The Lord of the Rings has always been well suited to spin-offs and follow-ups, owing to the expansive nature of its world, a consequence of J. R. R. Tolkein's devotion to fleshing out Middle-earth's lore. Fortunately, assorted companies have seen fit to capitalize on this, delivering a handful of adaptations and spin-offs that have, for the most part, excelled in much the same way as Tolkien’s original books and vision did.
While further televised and big-screen adaptations have not had quite the same effect, the tabletop and occasional video game spin-offs do typically resonate with fans, somehow successfully adapting the massive scope and scale of either the original adventure or merely the world of Middle-earth itself with aplomb. Now, adding to this storied lineup of excellent titles is a brand-new Lord of the Rings project titled Hope & Despair that looks set to continue the series tradition of excelling in the world of tabletop gaming.
One of the greatest Lord of the Rings games is not a video game adaptation, but rather the tabletop card game, War of the Ring. It beautifully recreates the adventure of Frodo and the Fellowship as a competitive...
