The Lord of the Rings: War

About

"The Lord of the Rings: War" is a strategy game that offers a phenomenal story from the popular franchise. With good gameplay, splendid graphics, and a fabulous soundtrack, it provides an enjoyable experience. However, be prepared for lots of grinding, annoying ads, and numerous bugs that may hinder your gameplay. The game's tagline, "One Ring to Rule Them All," aptly captures the epic battle for middle earth.

Genres & Tags

Strategy

Play Modes

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

61%

Audience ScoreBased on 6,659 reviews

gameplay99 positive mentions

monetization199 negative mentions

Great graphics and attention to detail, immersing players in the LOTR universe.
Engaging gameplay with a strong community aspect, allowing for teamwork and strategy.
Not heavily pay-to-win; players can progress without spending money, though spending can provide advantages.

Severe balance issues between factions, often favoring the good side and making it difficult for evil factions to compete.
Frequent resets at the end of each season lead to frustration as players lose progress and have to start over.
Gameplay can become tedious and slow, with long wait times for building upgrades and troop training.

gameplay
334 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
56%
14%
The gameplay of this Lord of the Rings-themed mobile game has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing it for being generic, repetitive, and heavily reliant on pay-to-win mechanics. While some appreciate the strategic elements and the incorporation of familiar lore, others find the mechanics convoluted and the overall experience lacking depth, often describing it as a "waiting simulator" with minimal interaction. Additionally, numerous players have expressed frustration over misleading advertisements that do not accurately represent the actual gameplay.
- “Great gameplay for Lord of the Rings fans.”
- “I enjoy the gameplay, particularly on RP servers where you can live out the story or make alliances.”
- “The gameplay is fine, though not deep.”
- “The gameplay is generic, heavy pay-to-win elements, no balance or strategy, just purchase the best commander for your team or lose.”
- “The gameplay is dull, it's already pay-to-win ($1,000+) and the mechanics are broken.”
- “The so-called gameplay is nonexistent; the ads are misleading and flat-out predatory.”
monetization
238 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
12%
84%
The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized for being predatory and misleading, with many players feeling that it is a blatant cash grab that does not align with the gameplay advertised. Users report that while there are in-game purchases, the game is heavily skewed towards a pay-to-win model, making it difficult for non-paying players to compete. Additionally, the advertisements are described as deceptive, showcasing gameplay that does not accurately represent the actual experience, leading to significant disappointment among players.
- “Really fun game with awesome graphics and a very good balance of monetization.”
- “The game is solid and fun; to be honest, not many things to buy, and the best part, no ads.”
- “Yes, it has microtransactions, but they are not needed to be successful.”
- “It gives me a heavy heart to see a story I love so much made into such a cash grab that the normal man has no chance at.”
- “The ads are literally some game that doesn't exist.”
- “This game is a pure cash grab for the elites that have nothing better to do with their money.”
graphics
232 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
28%
9%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players praising their quality and attention to detail, particularly in relation to the Lord of the Rings theme. However, some users criticize the graphics as mediocre or buggy, noting issues with performance and optimization that detract from the overall experience. While the visuals are often highlighted as a strong point, they are sometimes overshadowed by gameplay concerns and the game's monetization model.
- “The graphics are amazing, a very beautiful game.”
- “Beautiful graphics and stunning attention to detail and storyline.”
- “Great graphics for a mobile game and well thought out for a newly launched one at that!”
- “The graphics are mediocre and it is just another build and grow game which the Shirley Basseys of the gaming world rule and reign as king or queen as they spend using daddy's credit card - too many games end up going due to the pay to play regime.”
- “The graphics are jarring and unnatural.”
- “The graphics are buggy.”
story
144 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
63%
6%
The game's story is generally appreciated for its connection to the Lord of the Rings lore, with many players enjoying the graphics and storytelling elements. However, frustrations arise from gameplay mechanics that hinder story progression, such as bugs, repetitive quests, and a perceived focus on monetization over narrative depth. While some players find the overarching story engaging, others feel it lacks coherence and fails to provide a fulfilling experience beyond initial enjoyment.
- “Great storytelling that sticks to the books.”
- “This game has reignited my love for LOTR; the Red Book of Westmarch is a really nice touch to give people a feel of the LOTR story.”
- “Love the game reliving the iconic story and making my own story; love it.”
- “It's a fun game, and I originally gave it 5 stars, but unfortunately once you get past the main storyline of the game and there are no more objectives for that end, it becomes painfully obvious that you will fall far behind on game items and drops if you do not pay for them.”
- “Red book story missions have zero player engagement; you cannot interact during those battles, only watch and do nothing for 10 minutes straight.”
- “From a story perspective, this game completely misses the point of the books.”
grinding
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious, repetitive, and time-consuming, often leading to frustration among players. Many feel that the effort put into grinding does not yield meaningful rewards, especially when faced with pay-to-win dynamics that favor those who invest money. While some players enjoy the grind as part of the gameplay experience, the overall sentiment leans towards it being a monotonous and unbalanced chore.
- “Lost all my resources in less than 24 hours after 2 weeks of grinding to a few players that my best characters can't even touch because they all have maxed out equipment.”
- “It's disappointing how quickly this devolves into an onslaught of endless grinding, as there isn't much to represent the Lord of the Rings in the way of games, but there was almost no gameplay to speak of anyways given that the only hands-on aspect is resource management.”
