The Lord of the Rings: Rise to War is a strategy game released for mobile devices by Netease Games Global. As the name suggests, it is based on the popular Lord of the Rings trilogy. It will feature locations and creatures introduced in the novel and movie franchise.

Unlike other LOTR games, however, Rise to War will have a whole new storyline. Although, long-time fans will see the similarities of its plot to the original story. The premise of this game will also revolve around the One Ring and the predictable effect of its emergence on Middle Earth. 

What is Rise to War?

The Lord of the Rings: Rise to War is a geo-strategy seasonal wargame. Set in the LOTR universe, it takes players back to Middle Earth on locations featured in the Warner Bros films. Although it has its own story, it will, of course, revolve around the One Ring. It has mysteriously surfaced at the deserted castle of Dol Guldur and has predictably sent the various factions into a frenzy.

You can either play as a Warband (Evil) or a Fellowship (Not Evil) and join the fight to compete for the throne. The gameplay will divide your time between base-building and expansion. There are two modes, campaign, and skirmish. In campaign mode, the players have to complete missions, which involve either a single battle or multiple ones. Skirmish mode, meanwhile, will have you compete against AI or online players.  

Throughout the game, players can use spells, which can be obtained as a reward for completing missions or as a purchase. Rise to War takes place on an open battlefield, allowing players to form alliances as they aim for territories. There is a messaging feature on the game, enabling you to communicate with other players. It even has a fairly decent translation that lets you speak with foreign online players. 

Is the game good?

If you are a fan of the LOTR franchise, then The Lord of the Rings: Rise to War is for you. The game allows you to experience your own journey for the One Ring. Its gameplay is engaging and interesting, with varied missions to keep you entertained for a long time. However, it is far from perfect. Its graphics are fairly basic, and its mechanics aren't very smooth.