The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age

The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age is a role-playing video game released in November 2004, developed by EA Redwood Shores for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube consoles. A turn-based tactics version was also created for the Game Boy Advance by Griptonite Games. Published worldwide by Electronic Arts, the game offers players a unique opportunity to experience the world of Middle-earth through a gameplay style distinct from other adaptations. The game combines exploration, turn-based battles, and character progression, placing players in a party of original characters who interact with familiar figures from the film trilogy.

The story serves as a loose adaptation of Peter Jackson’s film trilogy—The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002), and The Return of the King (2003)—rather than J. R. R. Tolkien’s original 1954 novel. Players follow a group of new heroes whose journey runs parallel to the main events seen in the movies, allowing for fresh perspectives on the well-known story of the struggle against Sauron’s forces. The game was notable for its visuals, which received praise at the time of release, although it faced criticism for its derivative gameplay mechanics and underdeveloped characters. A fun fact about the game is that, due to licensing restrictions, Electronic Arts only had rights to the movie adaptations and therefore could not incorporate material exclusive to the novels.