The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth

The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth (2004)

by EA Los Angeles, Electronic Arts
Genres:Strategy, Real Time Strategy (RTS)
Themes:Fantasy, Warfare
Game modes:Single player, Co-operative, Multiplayer
Story:The players control the heroes or villians from the famous Lord of The Rings movies. With a hero characters similar to the Warcraft series you control both the armies and all the unique heroes. The game follows the movies very closely and even got scenes from the films appear in game. Not only does the game contain a giant campaign where you play through the journey of the ring as the good side, the game also features an evil campaign where as the players play as the evil forces of Middle Earth. With multiple diffrent races from all over Middle Earth, a giant spell tree to customize your game and a unique basebuilding layout the game was great for its time.Show more
user avatarAdded by @rdhruv
Vote to bring this game to GOG and help preserve it.
52 627
Trailers and screenshots
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Stories about this game (172)
What’s your memory of The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth?Share your favorite moments and see what others remember about this game.
user avatar@placeholder

Make sure to follow our Guidelines when adding new Stories.

If not sure what to write:
  • What made this game unforgettable?
  • Who did you play this game with?
  • What made it fun or challenging?
  • Why do you want this game on GOG?
user avatar@Bassi_2k10user avatar@Bassi_2k10
January 29, 2025
One of my alltime-favorite RTS. The game did a great job capuring the atmosphere of LOTR. Playing through missions like the battles at Helm's Deep and Minas Tirith or commanding your heroes through the mines of Moria was just awesome. For me, Battle of Middle-Earth is one of the most memorable and also most enjoyable RTS I ever played. I'd really love to see this absolute classic to be available at GOG.
One of the best licensed games ever made and a damn good RTS as well. Definitely deserves a re-release. The recreations of the battles at Helms Deep or Minas Tirith are awesome and playing the campaign from either perspective (good or evil) was very memorable and fun.
i would love to see all the lord of the rings battle for middle earth games to come to gog ther ea rare breed of RTS wich is long since over long since overdue to return all so i hope we get the expansion for Lord of the Rings 2 Wrath of the witch king
user avatar@Snake-user avatar@Snake-
January 29, 2025
I played a lot at the time and the sequel. I also played with friends in LAN games. Although it didn’t have much strategy, was quite fun. The gameplay was simple but effective. It wasn’t a game to think too much about, but its atmosphere was very well crafted, with impressive graphics and an excellent presentation. Even though it wasn’t the deepest game, it managed to immerse you in Middle-earth and make you feel like part of its epic battles.
user avatar@sim_rafaeluser avatar@sim_rafael
January 29, 2025
This and BFME 2 were my favorite RTS, I still have the CDs. Using the Command & Conquer Generals engine, this game brings Middle-earth to life, with excellent voiceovers and nice mechanics. The game has a variety of mods over the internet, great singleplayer campaigns (good/evil) and LAN multiplayer where you can add bots to increase the challenge or play cooperatively against them. The licensing to release this game probably is complex, but it is a shame we don't have for sale in any store.
user avatar@Azrapseuser avatar@Azrapse
January 29, 2025
Great production values and great licensing of the Lord of the Rings movies. It had more depth than it appears. There were four asymmetric factions here: Mordor, Isengard, Gondor, and Rohan. The core idea of the game is that your initial base only has limited room for structures, so you must make an initial choice of strategy that you are going to attempt, and then you need to come out and expand by conquering other base locations in the map before your opponents do. Every faction has several possible strategies, chosen by the kind of resource buildings you decide to create and the production facilities you raise. This game discourages sending lots of units to their death, since killing units grants the player unlockable and thematic powers and effects during battle that go from summoning allies, making the sun raise and stunning your opponents, calling the Eagles, or bringing up the Balrog. Each faction had also unique heroes from the movies that you had to level up in battle to unlock more powerful abilities. These heroes could change the course of the game. Among them there all the fellowship members, Saruman, Gollum, or the winged nazgûl. The two single player campaigns (good and evil) were great, with a full map of Middle Earth were you can capture regions to get stronger, or go straight for the story. Then, there were lots of multiplayer or solo skirmish maps, and it came with a map editor to make your own. I spent lots of time making maps, and was part of the awesome modding community that flourished for this game. The sequel, added a multiplayer conquest mode, which was great. But screwed other stuff, like amalgamating Rohan and Gondor in a single faction, replacing the strategic base building system with a "free-build anywhere" one that, while it sounds better, it robs of much of the interesting decisions from the original. Also added Goblins, Dwarves, and Elves as factions, which is always good, but suffered a bit of generic fantasy design.
