Free Range Games has released the first true survival game set in the beloved world of J.R.R Tolkien. It’s also the first game in the franchise that solely focuses on the Dwarven race.

Being set in the fourth age a few years after the original movie trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria is an exciting survival adventure that follows the journey of the Dwarves as they set out to reclaim their legendary home of Moria beneath the Misty Mountains where mystical powers are at play.

You will join Gimli Lockbearer as he summons every dwarf from across the land in order to take back Moria. However, due to an explosive accident, you become trapped in the stronghold’s dark and danger filled halls and will have to survive as you find a way out. The halls and tunnels within Moria are randomly generated to make each playthrough feel fresh. However, as they are built using preset structures, so you can expect to see similar areas.

In order to survive the treacherous Mines of Moria, you must mine for resources, hunt and gather food, and manage your stamina, temperature, and noise levels. Be careful as you venture down on your quest to uncover the mysterious, as within the shadows lurk Orcs and many more monstrous creatures.

Players can build bases from scratch or repair existing structures to their former glory. As the story progresses, players can restore the long-lost ancient kingdom of Khazad-dûm by reclaiming various Dwarven landmarks found within the tunnels, like an ancient forge that may be used to reforge a certain Dwarf’s axe.

To unearth precious resources such as the powerful Mithril, players must establish mines. However, mining is loud and can alert enemies to your location, so always be ready for a fight. If the mining won’t let them know where you are, the loud singing of the Dwarves surely will as they smash the ores to pieces.

The ores can be used in the furnace to smelt them into bars, with these you can craft tools to help you survive down in the depths of Moria. When you find rarer materials like gold or quartz, you can use those at a forge to upgrade your tools to make them even stronger.

The game has a substantial character creator, so you can make the Dwaft of your dreams. With plenty of hairy beards and 10 different voices to choose from, including two who only speak in the native Dwarven language. Since Gimli called upon clans from far and wide, you also get to pick what group you belong to for some extra immersion. The game is fully voiced, with cutscenes to introduce you to the world.

The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria can be played either solo or online with friends. The game is currently available on Epic Games Store, with a PS5 release set for December 5th. A version for Xbox Series X/S is scheduled for early 2024.

Are you ready to journey down the Mines of Moria and reclaim this iconic stronghold? Let me know in the comments.