Lord of the Rings: War in the North has received a surprise remaster, satisfying a long drought of video games set in Tolkien's universe. The 2011 action RPG, revived by port specialist Aspyr as a Legacy Edition, brings refreshed visuals and revised mechanics to modern platforms.
A Hidden Gem Returns
War in the North is an obscure Lord of the Rings game, but its release potentially opens the floodgates for more recognisable titles to arrive in future. The game casts players as a trio consisting of a ranger, sorceress, and dwarf, running parallel to the main trilogy of books, documenting events that intersect with Frodo's journey.
Playing it now, 15 years on from its original release, it's clear why releasing it just a week before The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim proved enough to bury the game. Even the Tolkien brand association wasn't enough to hold its own against Bethesda's game-changing behemoth.
Legacy Edition Improvements
Aspyr has provided more than a simple touch-up, embedding modern touches that make War in the North easier to enjoy. The headline benefit is the implementation of 60fps across all platforms, including Nintendo Switch 2. This is combined with the addition of lock-on and the ability to swap between Erodan, Andreal, and Faren in real-time during battles.
The core hack-and-slash gameplay remains grindy but fun due to the different character abilities you can upgrade and deploy, the familiar places you'll visit, and new characters you'll bump into as part of this party's background journey. The new villain Agandaûr serves as a more than worthy adversary.
What's Next for LOTR Games
With the Lord of the Rings IP woefully underserved during the PS5 and Xbox Series X generation, War in the North's release is especially exciting. With this game out of the way, there's anticipation for what other Lord of the Rings related gems could release down the line, with both The Two Towers and Return of the King tie-in titles surely being an inevitable arrival.
Lord of the Rings: War in the North - Legacy Edition is available now on PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC.
