The Lord of the Rings: War in the North

 PC
User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 362 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 201 out of 362
  2. Mixed: 106 out of 362
  3. Negative: 55 out of 362
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  1. Achilles997
    Aug 17, 2023
    8
    The perfect Lord of the rings couch coming op that isn't return of the king. OK story, respects the lore and has good but repetitive combat
  2. Giero
    Jan 4, 2023
    8
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  3. Beansbig
    Oct 24, 2022
    10
    Good game has 2 player split screen also has 3 player online very good game lots of wepons some quests
  4. JaxMan322
    Sep 5, 2022
    10
    This game is the sole reason I still have a PS3 in my closet. If you are looking for a highly immersive, story-driven RPG set in Middle Earth, then this is the game for you. War in the North is honestly the best LOTR game ever made, even better than Shadow of War. This is a true story-driven adventure game set during the events of The Fellowship of the Ring. You’re journey will take youThis game is the sole reason I still have a PS3 in my closet. If you are looking for a highly immersive, story-driven RPG set in Middle Earth, then this is the game for you. War in the North is honestly the best LOTR game ever made, even better than Shadow of War. This is a true story-driven adventure game set during the events of The Fellowship of the Ring. You’re journey will take you across Middle Earth to locations straight out of Tolkien’s lore from the Barrow Downs to Mirkwood, Gundabad, and even Angmar. You will encounter plenty of familiar faces along the way, and the game even introduces some Tolkien characters who were later featured in The Hobbit films. It’s worth mentioning that the enemy variety is also excellent in this game, and the main antagonist feels like something straight out of Tolkien literature. Gameplay can either be single-player or co-op, where you journey as one of three companions (human, elf, & dwarf) who come with their own unique skills & abilities. You can either play as the same character for your entire playthrough or you can alternate between characters at each save point. You can also equip and upgrade armor & weapons for each of them. The game has some great RPG mechanics as well, such as consequential dialogue options, armor upgrading, & a skill tree. There are multiple points throughout the adventure where your choices affect how things play out. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve played this game over the years. If you prefer more combat-focused games, then Shadow of War might be more enjoyable option for you. But if you’re a fan of RPGs like the Dragon Age series or Greedfall, then War in the North is one adventure you don’t want to miss!… Expand
  5. mndk9881
    Aug 22, 2022
    10
    به نظر من یکی از بهترین بازی های است که از روی سرزمین میانه درست کردن و کم لطفی هم خیلی به این بازی شده
  6. Coachatomique
    Jun 27, 2021
    10
    Love this game, just getting back to it in 2021 for the 5th time and i'm excited. Storyline and gameplay and progression are satisfaying
  7. Frocyn
    Oct 8, 2020
    8
    In my opinion a very underrated game. It's fun and addictive. I hope someday it will get a remaster.
  8. FlippinSnip3r
    Nov 13, 2019
    10
    So many great memories i had with this game , the gameplay was so satisfying,i don't know if it's just because of nostalgia but i grew so fond of this game
  9. falmavar
    Feb 27, 2018
    10
    Very good game. It strongly recomended to the Tolkien fans. There is a big part of Middle-Earth story that was not opened if film. Nature and characters looks awesome.
  10. Armitas
    Sep 30, 2017
    8
    DO NOT buy if you have AMD!!! It will crash and freeze at 60fps. There are no fixes for this even in 2017. No Joke the fixes online tell you to run windows 95 compatibility and lower your driver version to before you card was even manufactured. None of it works. This game is permabroken for AMD and Warner Brothers doesn't care to fix it. Buy it on Xbox or Playstation if you have an AMD.DO NOT buy if you have AMD!!! It will crash and freeze at 60fps. There are no fixes for this even in 2017. No Joke the fixes online tell you to run windows 95 compatibility and lower your driver version to before you card was even manufactured. None of it works. This game is permabroken for AMD and Warner Brothers doesn't care to fix it. Buy it on Xbox or Playstation if you have an AMD.

