The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria

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The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria
Developer(s)Free Range Games
Publisher(s)North Beach Games
Director(s)Jon-Paul Dumont
Artist(s)Bradley Fulton
Writer(s)Farrha Khan
SeriesMiddle-earth, based upon the works by J. R. R. Tolkien
EngineUnreal Engine[1]
Platform(s)
Release
  • Windows
  • October 24, 2023
  • PlayStation 5
  • December 5, 2023
  • Xbox Series X/S
  • Q1/Q2 2024
Genre(s)Survival-crafting
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria is a 2023 survival-crafting video game developed by Free Range Games and published by North Beach Games on October 24, 2023. It is based on the fictional world of Middle-earth created by J. R. R. Tolkien and takes place during its Fourth Age after the events of the The Lord of the Rings novels. It follows a company of dwarves as they try to retake their homeland Moria and restore the long-lost ancient kingdom of Khazad-dûm.

Gameplay and Plot[edit]

Gameplay[edit]

The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria" is classified as a survival-crafting video game, set within the iconic, procedurally generated mines of Moria from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. The game emphasizes survival mechanics, requiring players to navigate environments that are often engulfed in darkness.[2] [3] Key activities include:

  • Resource Extraction and Crafting: Players mine for materials such as iron, gold, quartz, gemstones, and Mithril across three distinct mountains to create tools, weapons, armor, and structures.[4]
  • Survival Elements: To sustain their characters, players must effectively manage hunger, sleep, body temperature, willpower, and noise levels.
  • Combat: The mines are inhabited by orcs, cave trolls, and other mythical creatures. Players must engage in combat or employ stealth to survive.[5]
  • Exploration and Building: Players are encouraged to explore the mines to discover ancient items, such as swords that illuminate in the presence of orcs, and recover and rebuild ancient dwarven structures.[4]
  • Customization: Dwarven characters can be extensively customized through a character creation system.

Multiplayer[edit]

The game supports online cooperative multiplayer, allowing a single host to invite up to eight other players to join in exploring and surviving within their version of Moria.

Plot and Setting[edit]

Set in the aftermath of Sauron's defeat, "The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria" explores a post-apocalyptic scenario where players uncover the history of the dwarves and the legacy of their clans. The narrative delves into the impact of these events on the orcs and the wider world of Middle-earth.[6]

The introductory cinematic sets the stage with Gimli leading a company of dwarves to the Doors of Durin, only to lose contact with them, hinting at the adventures and challenges that lie within the mines.[7]

Development[edit]

The concept of Gimli leading a company of dwarves on a quest to retake Moria and forge new gates for the city Minas Tirith was already alluded to by Tolkien in the appendixes of the The Lord of the Rings novels.

The game is licensed by Middle-earth Enterprises.[2][3][7] The developer, California-based[4] Free Range Games, was inspired by games like 7 Days to Die, Stranded Deep, Subnautica, Valheim and The Forest.[5]

The team did extended research, held team book clubs and consulted with the Tolkien experts Corey Olsen, T. S. Luikart and David Salo, who also developed new Khuzdul phrases. They first assembled a small team of expressive concept artists, under art director Bradley Fulton to create 2D concept art.[6][8] Game director Jon-Paul Dumont said, that they wanted the game to "recreate the grounded, real-world setting of Middle-earth" and that they "combined these two ideas: expressive character designs with realistic materials, lighting, and animation to create a world that feels real, inhabited by characters full of life."[8] It also features a soundtrack of songs written and inspired by Tolkien.[9]

Gimli is voiced by John Rhys-Davies, who portrayed him in the 2000s films.[10][11][12]

Release[edit]

The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria was first revealed along with a short cinematic trailer[7] on June 10, 2022, at the 2022 Epic Games Summer Showcase. The game was originally planned to be released in spring 2023[3][5] and was eventually released on October 24, 2023 for Microsoft Windows, with the PlayStation 5 release following on December 5, 2023. The Xbox Series X/S release is scheduled for early 2024.[13] The Windows version is exclusively sold on the Epic Games Store.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Over 80 Unreal Engine-powered games featured during 2022 summer gaming events". Unreal Engine. August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria™". Epic Games Store. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c North Beach Games (June 10, 2022). "The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria, the Only Survival Crafting Game Set in the Fourth Age of Middle-earth™, Revealed During Epic Games Summer Showcase" (PDF). www.returntomoria.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 10, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "Free Range Games". Free Range Games. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Craig Pearson (June 13, 2022). "The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria's announcement reveals a multiplayer survival game". Epic Games. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Nerd of the Rings (October 25, 2022). "LOTR: Return to Moria Video Game EXCLUSIVE Sneak Peek!". YouTube. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c "The Lord of the Rings™: Return to Moria™ – Official Announcement Trailer 4K". YouTube. June 10, 2022. Archived from the original on March 6, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Brian Crecente (October 25, 2022). "Digging into The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria development". Epic Games. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  9. ^ Christopher Livingston (October 25, 2022). "The Lord of the Rings survival game has dwarves reclaiming a post-apocalyptic Moria". PC Gamer. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  10. ^ "The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria™ - Opening Cinematic". YouTube. October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  11. ^ "Gimli actor to reprise role for The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria". Eurogamer.net. October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  12. ^ Ben Sledge (October 24, 2023). "Return To Moria's Old Man Gimli Is The Best Kind Of Fan Service". TheGamer. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  13. ^ "The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria for PS5 delayed to December 5; PC version goes gold". Gematsu. October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
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