The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria (2023) [PS5]

“Ishkhaqwi ai durugnul!”
-Gimli to Haldir, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Dorf Goes Orc Hunting. Acclaimed actor John Rhys Davies narrates all of two minutes of this Fourth Age survival, crafting experience about dwarves retaking the ancient dwarvish home. They got tired of During hitting the snooze button. This game is so impenetrably dark (it takes place under a mountain) that you’re left wondering why the combat isn’t more like Dark Souls. If flailing aimlessly at goblins, trolls, and The Lord of the Rings fanservice references gets stale, there’s a vast subterrane to explore and rebuild, as well as riches beyond measure to mine and unearth. The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria could have learned Moria from Minecraft but the spirit of Tolkien lives on in its tapestry, its texture, and all that singing. OH man, the SINGING! Still more lore-accurate than Rings of Power. Count your blessings.

Visuals: 5/10

Audio: 4.5/10

Gameplay: 6.5/10

Accessibility: 7/10

Difficulty: 6.5/10

Replayability: 7/10

Uniqueness: 4/10

Personal: 7/10

Aggregated Score: 5.9

Red formerly ran The Well-Red Mage and now serves The Pixels as founder, writer, editor, and podcaster. He has undertaken a seemingly endless crusade to talk about the games themselves in the midst of a culture obsessed with the latest controversy, scandal, and news cycle about harassment, toxicity, and negativity. Pick out his feathered cap on Twitter @thewellredmage or Mage Cast.