The Lord of the Rings: War in the North - Legacy Edition Reviews
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North had everything needed to be a good side story to Peter Jackson’s trilogy, with a little-explored corner of Middle-earth, a proven team, and a license capable of selling almost anything. If they failed to make the most of that opportunity in 2011, Aspyr has done no better in 2026.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North - Legacy Edition brings back an action RPG that, despite its limitations, still retains much of its charm. Its simple combat system, progression mechanics, three protagonists, and above all its cooperative gameplay still hold up fifteen years later. While it is neither a lost masterpiece nor a remaster that fixes every flaw, it remains an entertaining adventure that deserves this second chance.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
If you grew up with Jackson's films and have always wanted to explore areas of Middle-Earth that have never made it to the screen, The Lord of the Rings: War in the North Legacy Edition offers you exactly that: a journey into the North unlike any other game, with an untouchable respect for the lore and the world created by Tolkien and, most importantly, brought to life by Jackson. The voice acting is still good, the story is honest with its limitations, and the combat loop, in its simplicity, has that arcade hack-and-slash thrill you long for every now and then. If, however, you arrive without that emotional baggage, what you'll find is a 2011 action RPG with some sensible improvements but also many structural flaws that no remaster, however respectful, can completely iron out (but it should at least try). The chapters are long and repetitive, and bosses can stall you at moments that seem more frustrating than challenging, like the one that still stalls me. Co-op remains the game's natural setting and perhaps the only way to finish it, even if in this revision, single-player is more... "viable." The Lord of the Rings: War in the North Legacy Edition is undoubtedly a product that deserves to exist, and deserves the second chance Aspyr has given it. However, I can only recommend it to those who already know why they want to play it, or who actually want to play it. For others, I'd perhaps advise waiting for something else, or for the title to arrive on a subscription service, because the effort of swallowing its more bittersweet parts is certainly not worth its brighter moments.
Review in Italian | Read full review
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North Legacy Edition is one of those remasters that makes sense for a very simple reason.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
War in the North: Legacy Edition is what it is, a modern port of the classic game. Its bells and whistles are few and far between, but the core game as it was is here and is a blast to play in co-op. Combat, progression, and the ability to swap between each character makes this one of the better LOTR games ever crafted. It’s certainly not without its issues, especially as those issuers are fifteen years old.
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North Legacy Edition is A solid return for a forgotten Middle-earth adventure. Its dated combat and presentation remain, but useful upgrades, distinct heroes, satisfying loot progression, and strong co-op make Legacy Edition worth revisiting.
If you’re able to take into account that this is an older title, and perhaps are able to play with friends, this may not be a bad diversion for Tolkien fans
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North Legacy Edition is not the remaster many might have expected, but it manages to prove that its formula still works. The adventure retains fun combat, solid RPG elements, and a campaign that greatly benefits from the ability to switch characters during missions.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The problems are difficult to ignore, especially when the game forces players to travel long distances again because an area remained locked or because certain enemies simply failed to appear. The AI of the allied characters could also be better, and their oversized presence area gets in the way of movement at times. Potions are almost useless since it is easier to die and be revived, while certain enemies have so much health that encounters that should be intense turn into prolonged battles. These problems did not ruin my experience, but they are exactly the areas where this version could have gone further than simply preserving the game. Still, the further I progressed, the easier it became to understand why War in the North found an audience at the time. The combat is heavy, the three classes have genuine differences, the skill trees have practical value, and the ability to switch between Farin, Andriel, and Eradan adds an interesting layer to the campaign. Exploration also rewards players who pay attention, whether by finding hidden chests, revealing secrets with Andriel, or using each character's unique abilities. Even Beleram, the Great Eagle, works as a powerful combat tool, allowing him to be summoned for aerial attacks against specific enemies. That is why I think it is unfair to describe War in the North as simply a bad game that somehow turns around and becomes good. It is a good game that ended up in a difficult position, surrounded by releases with similar mechanics. For anyone missing a new The Lord of the Rings game, especially after Shadow of War, this new opportunity to experience the adventure of Eradan, Farin, and Andriel makes a lot of sense. There are imperfections, moments where its age is clearly visible, and decisions I would change without hesitation, but there is also an enjoyable, challenging action RPG here with plenty of systems that still work very well.
If you're a fan of fantasy games, especially Lord of the Rings, I think War in the North - Legacy Edition is easy to recommend. You'll get a great story, plenty of solid action and some genuinely challenging combat that might push you to your limits. Get some friends to play with you, and you'll be set for a wonderful journey. If you play it solo, you can certainly still have some fun, but the game's rougher edges will certainly be made more apparent, and might hamper your overall experience.
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North – Legacy Edition is a charming, slightly janky, but ultimately enjoyable adventure that’s still fun to play now - even IF it shows its age in many ways. If you’re a returning player who is excited to revisit the game (especially with a friend), you’ll have a blast, and if you’re somebody who just wants to play through an old Lord of the Rings gaming escapade, it holds up well enough to be entertaining. It might not be the best classic release in the franchise, but The Lord of the Rings: War in the North - Legacy Edition still deserves your attention.
Although I had a good time with it, I doubt new The Lord of the Rings: War in the North will win over players experiencing War in the North for the first time. It’s great that the game has returned to stores and can be easily played on modern hardware, but lack of certain features like 21:9 ultrawide support simply aren’t acceptable for a modern release.
Review in Polish | Read full review
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North – Legacy Edition is an action RPG that’s been around for several years, but it still manages to entertain thanks to its fast-paced combat, co-op mode, and atmosphere. It’s not a must-play, but for fans of Middle-earth, it’s an interesting rediscovery of a chapter that’s been forgotten for far too long.
Review in Italian | Read full review
I had honestly never heard of The Lord of the Rings: War in the North prior to playing this remaster, and while it was still a vastly better time than the ultra low quality Lord of the Rings outings we’ve endured over the past few years, I can’t say I found it particularly special. It’s a fun action RPG that often feels like glorified Tolkien fanfic, but at least it backs that up with a decent combat system. It’s braindead, sure, but there’s something inherently cathartic about slaughtering wave after wave of orcs.