They say the perfect collaboration does not exist. Enter Warhorse Studios developing a new RPG in the Lord of the Rings universe. It is very hard to top this, and it might be Middle-earth’s best chance at a true breath of fresh air.
What a wonderful story this studio has had. From a few developers who started an indie project that became massively popular to the renowned Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, which became a bestseller in 2025 and was nominated in major categories at The Game Awards, it is undeniable that Warhorse deeply cares about its craft and deserves the weight of such a project to bring to life.
The last major video games based on LOTR, namely Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War, were great action-adventure games. No one is denying that. However, the mix of impeccable world-building, strong writing, and fantastic RPG mechanics that Warhorse brings to the table, combined with the juggernaut of lore and stories that is Middle-earth, could result in a potential Game of the Year contender.
LOTR is in desperate need of regaining relevance in the gaming world, especially after the massive failure of 2023’s Gollum, which only damaged the IP.
As such, this will be the ultimate test for “The New Kings of RPGs,” which is a direct quote from Warhorse Studios themselves. This is how they want us to perceive them. I want so badly to believe this, and so far they have not disappointed. Will this new game inspire a generation? We shall see. But this is undoubtedly one of the best chances we as gamers have had at getting a masterful RPG set in the vast world of Middle-earth.
Sadly, however, we need to temper our expectations regarding this game’s release date, especially since we know that Warhorse is working on “a new Kingdom Come adventure.” It is very likely this highly anticipated RPG will not arrive anytime soon. But here’s a hopeful wish that it releases this decade, as Warhorse Studios’ intent is to improve their development cycle.