    I could only play to chapter 2 because of the game breaking AMD bugs. However what I did get to play was a lot of fun. There are towns where you can pick up quests, but there are only a few people in each town so you never feel overwhelmed with tasks and dialogue when what you really want to do is get back to the action. There is a lot of loot and it drops plentifully but gives you the option to sell it remotely. There are set items you can combine and augmentation slots. There were not a lot of skills in totality, 4-5 I think, but there are 27 places to put skill points. Combat was fun and fluid (minus the stuttering from AMD). I played by myself but if I had a friend or brother to play with I'd probably give it a 8.5. For what I did play they nailed the feel of middle earth.    … Expand
  11. Taram
    Dec 20, 2014
    8
    Nice story.... the game really delivers on the feel of Middle Earth... doing a great job at pulling details from both the books and the movies. I was originally concerned with the plot line as they are basically adding new content to Middle Earth but it was very well done and felt very much in the spirit of Tolkien's work. The game is fun and enjoyable while staying fairly simple toNice story.... the game really delivers on the feel of Middle Earth... doing a great job at pulling details from both the books and the movies. I was originally concerned with the plot line as they are basically adding new content to Middle Earth but it was very well done and felt very much in the spirit of Tolkien's work. The game is fun and enjoyable while staying fairly simple to play. Even my two sons (10 and 12) enjoyed it greatly.

    About the only "flaw" I found was that we were able to burn through the story relatively quickly..... I think there are about 10-12 hours of play for one full run through. After that it's just rinse-repeat with no real difference in the content.    … Expand
  12. alanmacd
    Nov 19, 2014
    8
    First things first. This is not a role playing game in the traditional sense of the word. Your choices matter naught - the game goes to the same place regardless and is rigidly scripted. Also, on higher levels, there is little challenge to the battles once your character has completely leveled up. Some of the abilities are ludicrously over powered - exploding crossbow shot anyone?

    BUT,    First things first. This is not a role playing game in the traditional sense of the word. Your choices matter naught - the game goes to the same place regardless and is rigidly scripted. Also, on higher levels, there is little challenge to the battles once your character has completely leveled up. Some of the abilities are ludicrously over powered - exploding crossbow shot anyone?

    BUT, it is, without a doubt, some of the finest co-op game play I have ever experienced. Battles feel wonderfully fun and realistic. Graphics are sensational. The music and voice work is top-notch. And you FEEL like you are in Middle Earth. For all it's flaws, the game is a hell of a lot of fun.    … Expand
  13. reconplayer9037
    Oct 9, 2014
    8
    I would give this game a 10 for it's fun gameplay,story and graphics. (Not to mention the loot system!)
    However, this game is buggy. From messing up your saves to freeze ups, glitches can ruin your game.
    I would've given it a 10, but dat glitches though....
    8
  14. navin257999
    Sep 5, 2014
    10
    it is a very good game one of the best rpg games. the story is good, the characters the graphics game play the interactivity are good finished the game in both pc and ps3
  15. Johannes
    Jul 9, 2014
    8
    So , I started playing without expecting too much as the studio is relatively unknown and small. I was really pleasantly surprised though as this turned out to be quite a gem. The in-game menus and GUI elements aren't great and look really outdated but the core functionality of them is excellent , incredibly simple and handy inventory , stats , skills system which I loved. The movement andSo , I started playing without expecting too much as the studio is relatively unknown and small. I was really pleasantly surprised though as this turned out to be quite a gem. The in-game menus and GUI elements aren't great and look really outdated but the core functionality of them is excellent , incredibly simple and handy inventory , stats , skills system which I loved. The movement and general feel is decent but can sometimes feel a bit bulky. Decent though. The real pleasure in the experience is in the combat , it feels sturdy and swinging a frosty two handed broadsword has never felt better. Chopping of limbs of orcs and goblins is incredibly satisfying. The co-op dynamics is really well conceived aswell and the player to player system feels great. Graphically my opinion varies. The modeling is extremely well done and the displacement and normal mapping is great with large textures, yet runs really well. However , some things like nature and lighting feels unfinished and rushed. At times there are 2D trees randomly looming in the background and the skyboxes are really awful - minor things. If your in the market for an RPG that feels like Dragon age and plays like Skyrim you cant go wrong here. Enough said.… Expand
  16. rev
    Apr 13, 2014
    8
    Pretty good action RPG ported from consoles. The story is nothing special but blends well into Tolkien't lore.

    + Good graphics, playable on puny AMD E-350 + Several hours of quality voice acting - Controls could be better, some actions require 3 keys to be pressed in order, it doesn't work in the heat of battle - Inventory management is somewhat clunky - Character swap is    Pretty good action RPG ported from consoles. The story is nothing special but blends well into Tolkien't lore.

