10 Best RPGs Inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien

Even though more than fifty years have passed since J.R.R. Tolkien went beyond life's veil, we continue to see his work's impact across all artistic media, including video games.

The mythological world conceived by the British writer has been the origin and influence of countless books, films, series, board games, operas, and other expressions of human creativity imaginable, and the interactive medium hasn't been immune to his enduring presence.

Whether they directly adapt The Lord of the Rings or draw heavily on its characteristics, fans of his creations can find in this industry a magnificent way to see his legacy live on.

Therefore, if you are among those fascinated by the tales of Middle-earth, I invite you to explore the members of this list of the ten best RPGs inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien.

10 Pillars of Eternity

Shaping Destiny

Pillars of Eternity is a blessing for CRPGs, one that unfortunately receives little attention outside the genre's niche but offers a group adventure worth enjoying even by those who aren't die-hard fans of this type of game.

Of course, we must start with the premise that Obsidian's creation departs from many aspects of The Lord of the Rings, including its geographical and technological development, the cultural integration of different races, and the studyable nature of magic, so there isn't an explicit symmetry between the two works.

However, indirectly, because Pillars of Eternity is based on past creations that were directly influenced by Tolkien, such as Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale, it inherits the spirit of adventure and the hero's journey from the books and films; a feeling that is rarer than it seems these days.

Of the entire list, it's the entry that has the least superficial connection with the famous author, though that very fact makes it worthy of mention since it brings many new elements to the connection instead of just being another medieval fantasy world.

9 Kingdom of Amalur: Reckoning

A Brilliant Fable

Now, getting into the realm of medieval fantasy worlds I steered clear of in the previous paragraphs, Kingdom of Amalur: Reckoning can be considered The Lord of the Rings's most noticeable unofficial adaptation, because the influence is everywhere you look.

From the story to the biomes, including the cataclysmic mythology and the tragic yet courageous campaign we endure during the game's events, you feel as if Tolkien himself helped shape everything surrounding this superb open world.

R.A. Salvatore, the renowned writer, has acknowledged numerous times how his work has been influenced by Tolkien's, which is also vividly evident in the fictional universe he created for Kingdom of Amalur: Reckoning.

Henceforth, it's a tremendous action title with lots of exploration, a great combat and customization system, and tropes amiably adapted to the context that give it the necessary freshness to never feel like it's dragging along clichés.

8 Dragon’s Dogma 2

Great Beasts, Great Battles

With sequences like the Battle of the Chamber of Mazarbul, the confrontation with the Balrog, or the duel between Aragorn and Lurtz, it's impossible not to draw clear parallels with the kind of events you experience in Dragon's Dogma 2.

That constant feeling from the films that danger lurks around every corner and takes forms as diverse as orcs, trolls, ghosts, and more, is replicated in this title, where titanic and spectacular skirmishes are the main focus.

Traveling in a group through diverse and wondrous lands is also a notable coincidence, though the symmetry lies in the thrill of encountering a new fantastic beast and fighting it alongside your companions, witnessing increasingly larger, more powerful, and more complex entities appear.

It's a constant crescendo that doesn't stop until you see the credits, taking you through dozens of hours during which you don't realize how fast time passes due to the extraordinarily satisfying experience of living an odyssey of this magnitude from the safety of your home.

7 Dragon Age: Origins

A Kaleidoscope of Cultures

I've always thought of The Lord of the Rings as a creation with a strong political component, given that many of its themes revolve around territorial disputes, segregation by species, power struggles, resource distribution, and so on, which reminds me a lot of Dragon Age: Origins.

Despite its somewhat outdated combat system, BioWare gifted us with a timeless title in terms of the purest role-playing characteristics, placing us in a vast universe with a deep mythology where there are many decisions to make in contexts where choosing a side is anything but simple.

Each character and side quest has a weighty backstory that motivates you to become interested and form perspectives on what's happening, exactly replicating the experience I had when trying to understand the subtleties and sublime nuances of Tolkien's work.

Then again, you have that it's an action game of wizards, warriors, and rogues facing the same kind of adversaries as our heroes of Middle-earth, including a variation of the Uruk-hai called the Darkspawn, who are practically a one-to-one reference, so the connection is both profound and superficial.

6 Divinity: Original Sin 2

An Unforgettable Journey

While any other circumstance would demand Baldur's Gate 3's inclusion, it's always worth remembering that Divinity: Original Sin 2 is also a masterpiece that deserves all possible respect and attention.

The formula of an epic fantasy adventure in groups, set against the ever-enjoyable backdrop of the end of times, finds one of its best versions in this creation by Larian Studios, once again contrasting with Tolkien due to the cynicism and irony of its world.

