, and overall I can't recommend the game because of the amount of bugs and unfinished mechanics.”
- music121 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its immersive and thematic integration, featuring a mix of original compositions and songs directly inspired by Tolkien's works. Players enjoy the interactive singing mechanics, which provide buffs during activities like mining and drinking, enhancing the cooperative experience. While some find the music occasionally repetitive or wish for more variety, the overall sentiment is that the soundtrack significantly enriches the gameplay and captures the spirit of the dwarven culture.
“The music and song offers are quite simply superb and a nice deep cut into some of Tolkien's music-centric writings.”
“Singing mining songs as a group leads to everyone having different parts in the song and feels very natural.”
“Every second of this game is brimming with character, whether it's finding and honoring fallen dwarves, collecting old family heirlooms and returning them to their rightful place, or breaking into song as you toil away in the mines.”
“My only complaint is if I had to hear that Baggins song one more time I was gonna let the orcs keep Moria.”
“The first 2/3 of the game is just okay with some cool concepts carried by some cool art style and LOTR IP, then the massive holes in balance, terrible combat, pacing, bad music, crap audio, crap performance, and overall terrible design gets too heavy and the game falls apart.”
“The songs were mediocre and at times very muted (had all volumes maxed).”
- graphics100 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful art style and atmospheric visuals that effectively capture the essence of the Lord of the Rings universe. While some players find the graphics to be stunning, particularly in high settings, others criticize the lack of advanced graphical options and occasional performance issues like stuttering and lag. Overall, the visuals are generally considered good to above average, contributing positively to the game's immersive experience, despite some inconsistencies and limitations.
“I love the aesthetics.”
“The graphics are stunning!”
“The game captures the dark and mysterious atmosphere of Moria perfectly, with stunning visuals and a haunting soundtrack.”
“Constant stuttering and lag; it's not even that intensive graphically, and I've tried a few tweaks but nothing.”
“A painfully average looking game, whether with the highest graphical settings or with DLSS.”
“The game isn't very visually appealing. Not that I think the main focus should be on graphics, but it bothers me if it looks hastily made or unpolished, which I feel is the case here.”
- grinding68 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while some players enjoy the mindless resource gathering and find it rewarding, others feel it becomes tedious and repetitive, especially towards the end. Many reviews highlight that while the initial hours can be engaging, the grind for materials and crafting can lead to frustration, particularly with clunky mechanics and limited inventory space. Overall, the game offers a balance of grind that may appeal to dedicated players but could deter those seeking a more streamlined experience.
“Not too grindy - just the right amount with plenty of resources to find, mine, harvest, etc. Unlocking the build tree by rebuilding statues is okay and encourages one to explore the map to find them.”
“The grind is appropriate, not too grindy, not too absent.”
“After enjoying the first 8-10 hours, the game starts to feel grindy and repetitive.”
“However, it is a clunky mess at times and some of the grind, like for black diamonds, is beyond tedious.”
“I don't regret the purchase as I've had some enjoyable moments, though I find the gameplay loop incredibly tedious and the crafting systems are extremely linear.”
- atmosphere61 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and richly detailed representation of Moria, capturing the dark, mysterious essence of the Lord of the Rings universe. Players appreciate the combination of stunning visuals, atmospheric sound design, and lore integration, which together create a captivating experience that resonates with fans of the franchise. Overall, the game excels in establishing a haunting yet enchanting ambiance that enhances both solo and cooperative gameplay.
“The atmosphere is rich with tension as you explore dark, perilous environments, uncovering secrets while managing resources.”
“Moria's ancient halls are beautifully detailed, and the atmosphere is rich and immersive.”
“The music, the singing, the lore, the lighting effects, the game has loads of atmosphere and character.”
“Atmosphere low, considering that it's a LOTR game (and could have gotten so much for 'free').”
“It's clear the main focus of the game was atmosphere (maybe?) and building.”
“The take is definitely close to other big adaptations like the Jackson movies or LOTRO, so if you hated these, you might not enjoy the atmosphere here either.”
- stability36 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and crashes affecting gameplay. While some players find the experience enjoyable despite these issues, many express frustration over specific problems like AI behavior, crafting mechanics, and quest progression. Overall, there is a consensus that the game requires significant improvements in stability and optimization to enhance the player experience.
“The game runs great docked at 1080p on the deck; low to medium settings perform well.”
“I would love to see the quest glitches fixed, as advancing to an area before completing the quests can leave you with an uncompletable quest.”
