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Top games and apps to understand Middle-earth

Top games and apps to understand Middle-earth
Shaun M Jooste

Shaun M Jooste

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Tolkien left a fantastic legacy when he created his beautiful fantasy novels. Many games have spawned from them, such as The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of the Middle-earth. We’ve seen movies come to pass, but there are still many newbies who don’t understand what’s happening in the series with all the creatures, magic, lore, and lands.

As a fellow South African inspired by Tolkien’s works in my teens to write my own fantasy novels, I am honored to present some games and apps to help you understand Middle-earth and everything it contains. 

LoTR: Heroes of Middle-earth

First on the list is the exciting Electronic Arts game, LoTR: Heroes of Middle-earth. It’s a strategic role-playing that features all of the races from the movies and books. The best part is that it adds to the stories, giving a fresh take with a new ring to wield power.

The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth DOWNLOAD

Even if you are new to Middle-earth, you’ll learn a lot about the lore, creatures, heroes, and villains simply by playing the game. You’ll also have fun seeing what abilities they wield while you take on other players or characters in the story and PvP arenas. 

LotR Quiz

Here’s a fun party app that not only teaches you about Middle-earth but also tests your acquired knowledge. Not only does it focus on the novels, but you can choose one of the Lord of the Rings films. It’s an excellent way to see how much you remember from the Peter Jackson movies and how well you’ve paid attention.

Every series of questions has a timer by which time you need to answer. A right answer will appear green while a wrong one will be red. You’ll have a final score at the end to determine which one of you knows more about Middle-earth.

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Flamingo Elvish (Sindarin)

Do you love how the Elves on Middle-earth speak? The language is referred to as Sindarin, or Flamingo Elvish depending on who you ask. This Android app works almost like Duolingo by showing you flashcards, teaching you the Elvin dialect before testing you later. 

There’s an audio feature where you can autoplay the words to hear how to speak them. You’ll receive points for every word and phrase you get right in the test, showing how much progress you’ve made. The app is ideal if you go to cosplays with fellow fans of Middle-earth who also understand Sindarin.

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Middle-Earth Guidebook NZ

Have you ever seen the exotic locations in the Lord of the Rings movies and wished you could visit Middle-earth? This stunning app uses the power of Google Play to show you different spots used in the films with exact GPS coordinates. It also reveals visuals from the movies so you can see which scenes took place in various areas.

If there’s a YouTube video related to the location, you’ll see a link attached to the pin. It also provides information about any tours related to Middle-earth, which are many after the Lord of the Rings films were produced. The cards pop up once you tap on a pin, giving you the detailed information.

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The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth

Journeys in Middle-earth is a board game that Fantasy Flight Games created for fans worldwide. Players work together to take on missions and battle enemies, similar to how you would do in Dungeons & Dragons. You’ll find familiar creatures and heroes in the form of cards that you use on your adventure.

The Lord of the Rings: Journeys is a companion app for the board game. It has stunning visuals of the characters and creatures. While you’re playing the game on your table, the mobile app lets you capture your movements and inventory. You won’t need to worry about using pen and paper anymore.

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Lord of the Rings: Rise to War

Are you ready for an epic battle now that you understand more about Middle-earth? Rise to War is an excellent strategy game that sends you on an adventure to claim the One Ring. Other players are also amassing armies, so you’ll have your work cut out for you.

Lord of the Rings: Rise to War DOWNLOAD

The mobile game uses familiar locations, heroes, and races, which is great if you’re still learning how Middle-earth works. The only aspect you need to keep in mind is that it doesn’t follow Tolkien’s story. It has a brand new plot based on historic events in the fantasy world.

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Shaun M Jooste

Shaun M Jooste

I live in South Africa, Cape town, as a father of two children. I've been gaming almost all my life, with plenty of experience writing reviews and articles on the latest titles. With 15 years of experience in local government performing Facilities Management functions, I moved towards becoming CEO of my own company, Celenic Earth Publications, which serves to publish author's books, including my own. I'm a published author of horror and fantasy novels, while I also dabble in game and movie scriptwriting.

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