    + Good graphics, playable on puny AMD E-350
    + Several hours of quality voice acting

    - Controls could be better, some actions require 3 keys to be pressed in order, it doesn't work in the heat of battle
    - Inventory management is somewhat clunky
    - Character swap is implausible due to inability to manage companions' inventories
    - Graphics glitches in chapter 8 part 4 lead to system crash on AMD systems    … Expand
  17. dougal83
    Mar 20, 2014
    10
    As enjoyable as KOTOR but in Lord of the rings universe. Very enjoyable to play COOP with up to 3 players. I would almost say it's like a 50 hour MMO without any boring grind. Hero mode oddly feels very heroic.

    10/10 Because there are terrible games out there and this is not one of them!
  18. Jason312
    Feb 23, 2014
    10
    I think this game will appeal to fans of the hack and slash genre. More so if you have a passion for the works of Professor Tolkien. The game focuses on events in the Northern part of MIddle Earth and the gameplay is set at the same time as Frodo and the Fellowship of the Ring are travelling south towards Mordor and Mount Doom.
  19. Beldarak
    Feb 5, 2014
    8
    One of my favourite coop games. the gameplay is fun and solid, the ambiance is gorgeous and their's a lot of RPG elements in it.

    It doesn't try to do too much and succeed in everything it does.

    Don't hesitate.
  20. MR_TRILBY
    Jan 5, 2014
    8
    For any avid Tolkein fan this game is defiantly one to play, in terms of experiencing more of Tolkeins world, Warner Bros have certainly delivered. Players venture far to the north, fighting the dark forces of Sauron that don't featured in Peter Jacksons feature films or many other adaptations but for any true LOTR fans these are figures you should and will recognise. From the aspect thatFor any avid Tolkein fan this game is defiantly one to play, in terms of experiencing more of Tolkeins world, Warner Bros have certainly delivered. Players venture far to the north, fighting the dark forces of Sauron that don't featured in Peter Jacksons feature films or many other adaptations but for any true LOTR fans these are figures you should and will recognise. From the aspect that The War In The North adds to the brilliant depth and detail of Middle Earth, I beg any fan to play it!