user avatar@Ashnazquser avatar@Ashnazq
January 29, 2025
Unfortunately, this game can't be replaced. This is a great wound in our hearts. A AAA quality remake is our biggest hope. What I saw on the screen when I used that 10 level ability for the first time after leveling Gandalf to 10 was priceless.
user avatar@wazz91user avatar@wazz91
January 29, 2025
never got to play this, always wanted to, i hope i can experience this as a huge lord of the rings fan i wish there would be more games coming out like this please
user avatar@Kyblik81user avatar@Kyblik81
January 29, 2025
one of the best strategy games of all times, simply great experience and its The Lord of the Rings game! you love the books? you love the films? you love painting LotR minis? you love playing this gem!
user avatar@Wirbleuser avatar@Wirble
January 29, 2025
A great RTS game that really reproduced the feeling of the large scale battles of the LotR movies as well as having levels recreating parts of the Fellowship's journey. But the best part was the multiplayer. My friends and I spent dozens of hours in the coop-mode. Can heartily recommend.
Those games also need your vote!
Metal Gear Acid 2
Metal Gear Acid 2An All New Acid Trip! Metal Gear Acid 2 enhances the card based tactical gameplay of the original game while delivering even more explosive action from the Metal Gear universe. Featuring over-the-top visual effects, deeper strategic gameplay, and a new tutorial mode. Acid 2 is the best portable Metal Gear game to date.
Stealth
Stealth
417
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Metal Gear Solid: Peace WalkerMetal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is an action-adventure stealth video game and is the third action-based Metal Gear title made specifically for the PSP. The gameplay consists of two primary modes: Mission and Mother Base. Mission are the actual action sequences of the game where the player must infiltrate an enemy territory or fight a boss, whereas Mother Base is an army management. Some changes have been made to the standard Metal Gear formula: the player is now unable to move or shoot while laying down and while pinned to a wall, making Peace Walker the first game since Metal Gear to lack any crawling ability.
Action
Fantasy
Historical
Stealth
Action
Fantasy
Historical
Stealth
1 597
3
Metal Gear
Metal GearThe NES version of Metal Gear. It differs from the original MSX2 release in level layout and enemy differences, including an alternative final boss. The game revolves around Solid Snake, an operative of the special forces unit FOXHOUND, who goes on a solo infiltration mission into the fortified state of Outer Heaven to destroy "Metal Gear", a bipedal walking tank capable of launching nuclear missiles from anywhere in the world, as well as rescue a number of fellow agents who have been captured by the enemy.
Action
Action
200
1
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground ZeroesWorld-renowned Kojima Productions showcases another masterpiece in the Metal Gear Solid franchise with Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes is the first segment of the ‘Metal Gear Solid V Experience’ and prologue to the larger second segment, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain launching thereafter. MGSV: GZ gives core fans the opportunity to get a taste of the world-class production’s unparalleled visual presentation and gameplay before the release of the main game. It also provides an opportunity for gamers who have never played a Kojima Productions game, and veterans alike, to gain familiarity with the radical new game design and unparalleled style of presentation. The critically acclaimed Metal Gear Solid franchise has entertained fans for decades and revolutionized the gaming industry. Kojima Productions once again raises the bar with the FOX Engine offering incredible graphic fidelity and the introduction of open world game design in the Metal Gear Solid universe. This is the experience that core gamers have been waiting for.
