The Re-Release of The Lord of the Rings: War in the North Kicks Off a Series of Tolkien Game Revivals

Aspyr Media has had its share of ups and downs recently, from the poorly received Deus Ex remaster to the lackluster Lara Croft outfit DLC, along with some troubling allegations regarding AI usage. So, it’s with cautious optimism that I share the news that this Embracer Group studio is set to revive several lost Lord of the Rings games. Just yesterday, they stealthily launched a re-release of the 2011 co-op action-RPG, The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, which had previously been delisted but is now back on the market and updated for modern systems. Plus, there’s more on the horizon.

Originally crafted by Snowblind Studios, known for titles like Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance and Justice League Heroes, War in the North was acquired by Warner and merged with Monolith. It didn’t make a huge splash upon release, often scoring around 6 out of 10, and ultimately flopped commercially. However, nostalgia can work wonders, and the newly dubbed Legacy Edition is garnering positive feedback from Steam users, boasting a 95-percent approval rating.

The Legacy Edition isn’t a full remaster but rather an enhanced version of the original, featuring improved graphics options and several quality-of-life upgrades. Players can now enjoy more save slots, a lock-on combat feature, better UI information, and character upgrades during levels. All of this is a welcome addition.

In a press release accompanying the surprise launch, Aspyr mentioned that this is the “first The Lord of the Rings title released by Aspyr,” hinting that fans can expect even more classic titles from this beloved franchise in the future. This strongly suggests that the studio has struck a deal with Warner to explore its catalog of Tolkien-licensed games.

At $20 for a 15-year-old game of average quality, the price feels a bit high, though I expect it will see significant discounts during future Steam sales. What’s more frustrating is the game being credited as both “developed” and “published” by “Aspyr Media.” In reality, it was developed by Snowblind, and this trend of erasing original credits in Steam re-releases is becoming tiresome. Still, if you’re in the mood for some LOTR-themed action-RPG fun, options are limited at the moment.