“As soon as I put the last piece in place, the game freezes and crashes.”
“Play another base building title; the snapping is way too buggy, which I suspect is causing all of the base self-destructs.”
“The game can be a bit buggy at times, but it barely affects gameplay or the overall experience.”
- optimization36 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 31 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting severe performance issues, including stuttering and lag, particularly in specific areas and on lower-end systems like the Steam Deck. While some users have noted that it runs well in co-op and on higher-end hardware, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, with frequent frame drops and a need for further improvements. Despite some players experiencing stable performance, the general sentiment highlights a pressing need for optimization updates.
“The game is very well optimized for co-op.”
“Did I mention they optimized it for the Steam Deck?!”
“Despite some FPS drops in camps on the Steam Deck (playing at low settings), it’s still playable, and the devs have announced upcoming optimizations for the deck!”
“Specific areas have severe performance issues regardless of settings or specs.”
“The performance is some of the worst I've seen in modern gaming, and that says something given the current state of new releases throughout the industry.”
“The most disappointing aspect of this game is the performance.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is viewed as limited, with some players expressing uncertainty about revisiting it after completion. While it offers good value for the price, suggestions for improvement include adding a hardcore survival mode and leaderboards to enhance replay potential.
“Lore-breaking enemies introduced that can be overlooked for the sake of gameplay and replayability.”
“Not sure about replayability, but for the price, you'll definitely get your money's worth from it.”
“Not sure about the replay value after you beat the game.”
“I dunno about the replayability, but then again, I rarely replay a game unless it's Civilization.”
“As for replayability, the game would benefit from a hardcore survival mode without the story and a leaderboard on who made it furthest (accumulated most wealth).”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its quirky situations and amusing oversights, particularly in relation to its adventurous themes and references to Tolkien's works. Players find joy in the game's lightheartedness, especially when playing with friends, despite some minor issues like music. Overall, the humor enhances the experience, making it enjoyable for fans of fantasy and camaraderie.
“Very funny and interesting game, especially if you like The Lord of the Rings and you play it with friends. The only issue is the music, but we actually use Discord bots with LOTR playlists.”
“But if you love dwarves, adventuring with friends, laughing and smiling even when it is not perfect, and especially Tolkien and his heart, this game is for you.”
“Funny to see that it doesn’t use levels but that you need better equipment as you progress through the game.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is perceived as a quick cash grab, primarily targeting hardcore fans of the Middle-earth theme, with no in-game purchases available. Critics feel that the game lacks depth and substance, focusing instead on exploiting its franchise appeal.
“There are no in-game purchases, which makes the experience feel fair and enjoyable.”
“I appreciate that the game doesn't pressure players into spending money.”
“The absence of microtransactions allows for a more immersive gameplay experience.”
“Just seems like a quick cash grab.”
“Not returning to Moria or even rebuilding Moria, it is just finding a way out of Moria, and sadly this game is a quick cash grab for hardcore fans.”
“Most likely, the game is a quick cash grab, luring people in with the Middle-earth theme and open-world survival craft genre.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally engaging, as it effectively immerses them in the experience of being a dwarf, highlighted by heartfelt interactions, particularly with iconic characters like Gimli. The emotional resonance is further enhanced by charming elements such as songs sung during gameplay, which contribute to a sense of nostalgia and connection. However, some users express frustration with certain rough aspects of the game, which may impact their overall enjoyment.
“Ultimately, you emerge victorious and are crowned the new lord of Moria after a heartfelt exchange with Gimli himself.”
“The songs you sing when mining or when you are drunk are so heartwarming.”
“It might be a little rough around the edges, but I think it's a great balance of exploration, gathering, crafting, building, and fighting, and it's the only game so far that had actually made me feel like a dwarf.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development is noted for its decent design and creation, reflecting authenticity to the source material, such as the inclusion of female dwarves with beards, which aligns with Tolkien's world-building. This aspect may appeal to some players while potentially alienating others.
“The character design and creation are impressive, reflecting a deep commitment to world-building that stays true to the lore.”
“The depth of character development allows players to truly connect with their avatars, making each journey feel personal and meaningful.”
“I appreciate how the game offers diverse character options, allowing for unique storytelling experiences that resonate with different players.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“I was disappointed by the limited growth options for characters; it feels like they don't evolve throughout the game.”
“The story arcs for the characters are predictable and fail to provide any meaningful choices or consequences.”
