The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King box art
Out now · Fri 31 OctPEGI 12The Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

UK release dateFriday, 31 October 2003Out 8372 days ago
Platforms
Xbox
Genre
Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
IGDB rating
76/100 (282 ratings)
Modes
Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
Online mode
Yes · Online co-op up to 2

What it is

The video game adaption of the acclaimed film of the same name. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is a follow up the well received adaption of the first two films in the trilogy. The game expands on what The Two Towers accomplished, with the action and adventure sequel introducing three separate story lines from the movie: one following Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli, as The Two Towers did, another following Gandalf, and a third following Frodo and Sam, with Merry, Pippin, and Faramir serving as unlockable characters. Gameplay features were also expanded upon, including multiplayer.

Adapting the closing chapters of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings film trilogy, The Return of the King is a hack and slash action game that carries the War of the Ring toward its climax. Picking up from the events of The Two Towers, it follows the desperate struggle of Middle-earth's free peoples against the growing darkness of Sauron. The game unfolds across multiple intertwining storylines, letting players take control of the trilogy's beloved heroes, among them the wizard Gandalf, the ranger Aragorn, the elf Legolas, the dwarf Gimli, and the hobbits Frodo and Sam. Their paths diverge across the great battlefields and shadowed roads of the era: the defense of besieged strongholds, sweeping clashes against the armies of Mordor, and the perilous secret journey to carry the One Ring toward its destruction. Faithful to the films, the game plunges players into the epic final campaigns of the war, wielding blade, bow, and magic against overwhelming hordes.

▶ Trailer

Our coverage

Nothing written yet. Once we’ve played it the review, first-10-hours guide, unlockables and UK buying advice will collect here. Meanwhile the News section has this week’s launch notes.

Details

Developer
EA Redwood Shores
Publisher
Aspyr Media
Themes
Action, Fantasy
Perspective
Third person
Age rating
PEGI 12
Listed date
Jul 16, 2004

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Dates, prices and artwork

UK release date and launch RRP as confirmed by the publisher. Store links may be affiliate links; they never change what we say about a game. Box art, screenshots, trailer and game facts via IGDB, refreshed 1 Oct.