However, the connection created by presenting a campaign where the fate of known reality hangs in the balance, the resolution of which rests on a group of misfits brought together by the whims of fate, is too obvious to dismiss.

Furthermore, I insist: there's never a bad time to recommend one of the century's greatest RPGs, so I have no doubt that, if you enjoyed The Lord of the Rings in any of its formats, this will also be an experience you'll thoroughly appreciate.

5 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Importance of Worldbuilding

With its own interpretation of the Nazgûl, the circumstances in which a primordial evil seeks to unleash total darkness, and a handsome, long-haired protagonist (excuse me, Frodo) with a natural talent for swordsmanship and flirting, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt subverts The Lord of the Rings in multiple ways.

However, Sapkowski's response to Tolkien's world-building reveals an inherent inspiration, taking various characteristics and twisting them, often through more mature and dark means, to create an equally wondrous universe, albeit on the opposite side.

The similarities are there, yet the most palpable aspect is the contrast in tone, revealing sinister subplots, far more tormented and flawed characters and dialogues, and a generally more ambiguous morality in conflicts than the clear dichotomy presented by its counterpart.

Paradoxically, it is in its separation that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt most reminds me of The Lord of the Rings, especially by sharing the same overarching structure of an epic fantasy, thus making it a magnificent departure from the rest of the recommendations.

4 Elden Ring

High-Scale Fantasy

The embrace of the arcane has become increasingly rare due to the pursuit of realism, whether complete or partial, making Elden Ring an anomaly that leans heavily into magical and fictional fables.

In a modern world where physical and earthly explanations are sought for the uncertainties of the esoteric and inexplicable, it agrees with The Lord of the Rings to leave room for imagination, contradictions, and voids in order to broaden the mystical tone behind its themes.

Works made by and for the feeling of adventure, destined for nothing more than the joy of the voyages and the satisfaction of overcoming them, where only the solitude typical of FromSoftware's creations separates them from being kindred spirits.

Reconstructed rings, ancient trees, exiled kings, the fact that the name of The Lands Between is to say Middle-earth but in other words... Elden Ring shares the heart of The Lord of the Rings and, therefore, its emotions.

3 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

An Adaptation Ahead of Its Time

Since it was against the law of morality not to include an official adaptation, I couldn't think of a better alternative than The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, one of the best tie-in games ever conceived.

Capitalizing on the popularity of Peter Jackson's films, Electronic Arts continued to expand the series into video games with a sequel that improved everything in terms of movement, environments, playable characters, enemies, and every other element you can imagine.

Fixed camera, spectacular foes, varied action sequences in both style and substance, plenty of interactivity with the environments... The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is an impressive hack-and-slash game, even if you disregard the added value its cinematic counterpart provides.

To be honest, I'd go so far as to say it's still recommendable today, as I believe it has aged well enough to appeal to modern audiences, even those who missed the party that it was the original release.

Immersion at its Finest

The ability to submerge you in a story in the Lord of the Rings universe has historically been matched by very few creations, but I would place The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim on that pedestal without a shadow of a doubt.

In holistic terms, the similarities are countless, ranging from factions and political issues to fauna, flora, biomes, themes, and even clichés, though where they most clearly converge is in the immersion they generate.

Thanks to their vast mythologies, both franchises allow for an unparalleled degree of depth and narrative coherence, with a myriad of historical, cultural, political, and metaphysical systems converging in a journey that never ceases to be interesting.

Every step taken is a discovery of some kind; in Skyrim, you experience it, and in The Lord of the Rings, you see or read about it. The magic of expanding your awareness of a world detailed enough to be a parallel reality is equally phenomenal.

1 Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor

The Perfect Balance

When it comes to striking a balance between inspiration and originality, Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor is a continuation of Tolkien's universe that deserves to be honored as the magnificent production it is.

Instead of simply drawing inspiration from or even refuting Tolkien's ideas, Monolith's creation expands the scope of his universe through familiar yet novel elements, all filtered through a perfectly functional open world with unique inclusions like the Nemesis System.

Through this structure, the feeling of encountering antagonistic forces that evolve naturally alongside your progress in the campaign creates a near-perfect symbiosis with the original piece, as you never know what plot twist awaits you around the next corner.

However, instead of simply adding to the existing universe for the sake of it, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor looks The Lord of the Rings in the eye and challenges it, offering a fresh interpretation of the good-versus-evil dichotomy that feels fantastic within the work's entire worldview.

While it's not the best game on the list, I do feel it is, perhaps for obvious reasons, the one that best captures Tolkien's inspiration and brings it to life, making it a must-have title if you consider yourself a fan of the legendary writer.