Aspyr has re-released Lord of the Rings: War in the North for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, but the remaster does not include crossplay. Online co-op is limited to players on the same platform, meaning PC, Xbox and PlayStation users cannot join each other.
Remaster of 2011 action title
The re-release is a reworked version of the 2011 action game originally released for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. While not a complete remake, it improves the visuals slightly and preserves the gameplay from original developer Snowblind Studios.
The game follows three characters—a Dwarf, an Elf, and a Human Ranger—on a quest set alongside the events of J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy. Each character is playable, with players able to hot-swap between them during combat. Deep RPG progression allows players to spec each character into a preferred playstyle.
Familiar faces and co-op mode
The game features familiar characters such as Gandalf and Elrond, and locations including Rivendell, the Lonely Mountain, and Mirkwood. The entire game can be played in up to three-player co-op, with each gamer taking on one of the three heroes.
Despite the missing crossplay feature, the game has received positive reviews. It is currently listed as 'Very Positive' on Steam. One gamer wrote: “Peak is back, gaming is saved! Also they genuinely made the game a lot better. Like, even if you’ve played the original the QOL upgrades here are easily worth the buy if you’re a War in the North shill like me. BIG recommendation from me.”
Another user review reads: “War in the North is a fantastic Lord of the Rings game and one that deserved to be accessible again. The co-op, the combat, the three playable characters, and the whole idea of experiencing a different side of the War of the Ring still make this one of the most underrated LOTR games out there.”