    Now, in terms of game play, theres nothing special here. It isn't ground breaking. But then again, whilst playing I felt a humble sense of nostalgia for the level based game's of my child hood. In this day and age games get slated unless they are breath taking and ground breaking which personally, I don't think is right. You should play games for your love of them, and, as a Lord Of The Rings fan, I love this game... so will you.    … Expand
  21. JPoppaWUSC
    Dec 16, 2013
    9
    I ignored War in the North for over 2 years before picking it up on a Steam sale, and while the game is not without its faults, it has slowly risen to become one of my all-time favorite action-RPGs. First off, the game NEEDS to be played on a decent PC with a controller, as its console counterparts suffer from some ugly technical hiccups that ruin the experience, while the mouse andI ignored War in the North for over 2 years before picking it up on a Steam sale, and while the game is not without its faults, it has slowly risen to become one of my all-time favorite action-RPGs. First off, the game NEEDS to be played on a decent PC with a controller, as its console counterparts suffer from some ugly technical hiccups that ruin the experience, while the mouse and keyboard controls just aren't right for the third-person real-time combat. Also, it's very easy to dismiss the game in its first 3-4 hours, since you don't start to see the depth of its streamlined RPG design until you've leveled a bit. And lastly, the Lord of the Rings setting and characters are honestly just brand recognition and window dressing for what would have been a fine action-RPG under any other name. It's not like the concept of a male human, a female elf, and a male dwarf cutting down orcs and trolls is all that original in fantasy these days... and it doesn't need to be. Snowblind's games have always been this way; Dark Alliance and Champions of Norrath never really benefitted from or had a great impact on their respective D&D and EverQuest IPs, but they were good games nonetheless. In other words, don't play War in the North because it's Lord of the Rings. Play it if you like dark fantasy action-RPGs, as it handles its violent combat-driven mechanics very well. There are a few extras to be explored, from the occasional side quest and replayable areas laid out on a proper RPG map, to challenge quests and even Dragon Age-esque branching dialogue (though you're never really faced with consequences for those choices). The real fun is in unlocking skills that have a sizeable impact on your fighting style, and each of the three characters offer a fair amount of visual and stat-based customization. The only weirdness in customization is how your selected character reflects changes, while the other two auto-level and stick to preset builds when controlled by the AI. While they retain changes you've made whenever you actually play as them, they revert to the auto-builds whenever you switch. They don't lose your changes upon switching; they just don't use those changes when AI-controlled. That may seem confusing and odd to solo players, but it's obviously a design choice due to WitN's focus on co-op. It means that other players can easily drop in or out without messing with your saved builds, and it also means that you can sell any unusable equipment without having to hold onto it for another character. In the end, most solo players will stick to a single favored character anyway, so it doesn't matter that much. And on the flip-side of that point, WitN does offer an excellent cooperative experience for up to three players, if you've got friends willing to play it. The game also presents a fairly wide variety of locations and enemy types, drawing inspiration from Tolkien's lore even outside of the original novels or film adaptations. It's lengthy, too, as the game generally takes 20 hours or more for a story run (as long as you're not skipping the dialogue) and could easily eat up 60+ unlocking everything. And despite its length, the combat doesn't get old. In fact, it gets better the further you press on, and due to its moderately high challenge, it becomes quite rewarding. The ability to call on a great eagle for occasional air strikes or form a protective/restorative dome using the Sanctuary skill are particularly cool, and you'll often be left with a smile on your face after downing a massive wave of orcs. In the end, I have been pleasantly surprised by War in the North, and even if it shouldn't be placed in the same basket as Skyrim or Dark Souls, it serves as an enjoyable [and usually cheap] option for anyone looking for a solid action-RPG.… Expand
  22. gfcastronovo
    Dec 3, 2013
    10
    I'm giving this game a 10 just because of those people giving 0 just because they think for some reason the graphics are horrible. In fact the graphics looks pretty goof even now in 2013 and if you've a decent hardware the frame rate is realy fluid even with everything at max. This guy "drachehexe" says "You'll spend more time being revived by your allies than damaging your enemies." ifI'm giving this game a 10 just because of those people giving 0 just because they think for some reason the graphics are horrible. In fact the graphics looks pretty goof even now in 2013 and if you've a decent hardware the frame rate is realy fluid even with everything at max. This guy "drachehexe" says "You'll spend more time being revived by your allies than damaging your enemies." if you don't know how to play then probably yes but according to Steam I was playing 6 hours until now and I was revived one time only. He also says "your allies really do their best to block you path as you can't run through them, so you'll find yourself blocked." that's not 100% true, I mean yes they will block you sometimes and you can't run through them but the issue is so simple as hit the "space" key and you will do a roll that it will go through them so it's not really a problem.

    The game is not perfect of course (and I would agree that LOTR deserves a better game in the line of Skyrim), if you want an rpg in TES style this is not what you should look for but still it's an enjoyable game.    … Expand
  23. Dazaras
    Nov 24, 2013
    8
    Got this with some friends with the last Humble Bundle, and I played it for 3 hours today with a friend. I don't really see why this game has such low reviews. It's graphics are decent and I quite like the level design. It's storyline is simplistic, and mostly seems like an excuse to slaughter waves of goblins, but is in no way outright bad. It's music is actually pretty good. TheGot this with some friends with the last Humble Bundle, and I played it for 3 hours today with a friend. I don't really see why this game has such low reviews. It's graphics are decent and I quite like the level design. It's storyline is simplistic, and mostly seems like an excuse to slaughter waves of goblins, but is in no way outright bad. It's music is actually pretty good. The game mechanics seem pretty good, and I had a lot of fun trying different weapons and fighting styles while smacking goblins around with my sword or bow. My friend had a blast playing the elf mage, so I suspect the mechanical abilities are solid for all three characters.… Expand
  24. mossa1251
    Nov 17, 2013
    10
    Really enjoyable, entertaining storyline, good gameplay. A great buy. The graphics are really good, and it gives you some background knowledge on the series. Good co-op and single player.
  25. Atech66
    Nov 9, 2013
    10
    This is a great coop game.. they made it more interesting by NOT following the main story and by showing us the struggles that took place behind what we saw.. and the other hero's that helped save middle earth.
    Game play is simple and that's a good thing.. when your mobbed with enemies and have 3 people fighting off everything from armored orcs to orcs with explosives strapped to their    This is a great coop game.. they made it more interesting by NOT following the main story and by showing us the struggles that took place behind what we saw.. and the other hero's that helped save middle earth.
    Game play is simple and that's a good thing.. when your mobbed with enemies and have 3 people fighting off everything from armored orcs to orcs with explosives strapped to their back and have to swap weapons quickly it doesn't need to be complicated. Graphics are beautiful and the story and side missions are interesting and all have the Tolken "feel" well worth playing. controls are very easy and many games have the same control set.. people are stupid. No customization? you might want to look around.. in the Prancing pony you can change face, hair, facial hair, eye color etc. your lack of intelligence doesn't mean something isn't there it means your too stupid to find it.    … Expand
  26. Nikolaskelset
    Sep 8, 2013
    9
    Probably one of the best action RPG so far I have ever played in 20 years of gaming.
    Never experienced connection issues. The combat system is very solid, satisfying to play and fun.
    The story is well written, co-op doesn't affect gameplay at all, actually it improves the overall experience. If you are looking for a good 3rd person hack and slash you should absolutely consider buying    Probably one of the best action RPG so far I have ever played in 20 years of gaming.
    Never experienced connection issues. The combat system is very solid, satisfying to play and fun.
    The story is well written, co-op doesn't affect gameplay at all, actually it improves the overall experience.
    If you are looking for a good 3rd person hack and slash you should absolutely consider buying this.
    It's like an old school golden axe experience, in Tolkien's world.