- “The biggest issue with this game is resource grinding; you will have limited movement tiles according to your level too, and there's no option to fasten your resource gathering except by old-fashioned grinding on limited mobs and tile resource gathering.”
stability
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
98%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent glitches, freezes, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. While some users experienced no issues initially, the overwhelming sentiment is that the game is plagued by bugs, particularly during key interactions and tutorials, leading to frustration and a lack of enjoyment. Overall, many reviewers express disappointment, suggesting that the game is not ready for a full release due to its unstable performance.
- “No glitches so far.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes.”
- “I've experienced consistent performance throughout my playtime.”
- “Total absence of management - continuous glitches which players have to pay for and have stress and no fun at all.”
- “Overall: the game is full of bugs, glitches and should not be played as such, nor enjoyed.”
- “The reasons I gave this game 1 star: it has loads of bugs which is expected from these kinds of games, game freezes and closes suddenly and the game is too complicated, you don't know what to do and no fun.”
music
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
53%
7%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the inclusion of iconic Lord of the Rings tracks and the overall quality of the soundtrack. However, some players express disappointment over the limited variety of music, feeling that it does not adequately represent the different factions and can become repetitive. Overall, while the music enhances the game's atmosphere, its execution leaves room for improvement.
- “Great soundtrack, sound effects are awesome.”
- “The graphics and music are fantastic and there's always something to do to expand your territory or level up your commanders.”
- “Fun game, epic music, good vibes.”
- “As for the LOTR music, that is just in the beginning at the intro and during some cinematics; other than that, the music is absent.”
- “Hearing Shire music while playing the powers of the ring just kills the entire atmosphere.”
- “I can't believe they've used one piece of music when every faction should have their own theme.”
optimization
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
35%
35%
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with users reporting frequent crashes, slow loading times, graphical stuttering, and overall poor performance, particularly on older devices. While some players experience smooth gameplay with certain factions, many others find the mechanics and graphics in need of substantial improvement. Overall, the consensus indicates that the game is not well-optimized, leading to a frustrating experience for many users.
- “The battles could be more interactive and the graphics could be crisper, but that could be a performance issue.”
- “Performance is incredibly smooth and gameplay is addictive.”
- “Lot's to do and it runs smoothly as I level up.”
- “Dev ops is more interested in putting graphics and sound in rather than fixing bugs (optimizations).”
- “This game crashes constantly in the tutorial section, loads very slow, graphical stuttering, and freezes.”
- “Great game but poorly optimized; it has crashed 3 times in the last 30 minutes I've been playing.”
humor
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is frequently described as both unintentional and intentional, with players finding amusement in its quirky math, absurd gameplay elements, and exaggerated advertisements. Many reviews highlight the game's comedic storytelling and character interactions, while some critiques point out the slow pacing that detracts from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the humor is a notable aspect that adds a layer of entertainment, despite some inconsistencies in execution.
- “Hilariously dreadful.”
- “Really catchy game, funny to play.”
- “The game is very funny; you guys did a good job on the game. If you are reading this, please install this game.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its vibrant and immersive qualities, with beautiful graphics that enhance the experience. Players appreciate the distinct atmospheres of different factions, although some feel that certain music choices can detract from the overall ambiance. Overall, it is considered one of the best in its genre for capturing the essence of the Lord of the Rings universe.
- “Easily the best of its type, beautiful graphics and a vibrant atmosphere.”
- “Great strategy game with a wonderful Lord of the Rings atmosphere.”
- “Love the Lord of the Rings atmosphere in this game.”
- “Hearing shire music while playing the powers of the ring just kills the entire atmosphere.”
- “You pick a faction because of its atmosphere and imagination.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Users find the emotional aspect of the game to be a mixed experience, with some enjoying the balance of toxicity and wholesomeness in the chat room, while others feel that the story mode could be less tedious. Overall, the game is considered fun, but players suggest that it’s best enjoyed without getting too emotionally invested.
- “This game really pulls at your heartstrings and makes you feel deeply connected to the characters.”
- “The emotional depth of the story left me in tears; it was a beautiful experience.”
- “I was surprised by how invested I became in the characters' journeys; it truly resonated with me.”
- “However, I'd like there to be a less tedious and more engaging story mode.”
- “The emotional depth of the characters felt shallow and unconvincing.”
- “I found it hard to connect with the story; it lacked the emotional impact I was hoping for.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users highlight the strong replayability of the game, particularly praising it as a standout entry in the Lord of the Rings franchise that encourages multiple playthroughs.
- “Amazing! Finally, a Lord of the Rings game that is replayable.”
- “I find this one to be much more playable.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Character development in the game is criticized for its slow progression, requiring significant time investment to upgrade and build, which can lead to frustration and a reliance on microtransactions for quicker advancement.
- “Character development feels painfully slow, making it frustrating to progress without spending money.”
- “The time it takes to upgrade characters is excessive, leading to long periods of inactivity.”
- “I find the character development system tedious, as it requires too much waiting and not enough engaging gameplay.”