The Lord of the Rings: War in the North - Legacy Edition is a hack-and-slash action role-playing game set in Middle-earth. Released for PS5 in 2026 as a remastered version of the 2011 title, it follows three original heroes who battle Sauron's forces in the North while the main Fellowship pursues its own quest. Players control a party of distinct characters through linear levels filled with combat, exploration, and light RPG customization against orcs, trolls, wargs, and other threats.
Gameplay
Combat centers on real-time hack-and-slash action with each of the three heroes offering different strengths. Eradan relies on ranged bows and precise sword strikes for stealth approaches. Andriel provides magical support through healing spells and area effects. Farin delivers heavy melee damage while absorbing hits as the group's durable frontline fighter. The Legacy Edition adds seamless hot-swapping between these characters even in single-player, allowing players to switch on the fly and assign gear or skills to AI companions.
Progression involves leveling up attributes and unlocking skills across three branches per character. Loot drops include weapons, armor, and items that players equip to match playstyles, with attribute requirements adding some planning. A summonable Great Eagle named Beleram provides aerial strikes in certain encounters. The game features improved UI elements such as visible health, mana, and experience bars for the full party, plus refined enemy lock-on and autosave support on PS5.
Exploration takes players through familiar and new locations including Rivendell, Lothlorien, the Lonely Mountain, Mirkwood, and the ruins of Fornost. Brief encounters with characters like Aragorn, Gandalf, and Elrond tie the story into the broader legendarium without overlapping the central Fellowship events.
Game Modes
The core experience is a single-player campaign where AI controls the other two heroes. The Legacy Edition's hot-swap feature improves this mode by giving direct control over party composition and equipment during fights. Players can issue basic commands to companions and revive fallen allies when needed.
Cooperative play supports up to three players online or two players in local split-screen. Each participant controls one hero, shares loot, and coordinates abilities for combined attacks. Secrets and collectibles unique to each character become accessible in a single run when playing with others. The campaign runs roughly 12 to 15 hours on a first playthrough, with additional time available through higher difficulties unlocked after completion.
Story and Setting
The narrative expands Tolkien's world with an original threat led by Agandaûr, a Black Númenórean servant of Sauron. The three heroes form their own fellowship to counter his growing army in the northern regions. Mature themes, blood-soaked battles, and desperate defense against shadow creatures emphasize a grittier tone compared to other Middle-earth games. Side activities in settlements like Bree add optional quests and equipment purchases that flesh out the world without derailing the main linear path.
Is It Worth Playing?
The Legacy Edition improves accessibility through 60 frames per second performance, character hot-swapping, and quality-of-life updates like gyro controls on PS5. Reviews note that these changes make single-player more engaging than the original while preserving the straightforward combat loop that shines most in co-op. Reception for the remaster sits in the mixed range overall, with praise for the improved party management and continued appeal for Lord of the Rings fans, though some dated level design and technical quirks remain. It suits players who enjoy simple action RPGs focused on loot, character switching, and cooperative sessions with friends rather than complex systems or ongoing content updates. Those seeking a complete, self-contained campaign with strong thematic ties to Middle-earth will find the most value here.