Open world
Action
Science fiction
Stealth
Open world
Action
Science fiction
Stealth
499
1
Metal Gear Acid
Metal Gear AcidMetal Gear Acid is a turn-based collectable card game. It was the first game in the Metal Gear series for the PSP. A Java ME version for mobile phones was released by Glu Mobile in 2008 titled Metal Gear Acid Mobile. Acid focuses on turn-based tactics, using a trading card-based system to control the main character's movements and actions. Acid in the name stands for "Active Command Intelligence Duel". The cards are not truly collectable, as the game is complete with a single purchase. However, the game does feature deck design and deck optimization elements. The game allows for multiplayer gameplay by wireless ad-hoc connections of two PSPs. Before each round, the player can customize the deck of cards used by the main characters. Most cards are based on elements spanning the entire Metal Gear series, such as weaponry, characters, and even the Metal Gear itself. When the game is started, the player's hand can consist of a maximum of six cards. The maximum number of cards in a deck increases with overall progress. In action mode, the player can choose to use the cards as intended or use them to move the character. Most cards only allow the player to move three spaces, while certain cards let the player move up to six or higher. Cost is an important factor in gameplay and can be summed up as the weight of the player's action. With some exceptions, all cards have a cost attached to them and when used this cost transfers to the player. Cost varies radically from card to card. The higher the cost a character has, the longer that character must wait until their next turn. For example: if a player character has a cost of 15 and a guard has a cost of 10, then the guard's turn would occur before the character's. Some cards can be equipped; cards such as weapon cards, can have other cards attached to them in order to improve performance. In order to fire the weapon, another weapon card that uses the same kind of ammunition must be equipped. Some weapons don't need to be equipped and can be used by themselves, however, they are discarded afterwards. Other cards that can be equipped include equipment cards and action cards. Multiplayer, or "Link Battle", is also a new feature. Two PSP systems running Acid can link wirelessly, allowing players to face each other in a "sneak-off". The objective is to collect several diskettes before the rival player. Diskettes can be stolen by another player, so there is an emphasis on avoiding detection.
Stealth
Stealth
475
Metal Gear Solid HD Collection
Metal Gear Solid HD CollectionFrom the critically acclaimed director, Hideo Kojima, Metal Gear Solid HD Collection offers a handful of the most popular Metal Gear Solid titles from the past in true HD for the first time ever. Featuring three complete games, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, the HD Collection offers old and new fans a chance to experience the epic game play, design and storytelling of the MGS franchise. The "Metal Gear Solid (MGS)" series is the seminal work of Hideo Kojima, Japan's master game creator, and the progenitor of the stealth action game genre. The series has become a global phenomenon, with over 27 million copies sold worldwide. The player controls a secret agent from an elite special forces unit who is sent on solo sneaking missions through enemy installations, vast jungles, and sometimes even the thick of battle. Alone and surrounded by the enemy, even a special forces agent will find it tough to come out alive. But that is the secret behind the series' popularity-the cerebral challenge of figuring out how to avoid combat, and the thrill of sneaking through enemy territory undetected.The MGS series is also known for its storyline, which blends seamlessly with the gameplay. The scenarios are based on extensive research and incorporate the drama of actual developments in society. These elements have made MGS what it is today: a mature work of entertainment that transcends national borders and the confines of video games, and one of the leading products of the Japanese content business.
Action
Stealth
Action
Stealth
24 298
7
Sid Meier's Civilization V: The Complete Edition
Sid Meier's Civilization V: The Complete EditionBecome Ruler of the World by establishing and leading a civilization from the dawn of man into the space age: Wage war, conduct diplomacy, discover new technologies, go head-to-head with some of history’s greatest leaders and build the most powerful empire the world has ever known.
Fantasy
Historical
Warfare
Science fiction
4X (explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate)
Fantasy
Historical
Warfare
Science fiction
4X (explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate)
2 104
2
Golden Lap
Golden LapStep into the polished shoes of a racing team manager in the heart-stirring Golden Era of motorsport where every decision can lead to glory or gravel. With sleek minimalist charm and deep strategic gameplay, Golden Lap offers a unique experience in the motorsport management genre.
23
MechWarrior 3
MechWarrior 3A mech simulation featuring a new 3D accelerated graphics engine at the time of its release. The game contains over 20 missions, with access to 18 different mechs. A novelization called Trial Under Fire was written by Loren L. Coleman.
Action
Warfare
Science fiction
Action
Warfare
Science fiction
14 010
14
Drakengard 3
Drakengard 3Drakengard 3 transports players to a medieval world where six goddess-like sisters known as "Intoners" have brought peace to the earth with their power to manipulate magic through song. Harmony is disrupted, however, when the eldest sister, Zero, attempts to murder her younger sisters with the help of her dragon companion, Mikhail. As the story progresses, players find themselves in a battle to unravel the mystery of Zero and learn her true intentions. A prequel to the original Drakengard, Drakengard 3 features the series’ signature brand of action, pitting players against hordes of fiends and foes in remorseless hack-and-slash ground combat, and then sending them soaring for pitched aerial battles on the back of the dragon Mikhail.
Action
Fantasy
Action
Fantasy
2 888
18