The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-Earth
Excellent and addictive.
Parents say
Based on 2 reviews
Kids say
Based on 10 reviews
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this game.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this is a battle game but it's about strategy more than anything else. Yes, it's all fighting but as T games go, this one is less bothersome than many -- no blood, no close-ups. It's easy enough for inexperienced kids to get hooked, yet it becomes quite challenging tand keeps kids playing. This game has an online option; Common Sense Media does not recommend online play for anyone under 12.
Community Reviews
What’s It About?
Drawing from all three Lord of the Rings movies, players can command any of their heroes and armies as they battle for control of Middle-Earth. This is a real-time strategy game that allows players to choose their armies -- Gondor, Mordor, Isengard, or Rohan -- each of which comes with its own heroes and villains.
The game allows the player to be good or evil and control one of four groups each of which has its own playing style, resource management, and base-building techniques. The game is played across a three-dimensional Middle-earth map. The armies express emotions, cheering each other on but also becoming enraged at times. Players can challenge each other with the online multiplayer component.
Is It Any Good?
The standard strategy options are all here, but what really makes THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE BATTLE FOR MIDDLE-EARTH so captivating (besides the excellent graphics and sound) is that the game invites the player into the battlegrounds of the movies. It's an intimate battle game without being too violent. Ultimately, this game is an imaginative kid's dream.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what they find so compelling about the game and tryto use it as a way to get the kids to read the original books.
Game Details
- Platform: Windows
- Available online?: Not available online
- Publisher: Electronic Arts
- Release date: December 6, 2004
- Genre: Strategy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy
- ESRB rating: E
- Last updated: November 4, 2015
Our Editors Recommend
-
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Epic quest takes back seat to violent hunt.
-
The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
High-intensity play enjoyable for teen LOTR fans.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate