Following a lengthy development process, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum video game is almost ready to launch. This comes after Daedalic recently revealed that their upcoming stealth action game based on JRR Tolkien’s fantasy world, will be available on May 25th for various platforms including PC, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, with a Nintendo Switch version expected later in the year at some point. While the game mechanics will be familiar to many who’ve played any of the LOTR games, this take on the franchise promises a unique experience for those who weren’t fans of the hack-and-slash approach taken in Monolith’s Middle-earth games.
The Storyline Detailed
The player will take on the role of much loved character Gollum in a previously untold story of his search for his precious, taking place during the first few chapters of The Fellowship of the Ring. As Gollum is not a skilled fighter, players must rely on stealth and climbing to survive. The battle within his corrupted mind is also a key element of the gameplay, as players must choose between giving into Gollum’s darker impulses or holding on to the remnants of Smeagol’s kindness. While the story is original and based on Tolkien’s books, players will encounter familiar characters and traverse a world heavily influenced by Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movies which will be a relief to fans.
The game’s development has been long and arduous. It was first announced way back in 2019 and was originally expected to launch in 2021. However, due to the global pandemic and other factors, the release date was pushed back to September 2022 of last year. Even that tentative date was missed as Daedalic took additional time to make the game as perfect as possible by adding final touches.
The release of the game may be timely, as there has been a renewed interest and demand in the Lord of the Rings franchise. Amazon’s The Rings of Power show has been a massive hit, and movie effects house Weta Workshop is also developing a game set in the franchise. With this newfound interest in hobbits and orcs, Gollum may benefit from the heightened demand.