I can’t take the trick for you, Mr. Frodo. But I can make sure you take the trick in this Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – Trick-Taking Game
Tolkien’s intention with The Lord of the Rings was to create a mythology centred largely around Britain and, from his perspective as a wealthy, white man in the mid-20th century, British values. While there are very valid criticisms of some of that narrative from our perspective today, it is impossible to ignore the impact that he had on fantasy literature and lore, and indeed, it has become a universe all its own.
The best thing about myths and legends, especially those with a fantasy lilt to them, is that they can be retold and remade again and again. Different mediums and lenses can be applied, and they can grow and change in the retelling, sometimes for the worse, but very often for the better. Be it film, television, books, fanfiction, podcasts, audio drama or board games, the world of Middle-earth is far from dry when it comes to the opportunity to craft new narratives and explore old tales in fun and exciting ways.
Which is one of the reasons there is rarely a year that passes in which one creator or another doesn’t bring out a Lord of the Rings-inspired game. And thus, we come to The Lords of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – Trick Taking Game. It’s a mouthful of a title befitting this extensive universe! The highest praise that I can lavish on this, and I’m moving into first person to do so, is that this is the game that has converted me to the joy of trick taking. All previous attempts have fallen distinctly flat.
Not only is it beautifully themed with gorgeous card artwork and high-quality packaging and components, but this is also a legacy game that takes you through 18 chapters, each a scenario that will be familiar to any fan of the book or movie. Each player picks a character from those on offer for that chapter (there are solo and two-player variants to essentially create a minimum three-player count), and each game takes a max of 20 minutes as all players work together to meet their own character’s personal goals.
The variation in these goals is where the game really starts to shine, with some characters requiring a certain number of tricks or for those tricks to contain certain cards. And best of all, the rule for each of those characters connects in some way to their personality in the actual media, so a mechanic that, on the surface, can seem a little dry is brought to life.
As with many games with minimal components and no added storytelling mechanic, you do have to bring your own imagination to this to become immersed in the world, but this will not be difficult for any Middle-earth fan and even a person less familiar with hobbits and elves and wizards will likely soon get drawn in. There is just enough on the cards to make it feel immersive without overloading what is, at heart, a simple game.
Once you have completed all the chapters, the game can still be played with all the content unlocked making for longer and more complex adventures or, you can reset all the decks and start again or give this to a friend so they can have a go.
There are much bigger and more detailed games out there following the same story, but this is a beautiful way to enjoy it, and the compact box makes it a great one for a holiday or a trip to the pub.
So, request a pint (yes, they come in pints!), settle back with a pipe full of old Toby, and get ready to take tricks, be a bit silly and lose yourself in an ageless and ever-changing fantasy.
Review by CJ Brittain
Easy to learn with depth that grows as you play and draws you into the fantastical and wonderful world of Middle-Earth.
Similar mechanics with types of tricks required in order to win, and a cooperative framework.
Category: Card Games
Designer: Bryan Bornmueller
Publisher: Office Dog Games
Time to Play: 15-20m
Players: 1-4 Players
Age: 10+
RRP: £25
144 Cards
1 Ring token
4 Star tokens
Rulebook
Sometimes we may include links to online retailers, from which we might receive a commission if you make a purchase. Affiliate links do not influence editorial coverage and will only be used when covering relevant products