    It has flaws, but you'll pass over them after 1 hour of playing since they don't ruin the experience at all.    … Expand
  27. EdStephen
    Sep 6, 2013
    9
    I bought this game not expecting much due to the many mediocre reviews. From the start, I was pleasantly surprised. This is one of the best hack and slash RPGs I've found, and is definitely worth a play. If you enjoy RPGs where you can level up, or are a fan of the Lord of the Rings series, I would definitely recommend this game to you. The combat is complex and varied, the graphics areI bought this game not expecting much due to the many mediocre reviews. From the start, I was pleasantly surprised. This is one of the best hack and slash RPGs I've found, and is definitely worth a play. If you enjoy RPGs where you can level up, or are a fan of the Lord of the Rings series, I would definitely recommend this game to you. The combat is complex and varied, the graphics are great and the story line is very engaging.… Expand
  28. Timeraider
    Sep 4, 2013
    9
    No clue what these guys are playing. The graphics are nice (not crysis 3, but still), the hack-and-slash is fun, the storyline is avarage and i havent found a single bug or problem so....
  29. Galather
    Sep 4, 2013
    10
    Fantastic hack & slash game with great graphics & good storyline. If you are looking for a game with intense combat with an over arching LOTR theme then this game is for you.
  30. temp24202
    Aug 11, 2013
    8
    It was a good game overall. Had some clipping issues, sometimes a monster would get stuck and had to kill with the eagles. Character development was on the short side, but still interesting. Liked the setting and the missions. Was pretty short but worth the time and with a lot of action. Beat the first time in about 17 hours. Now I may attempt multiplayer or heroic mode in theIt was a good game overall. Had some clipping issues, sometimes a monster would get stuck and had to kill with the eagles. Character development was on the short side, but still interesting. Liked the setting and the missions. Was pretty short but worth the time and with a lot of action. Beat the first time in about 17 hours. Now I may attempt multiplayer or heroic mode in the future.. has a little replay value.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

55
#55 Most Discussed PC Game of 2011
14
#14 Most Shared PC Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
66

Mixed or average reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 21
  3. Negative: 1 out of 21
  1. Computer Games Online RO
    Jan 30, 2012
    68
    War in the North is a hack and slash with some RPG elements and co-op, all assembled around one of the most beloved media licenses today, but with all this going for it, it simply doesn't manage to stand out. Sadly, it's just another product that tries to blend some popular elements, but with no true support or personal identity.
    Read full review
  2. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jan 19, 2012
    70
    Attractive world of Tolkien's imagination brings "forgotten" adventure of three heroes aside from the main story – the true magic of the game is hidden in the 3-people cooperative play. [Christmas 2011]
  3. Games Master UK
    Jan 12, 2012
    70
    Not without issues, but as The Lord of the Rings games go this is much better than most. [Feb 2012, p.84]
See all critic reviews »